Are You Handing Over Luggage Or Baggage?
“My parents gave me luggage rather than baggage. I’m very blessed. There’s nothing more I could have asked for...” - Executive Mike
Fellow stewards - I heard this last week at a conference sitting with accomplished leaders from around the country, sharing our childhoods.
The executive who shared the generous gift leads a large construction company overflowing with love and excellence. What an impact his parents had on him – giving their son luggage so he could go touch lives on thousands of people for decades through business.
I was deeply inspired.
The act of handing luggage instead of baggage is in our reach. It doesn’t require a title. It requires care (love).
Luggage. A tool to travel the world. Focused on what can become. Abundance.
Baggage. An emotional anchor. Focused on what was. Scarcity.
As stewards, our job is to hand out luggage. We have many roles where we need to give luggage.
FAMILY
All kids need to know they are loved. I have three young children. I hope at the end of 18 summers with each of them they see two big suit cases filled with love that they can take with them for what’s next.
(Love is spelled T-I-M-E.)
The greatest challenge I see as a young parent is to live my children’s childhoods. The business and others are going to yell for our attention while our family quietly waits because they love us dearly.
One way I try to build in TIME with those I love most: quarterly board meetings with each of my kids and my wife. (Inspired by the book Family Board Meetings)
Giving luggage means showing your family they are seen, heard, and valued. T-I-M-E.
BUSINESS
It’s not much different at work. Provide an organization where people create meaningful relationships (belonging) and complete meaningful work (meaning).
The ultimate luggage flex: investing in tools for teammates to become better leaders and helping them reach their dreams.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS IMPLEMENTED AT OUR FAMILY BUSINESS:
Mentorship Program
Leadership Training Platform - Success Intelligence
Dave Ramsey Financial Tools
SUPERS TRAINING to have the tools to be coaches
Dream Boards
Book club
One to one meetings (standardized “Century” agenda to ensure luggage conversations)
Giving luggage means showing your team they are seen, heard, and valued.
That’s the whole point of a FAMILY BUSINESS.
To transcend from one generation to the next requires a luggage-only mentality. Think Hermes.
A timeless truth: It’s not possible to carry baggage from one generation to the next for decades.
It will break.
Let’s give our family and our teams luggage.
Onward,
Matt