Thought Tweet #453 Allow a bit of the child in you to generate and enjoy workplace humour.

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

A sense of humour is a facet of a pleasing personality and it is a gift possessed by the greatest of leaders. Of course, your humour has to be 'fitting', not destructive, and in good taste.

Courage is Spirited Leaders' #1 Corporate Value.

Why is Courage so valued?

I will use excerpts from James Allen's 1914 classic, 'Men and Systems' to explain.

James Allen described a hierarchy of 3 standards of Courage: all good, for different reasons.

Physical Courage – the lowest standard of Courage

Human Beings are animals. Like other animals - for example, like lions - we possess internal 'workings' that allow some or all of us to have and illustrate physical Courage. Soldiers provide a good example. Soldiers risk their lives for country and comrade. Like lions, soldiers are fearless in attack and in defense. Like lions, soldiers forfeit their lives rather than yield. Soldiers even sacrifice their lives to save comrades. These are common-enough phenomenon...illustrations of physical Courage. 

Moral Courage - a higher standard of Courage

People possess Courage above and beyond that illustrated in the animal kingdom. Quoting James Allen, "In moral courage the other person's ideas, opinions, or principles are attacked, one's own idea, opinions, and principles are defended." Moral Courage places Man above beast. Allen described an evolutionary process where Man's brain evolved to the point where it became able to add much texture around thought before action and around 'right' versus 'wrong', and around 'good' versus 'evil'. Put another way - Man illustrates an expanded consciousness, an expanded capability for cognition...reasoning...thinking. And, People began to judge other People's thinking. There is written evidence Moral Courage has existed for millennia. For example, ancient literature tells us, Socrates, the 5th Century BCE philosopher, drank poison rather than concede his principles.

The New Courage - the highest standard of Courage

James Allen described a Courage exceeding physical and moral fearlessness. Here are Allen's words: "He who has the New Courage does not attack other men or defend himself; does not attack their opinions or defend his own; he is the defender of all men, and that from which he defends them is their own folly, their own ungoverned passions. While never seeking to protect himself, he so acts as to shield others from their deadliest enemy, namely, the evil within themselves.” “The New Courage may, indeed, be described as the courage to be silent.” Certainly, the great prophets [the founders of the major religions] possessed 'The New Courage'.

Hero 'Worship'

When I think of some of my heroes...

Nelson, Napoleon, and Alexander the Great led with Physical Courage and Moral Courage.

Lincoln, Gandhi, and Mandela led with The New Courage.

Flanagan Foodservice Inc. is another local family business success story. 

The members of our Centre For Family Business, CFFB, got to learn some of the amazing Flanagan story when Dan Flanagan, Flanagan's President, spoke at our February breakfast event.

Here are some of the Flanagan-facts that caught my attention when Dan spoke:

Dan showed the most-amazing sales chart I have ever seen. The Flanagan family business has had 34 consecutive years of sales growth and profitability! From zero to almost $400,000,000 in 34 years! The Flanagan's sales chart spoke loudly about growth...direction...consistency...planning and perseverance. 

Dan talked about the early days when his father Joe left a secure position at a local grocery store called HiWay Market in 1977 and started his own business.  Joe worked at expanding his business within north Waterloo and Woolwich township...he added trucks and vans.

Flanagan's moved its main operation to Kitchener in 1983. That's where the Flanagan family business story gets really interesting. In order to finance the building of a 2,500 square foot freezer at its new location, the company sold shares to its employees and selected outside investors. The company sold blocks of 20 shares at $50 per share and the new shareholders could appoint a board member.

A progressive action...and, a successful one.

The shares have been re-valued every year. Each $1,000 invested in 1983 is worth over $37,000 today! In addition, the company has paid out regular annual dividends to its shareholders. [a spectacular ROI]

Perhaps it was that set of 1983 actions that solidified a bond between the Flanagan family and the people who work with them at their company? Perhaps, that set the stage for 3 decades of growth and profitability? I am sure the progressive 1983 actions were an important aspect of the Flanagan magic.

"People serving other people."

"Our team is our greatest asset."

That's the way Dan described his family's business.

And, it is clear the family doesn't just talk that talk - it walks that walk.

Here is a summary of The Ingredients of Flanagan's Success:

• Think/Plan Ahead
• Democratic Decision Making
• Treat People Really Well
• Employee Share Program/Profit-Sharing
• Community and Industry Involvement/Support
• Grow Sales
• Own Your Property
• Customize Your Software
• Open Branches Close to Your Customers

Business success is all about people working together: thinking together, serving together, and succeeding together. 

Flanagan Foodservice Inc. is a terrific example of how to achieve family-business success.

Thank you for sharing the Flanagan's Family Business Success Story with us, Dan.

PS: Here is a picture of the Flanagan brothers. It strikes me that 4 brothers working together and achieving such family-business success must be quite rare. 

The Flanagan brothers: Rick, Murray, Dan, & Jeff