The TRUTH of Great Relationships
One of the tremendous benefits of writing a daily article for a newsletter on LinkedIn is the people I have met and the relationships I have built. Not everyone that I have connected with has turned into some form of a relationship, but several have. There have been some disappointments and some that have exceeded my wildest dream. But I am always open!
Through LinkedIn I have had the opportunity to meet, sit down with over lunch or coffee, and got to know several individuals a little. They come from different professions and walks of life, various viewpoints and perspectives. I reach out to these individuals because of a connection I may have had with them but, most often it is because I have found something in their profiles that I have found interesting. I have labeled these individuals Persons of Interest (POI).
They have interesting stories to tell, have accomplished some fascinating things in their lives, or have accomplished something I truly admire. In the future I want to talk a little more about relationships and I see their brief stories as a great way to introduce this. Please indulge me a little as I share some things about a few of them.
Let me start with Kevin Smith. Some months ago, I met him on LinkedIn and arranged to travel to York, PA to hear his incredible story. Through what he refers to as a random act of kindness he founded a global nonprofit called Kindness Worldwide in 2023. He credits his conviction that “the meaning of life is to live it in a way to make a meaningful difference” has guided all his personal and professional pursuits. It is truly amazing what has occurred in his life over the past couple years.
Another connection I made has also had a lasting impression on me as a true thought and transactional leader. Brandon Stanchock is the CEO of SWF Industrial Inc., a leading metal fabrication company located near York, PA. He hosts a podcast on which he invites people from all walks of life and interests and skillfully questions and prompts them to tell fascinating stories. I have been fortunate enough to have been on one of his podcasts and met him in York recently for breakfast. He has an incredible way with people, especially his employees. Have you ever heard of a CEO offering a book club in a manufacturing facility to review motivational and business books?
I call Doug Groff an incredible connector of people. As a business development professional with the Scenic Ridge Company, a construction company specializing in commercial construction, he does an incredible job of linking people together. He calls it Spider Networking, branching out from a central point and connecting a vast number of like-minded and like-interested people together. He relates his success to three core competencies: "natural leadership, problem solving, and his talent for connecting people to possibility."
Additional connections will be highlighted in the future, but I want to share one more now that has turned out to be that has exceeded my expectations. I’m not exactly sure what attracted me first to Jim Weaver’s profile, but we met over coffee and bonded immediately. At that point he was serving as a teacher and director of the men’s ministry at The Leabon Rescue Ministry. He had a background in business and counseling, and we shared several common interests.
He is also a graduate of Lancaster Bible College and a pastor. It so happened that I was serving on the Leadership Team of the church I attend, Florin Church of the Brethren in Mount Joy, and that we had recently lost our Senior Pastor. We needed an Interim Pastor to serve as we searched for a new Senior Pastor. Knowing Jim and recognizing his great qualities, I put our leadership in touch with him to serve in this capacity. As a result, he has been serving our church since the beginning of the year.
Relationships are one of the most defining aspects of human experience; our connections to others give our lives much of our meaning and purpose. As I explore further relationships provided through my work and LinkedIn it is my hope that you also find additional significant relationships in your lives. Continue to read to learn about other incredible people.
Also, if possible, I would love to meet with you and find the connection we have and how we might serve one another in this crazy world.