2020 – The Year of Change

How do you sum up almost 12 years of life? I don’t think one can – at least not properly. There are so many memories to try to encapsulate in one post, that I would be foolish to think that I could recall all of them. In fact, the biggest fear of writing this post is that someone or something will be unintentionally left out. So please allow me to generalize to a great degree.

On May 31, 2008, I married the love of my life – Rebekah Linder. I met her the Saturday after Thanksgiving in 2006. I was just finishing up work at the Greenville Spartanburg Airport, and had been invited by my cousins to drive up to the Charlotte area to have home-made chili with their friends. I’m still foggy-brained over whether this was a set up or not, but nonetheless, I was a single 25 year old that loved chili. So I went.

It was that evening that I met my future wife. She was nothing I “thought” I wanted in a girl. I had always imagined I’d marry a southern girl who loved sports, and yet here I was, crushing over an opera singer from WinscAHsin (or however you are pronouncing that accent in your head – lol). We were engaged a year later, and then in May of 2008 we were married.

Though I lived in a couple other states during college life, Greenville, SC, had always been home. So for the first time in 27 years, I found myself putting down roots in a different place. We settled in Matthews, NC, in an apartment complex called Paces Commons – starting out life together above another young couple with two little girls, Angie and CR Braniff – now known around the world as https://www.youtube.com/user/branifffamily – Check them out and subscribe! We are so thankful for their friendship, even to this day.

During the stay in the apartment I began a 4 year tenure at the Bible Broadcasting Network (BBN Radio). It was an honor to serve alongside Dr. Lowell Davey and see many people give their lives to Jesus. Shortly after starting work at the station, we built our first house in Fort Mill. Both of our kids were born while living in that home on Haddington Drive.

Then, after much prayer, we began the process of pursuing our own Chick-fil-A franchise. What a journey! Those details are in this blog somewhere back in the archives. We sold our home and moved into a rental in the Wesley Chapel, NC, area in case I was offered a franchise location and we would be moving somewhere across the country. Nothing stretched us more than this experience – professionally, personally, and spiritually. So many sacrifices, yet willing to be tried and tested to see if that was what God had in store for us. Though it was not His purpose for us at that time, the friendships forged during those 3 years with CFA was immeasurable and invaluable.

Through connections at Chick-fil-A, I was introduced to Ryan Homes. I had never been in sales before, and actually couldn’t stand sales people. But real estate intrigued me, and I quickly discovered that sales, done correctly, is simply building relationships and meeting needs. I accepted the position and went through the process of building another home back in Fort Mill. It was during this move that we joined the church family at Harvest Baptist Church in Rock Hill, SC, and got involved teaching the college SS class, as well as in the music ministry (my wife that is – Haha!)

Fast forward 3 years to today, where we have taken the time to assess where we are in life, how much time we are spending together as a couple, with our kids, with others, etc. What we discovered is that we have very little margin in our lives, at a time when our kids are at very impressionable ages.

So after a lot of thought, prayer, and counsel, we will be transitioning to Greenville, SC over the next couple of months! It will be good for my kids to grow up around grandparents, uncles/aunts, and cousins for a few years at least. I am staying with Ryan Homes, but my drive to work will be less and with family around, I won’t feel like my wife is alone on the long days.

The email to my pastor was the hardest. Our church family at Harvest Baptist is special. I pray that we find something like Harvest in Greenville. We will miss you, Charlotte! You have become home. We were married here, our kids were born here, and our closest friends are here.

But a giant step of faith is good for the soul. It stimulates growth, necessary change, and new opportunities for impact and influence. So here’s to meeting new friends, reuniting with old ones, and learning new hashtags. See you soon, #GVL!

PS – Have you ever gone through a big move? Share all your tips and tricks!

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An Unstable Foundation

I’d like to take a different opinion/angle on these mass shootings. When you take away the arguments of politics, guns, mental illness, etc, I’d like to consider the absolute dysfunction and destruction of families over the past few decades.

Let’s consider it in general, as I am not casting blame.

Whether it’s a matter of dysfunctional, broken families, or parents who are simply not intentional with time, love, and attention – a product is emerging that has no purpose and no hope and no value – or so these children/young adults are led to believe.

The Texas shooter posted on his LinkedIn that he is just getting by. That he guesses he’ll do software development because it seems to suit him best. I hope I’m wrong, but to me he appeared to be your stereotypical “no ambition, sit on the couch and play video games all day” type of guy.

I may be stepping on some toes, but that’s a parenting problem.

It’s a parenting problem to not teach your kid ambition. It’s a parenting problem to not teach your kid hard work. It’s a parenting problem to allow your kid to sit on screens all day.

But that’s the issue. It’s hard work to parent and be intentional with parenting.

At the end of the day, do I know all the details? No.

At the end of the day, do I know his home life was the issue? No.

At the end of the day, was he at fault? Yes.

At the end of the day, are we, as parents, responsible to teach and train and love? Yes.

I don’t post this to flippantly add to the outcry and pointing of fingers, but rather to say that the foundation of America is the family. And the devil knows it’s where the attacks are the most affective.

So where do we go from here? We all look inside and say, “What can I do to build up and strengthen my family – our foundation?”

Before you respond, know this. Please. I’m not saying because you are divorced, this happens. I’m not saying your child cannot be raised well and then turn from the truth. I’m not saying that video games are the reason. Or guns. Or donkeys. Or elephants.

Just consider this angle: Without a reason to live, without hope, and without purpose, you are capable of destruction.

Please consider your time. Do you come home from work and selfishly do what you want to do and let your kid sit there, alone, with headphones on their ears, mindlessly playing games for hours on end because no one makes them feel important, or loved, or inspired to do anything?

They’re skilled. They’re important. They’re valuable. But do they know that? Have you told them?

I can promise you this. God forbid that’s ever my son on the Walmart security cameras, but if it were, I would look back and take a lot of responsibility.

So the next time you hear people say to hug your kids and love on them because they could be the next victim, think about hugging them, loving them, and being intentional with them as parents, because they could be the next killer.

That’s hard to read isn’t it? It’s hard for me to think about that.

I close with this.

Maybe you were burned by church. Perhaps you were hurt by religion. Don’t let that keep you from teaching your kids about God. About a personal relationship, not a religion, with Jesus Christ.

NO Jesus, NO hope; KNOW Jesus, KNOW hope. ❤️

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Mission: Compassion

I met Amanda about four years ago. She delivers for FedEx, and our Chick-fil-A in Wesley Chapel, NC was one of her stops. The hustle is REAL with these folks, and we tried to always make her day a little better by offering a drink or a sandwich.

Fast forward a few years.

Amanda’s route has changed, and I am no longer with Chick-fil-A, but we have kept in touch, as she had become a good friend. What I love most about Amanda is her heart for people. It is genuine and magnetic. And it all stems from her faith in Jesus.

Recently, she shared this video. It is a perfect example of who she is and the love she has for those around her. I am reminded of the verse in Jude where it speaks of some having compassion – making a difference. Grab a few tissues and click the play button.

Amanda also began a non-profit organization called Hungry Heroes where she feeds hundreds of first responders, veterans, EMTs, police, fire, etc. -simply to bless and encourage them. You can check it out here: https://www.hungryheroesbbq.com/ Consider donating your time and/or money to help support these heroes!

Please share this post as I am sure this will move others as it did myself. Thank you, Amanda, for loving everybody, always, and for being an example of life touching life.

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Lessons from the road: Part 1

I am on the road quite a bit. The commute from my home in Fort Mill, SC to my place of work in Huntersville, NC averages out to be an hour’s drive each way. And though it can be long and tedious, I try to observe and learn from all that happens around me. It’s incredible how parallel lessons from the road and lessons from life can be. They also intersect.

About a month ago, I exited off I-77 in Charlotte to grab some lunch. My vehicle was positioned in the left lane of two lanes heading straight. As we approached a red light, we gained a left-hand turning lane. When the left-hand turning lane was granted a green arrow, those vehicles began to move. The one vehicle ahead of me in the straight lane, sensing forward motion from those to its left, proceeded on as well. One problem: our light had remained red.

Instantly, I noticed a gentleman on the opposite side of the road. He was in the same lane as I was in, but heading the other direction. He saw what had happened, and he wanted everyone to know he had seen it. His head was sticking out of his window like a giraffe stretching for feed through a fence. He was GLARING. Eyes locked in on the driver who set off through the red light.

We’ve all been there. Maybe we were daydreaming, checking emails, or tuning the radio. Our eyes were off the traffic lights, but our peripheral vision caught the vehicle to our left moving, so we moved. Sometimes we catch ourselves and slam on the brakes, other times it’s too late to stop and we simply go on through. It’s dangerous, but rarely intentional.

And it was in that moment that my lesson was revealed to me. How often in life do we make a mistake? Could be intentional. Could be a lack of common sense. Could be completely innocent and unintentional. We have all been there. And also present are those near us, across the way, sticking out their necks, glaring at us down their nose. Condemning. Judging.

I know I’ve been there in traffic and in life. I’ve run a red light in the same fashion. Deep in thought or in worship, maybe checking a text or call, and away I went – even though it wasn’t my time to go. I’ve accidentally cut people off in parking lots and when they lay on their horns, I sheepishly wave and mouth that I am sorry. I’ve also made mistakes in life, and whether innocent or not, I have been at the brutal end of the scrutiny and the glares.

So what’s the lesson I learned? I learned both sides of the coin that day. I learned to not judge hastily. To not let emotions ride high and to not condemn with ease. To assume the best in someone when it’s a situation where innocence could be in play, and to seek to help and not hate. But that’s not all.

I looked at the guy across the intersection and considered him as well. Could he be a hot-head, policing everyone’s moves and motives? Sure. But could he also have lost a family member in an accident caused by someone running a red light? Absolutely. And in that moment I was reminded yet again to give grace. To give the benefit of the doubt. To be slow to judge, but quick to forgive.

Are there times when judgement is warranted, yes. Are there times when discipline is required, of course. But as a general rule, in our normal day to day, let’s not allow the mistakes of others to fuel condemnation and formulate negative opinions. We have all made mistakes, and we will all make mistakes. If everyone is glaring and no one is caring, how is anyone ever helped? How is anyone ever encouraged?

May we all strive to love and lift up others even more in 2019! Have compassion. Make a difference. Happy New Year!

How about you? Have you ever been on either side of the coin? I would love to hear about it. Please feel free to comment.

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How to enjoy life: Pro Tip

I am a living, breathing, walking testimony that you can have a TON of fun in this life without drugs, alcohol, clubs, etc.

How?

  • Knowing Jesus brings joy!
  • Love everybody – always.
  • Rock a cool nickname like “Kentobean”.
  • Surround yourself with people who bring you up.
  • Lovingly avoid spending all your time with people who bring you down. Notice I said ALL your time. People who bring you down are the type who are struggling and you can be there for them – just don’t get sucked down the negativity vortex.
  • Smile and hug.
  • Be pure in heart.
  • Be faithful to your spouse.
  • Watch Hallmarks instead of Horror movies.
  • Less Talk radio and more talking to strangers. You’ll learn people need encouragement and the title “stranger” will be upgraded to “friend”.
  • Look for every opportunity to be a blessing!

What are some other tips you have to a life full of joy and happiness? Please comment!

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She had the “it” factor

This morning I took my kids to a Chick-fil-A that I have only been to a couple of times here in Charlotte. It’s not anywhere near our normal route, but today it happened to be the chosen chicken palace for us. We weren’t there to eat, but I told the kids they could play on the playground and I’d buy them a couple chocolate milks.

As soon as we entered the door, an excited voice welcome us in! I later discovered her name was Finese. She had a big smile on her face while she swept the dining room. I ordered the milks and sat down near the playground. She interacted with my kids before they scampered off into the play area. I asked her what she knew about Truett Cathy. She told me he started Chick-fil-A with a Dwarf House and it grew and grew and he was a great man with Christian faith and that she loves working for Chick-fil-A.

She then noticed that my kids were running breathless in and out of the playground door and had consumed their milk. She volunteered to get them some ice water because after she drinks chocolate milk, she can always use some water. She didn’t know I was noticing everything about her. I noticed how she listened intently to me, while continuing to work. I noticed how she encouraged and complimented. I noticed how she brightened everyone’s day. She cared about me, she cared about my kids, and she didn’t stop working. She had the “it” factor. The perfect balance of work ethic and personality. She made us feel like a million bucks.

When it was time to go, I called the kids down from the slides and gathered socks and shoes. But before I left, I walked up and asked to see Finese. By this time, she had rotated over to the drive-thru window. I asked if I could speak to her. Her manager called her over and the two of them and about three others gathered at the end of the line. I told them that I wanted to say that Finese is something special. That food is food, and even though it’s good chicken, it’s the people who are the secret sauce of Chick-fil-A. I let them in on the fact that I used to be a director at Chick-fil-A as well as train all around the country… and that Finese is one of the best I’ve ever seen.

I then gave her my silicon “Just Truett” bracelet. It’s been my personal bracelet for about three years, but it was time to pass it on to someone who embodied Truett’s heart for service and for people. The world needs a whole lot more Fineses… and Chick-fil-A is blessed to have her!

CFA

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Mission Accomplished!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven” 

It was almost two years ago that JUST TRUETT began. A simple idea. An idea that, two years later, I would have never believed would have reached so far and impacted so many. But that was my purpose for it. I wanted something simple, yet tangible. Something that would cause the 16 year-old new hire to ask, “What does ‘JUST TRUETT’ mean?” And in that moment, you have the opportunity to share the life and legacy of a man who not only mastered the chicken sandwich, but someone who also impacted lives. Thousands and thousands of lives.

When he passed in the fall of 2014, everyone knew who he was. Then, as time went on, I began to walk into stores and ask random employees about Truett Cathy. Sadly, many of the younger ones would respond that they didn’t know who he was – though his likeness in the form of a cardboard cutout was standing over near the playground. It was then that I really saw the importance of the JUST TRUETT t-shirt. A simple, yet perfect way to explain who he was and how he served. To the young new hire, “Do you know what you do when a guest comes back into your restaurant incredibly upset because you forgot to place a straw in their bag at the drive-thru window? You ‘JUST TRUETT’! You do what Truett would have done. You treat them and serve them how Truett would have treated them and served them.” And right there, that opens up the conversation of who Truett was, and you not only teach them the correct response in handling a tough situation, but you also get the opportunity to tell his story at the same time.

Right from the beginning, I wanted to do things the right way. I asked Dan Cathy for permission to use his dad’s name on the t-shirt, even though ‘Truett’ is a first name used by many throughout the years. I also did not add the CFA logo, the Cathy name, or CFA font. Why? Because I wanted it to be a simple shirt that only those “inside” CFA would understand the meaning. A shirt where it was “understood” that it was associated with CFA without being technically a CFA shirt.

It took off immediately. Operators and staff across the country were catching my vision. From Dan Cathy, to Mark Cathy, corporate staff, operators, team members, and even raving fans and NFL players – they loved and appreciated the mission and mindset behind the shirt. Operators were messaging me with stories of how they used the shirt to teach classes on leadership. Friends had me ship the shirt to England to wear during the overseas pop-up events. And during the floods in Houston, shirts were shipped down to a local store to use while serving the community. It was making an impact and it was serving the purpose for which I had prayed it would serve.

To this day, as promised to Dan Cathy, I never made a dime off the t-shirts in profit. If anything, I took a loss and it was worth it to me. I loved this! It was a fun mission and it served its purpose well.

Today, I was asked by the family, through the CFA legal team, to discontinue the shirts. They expressed their gratitude and the efforts made to continue Truett’s legacy, and even though the shirt is technically not a CFA shirt, they need to be careful with their name and I completely understand that.

So as of today, I will be shutting down the Just Truett facebook page, the instagram page, and discontinuing production of the shirts. Those who have the shirts, please continue to tell the story – it must still continue to be told.

To all of who who have used these shirts to create a REMARKable experience for your team and your guests, and to all of you who have made a positive impact on those you have been in contact with because of the shirt, I thank you. Thank you for getting behind me, knowing my motives and heart were pure in this effort and for supporting JUST TRUETT throughout the past two years. I am forever grateful.

I humbly and respectfully bow out, knowing that I love the Cathy family, the brand, and the raving fans. And you never know. Maybe I’ll be adding to his legacy by owning and operating my own CFA restaurant one day. Only the Lord knows. To Him be all the honor and glory. Amen.

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One Year.

It’s been one year since I left Chick-fil-A. I remember September 9th, 2016, well. My team surprised me with cakes, cards, and banners strung across the ceiling over the order line. So many friends came to see me off that day, including my family, my operator, guests that had become family, and even Buffalo Bills fullback, Mike Tolbert and his family – a family with whom I had built a relationship through a little window on the side of the chicken coop.

People often ask, “Do you miss it?! Are you coming back? Are you going to apply for a store again?” I do miss it, sure. But I’m where God wants me right now. And I believe that is the BEST place to be – where God has you NOW. Will I ever apply again? I don’t know. Right now I’m focused on being the best Sales and Marketing Representative for Ryan Homes that I can possibly be. We are settling down in Fort Mill, SC, and have a new home church in Harvest Baptist in Rock Hill, SC.

So I write this brief post to say that there is life outside of Chick-fil-A. When you taste and see and are a part of the culture that is Chick-fil-A, it’s hard to leave. Really hard. But when you realize that God always knows best and that He knows what areas of your life need fine-tuning and stretching, He will find a way to move you, in order to better you.

I stepped into a position at Ryan Homes that has stretched me and is stretching me in every way imaginable. I knew very little about sales, blueprints, construction, etc, but I’m learning daily, and growing in knowledge and experience. It’s fun. It’s a challenge. It’s life outside of Chick-fil-A, and it’s ok. Why? Because personal growth doesn’t just happen in a restaurant. It happens where God plants you.

So I challenge you, my fellow Chick-fil-A’ers who have also been turned down for the Leadership Development Program and/or for Owner/Operator: Step out. Step away. Do something new. Stretch yourself. Just because you aren’t wearing Oobe doesn’t mean God can’t use you!

I’ve learned over 36 years to never say never, but only to trust God and His timing. So let’s never stop learning, never stop leaning, never stop loving, and never stop leading. And simply trust that God has amazing things in store for our lives!

Love you all and am so incredibly thankful for you. Oh, and come buy a Ryan Home from me! 🙂

Tolbert

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One fantastic year of #JustTruett

It has been exactly one year since I wrote this post about launching the Just Truett t-shirts, and as I sit and reflect on what has probably been the craziest and busiest year of my life, I cannot help but praise God. I am not where I thought I would be at this time, but the journey has been a blessing and the future is bright.

As most of you know, I was turned down this past May to own and operate a Chick-fil-A in Montana. It was a long shot from the get-go, and corporate had told me they had chosen someone over a year ago, but I still gave it my all and went for it. I’m so happy for the operator they chose for that particulate location. He’s a great guy and a super fit for the Flathead Valley of Montana.

After much prayer, I decided to leave Chick-fil-A in September and go into real estate (though I still enjoy consulting and helping others in their own journeys). I obtained my NC Real Estate license and have almost completed my training to become a Sales and Marketing Rep for the Ryan Homes brand of NVR, Inc. Real estate class was no joke, but I love learning, growing, and expanding my horizons, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Along with changing careers, we lived 3 different places in 2016. We had been renting, thinking I was going to become a CFA operator in some part of the country, and therefore did not want to be tied down owning a house. After signing on with Ryan Homes, we settled back into Fort Mill, SC. I am pretty sure my wife was pumped to finally “settle” somewhere. 🙂

Since so much happened this year, I did not have much time to focus on promoting Just Truett shirts…. yet I was inundated with stories from operators and staff around the country telling me how they were able to use them to tell the story of Truett Cathy and his heart to serve others! Love getting feedback like that.

It has been exactly one year since I began to really promote the t-shirt and teach others the meaning behind the shirt. As I promised Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A and Truett’s son, I did not make a profit selling t-shirts. I had a few people in the chain who were skeptical about the shirts, and/or the motive behind the shirts. Was I making money off of someone who is deceased, am I trying to gain attention, or maybe I was simply using Truett’s name to launch some larger venture later. None of these can be further from the truth.

This year, 210 shirts were purchased/donated across the country…. actually, one went to England as well for the pop-up event Chick-fil-A does for a day. They were used for conferences, events, in-store service, and other venues. With some of the funds, we were able to give $500 to a Chick-fil-A team member who had lost her brother in an accident and needed a vehicle. People have used the t-shirt in so many incredible and creative ways…. I am overwhelmed reading them all. I recently started an Instagram page to try to document those who have sent photos wearing the shirt. You will see operators, corporate staff and even Mike Tolbert of the Carolina Panthers!

I just finished running the numbers, and to those who doubted I was doing it for the right reasons and simply trying to make a profit…. I ended up negative $225 at the end of the year. And that is OK! Why? Because my goal from the very beginning was to create a simple shirt that reminded us all daily to serve as Truett served, to care as Truett cared, and to love as Truett loved. It’s a model of service that continues to this day in Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country, and hopefully this shirt helps in a small way to carry on his legacy.

A special thank you for everyone who purchased a shirt or multiple shirts this year. Because of you, so many lives were impacted this year. May God bless you! tc

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Encouragement. It does a soul good.

Chick-fil-A President and CEO, Dan Cathy, often asks groups this question: “How can you tell someone needs encouragement? They are breathing!” Everyone needs encouraging. That’s just how we all are wired. It provides that “oomph” to keep on keeping on.

I love encouraging people, and I have a keen awareness that people need it. Why? Because I need it. Yep. Even with my incredible energy and love of life… I need it. Especially in the middle of this journey that I am on.

Tonight, I received a facebook message from a Chick-fil-A operator in the northeast:

“I wanted to shoot you a quick note and share with you what an encouragement you are. I am thankful and inspired by your optimism, joy and passion. I don’t know too many guys that live life with your level of Christ-centered energy. So thanks. Even on the hard days.”

Wow! Little did he know that I am in the middle of the operator interview process, waiting for the next step to be scheduled. 2016 is up in the air for me and my family, but we serve a God who is in complete control, and a God who gives friends who encourage. Just at the right time.

 

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