I am the Executive VP of Broadcast for Dave Ramsey’s company. I tell you that b/c I am honored to be able to lead at what I consider to be one of the great companies operating today. As we have done since our founding, our entire company gathered together this morning. We have 2 mandatory company wide meetings each week. (I participated in one of these meetings 10 years ago when there were 8 team members around a conference table and this morning 180 of us gathered) This morning a few of our team members reminded me how important it is to remember where you came from.
This morning we asked a couple employees to stand up and “tell their story”. Take 5-10 minutes to give the rest of us a little insight into your history. I have to tell you that it was so refreshing and inspiring to hear about these people’s lives.
The Dave Ramsey Show is a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs live from 2-5pm EST on almost 300 stations. From time to time we will let radio stations air us at times different than our live time. One of those times was on a radio station in Nebraska. A few years ago this station asked if they could carry the show during morning drive. That certainly wasn’t ideal (we would always prefer to be live) but we accepted the clear. I tell you that b/c as one of our employees spoke this morning he let us know that when he was at his job in Nebraska, and was miserable, and in a real rut in his life, he turned on the radio one morning and he heard the show. He loved the show, couldn’t stop listening and now as a result is the Marketing Director for the largest department in our company. Did I want the show to be on in Nebraska during morning drive? No. Did God have other plans? Yes.
Knowing Tim’s story and a little about the path he took to get here changes my perspective on things. This is just one story. There were many told this morning.
If you are currently leading a company and it’s growing fast. Maybe you feel like you’ve lost a little of that “family atmosphere”. Take the time to let your employees tell their story. Let the new employees hear about the sacrifices it took to get to where you are today. I once heard someone say that the problem his kids have is that “they woke up 3rd base and thought they hit a triple!” In other words they were SPOILED! They forgot that it takes work to get to third base. It took effort and time and practice and diligence by those that came before them!
Tell your story! Tell it often! If you aren’t tired of telling it you haven’t told it enough! Have your more experienced employees tell it to the newer employees! It’s easy to forget this. . .don’t let it happen at your organization.
Hampton 
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