Letter on the Third — August, 2018
Dear Datamax Family,
We see it in baseball all the time: A batter is hitting .400, knocking the cover right off the ball, and then all the sudden… he’s striking out every-other-at-bat. For whatever reason, something related to that player’s skillset has changed. In baseball and business, it comes back to redefining and continuing to zero in on those skills in hopes of seeking improvement.
Ongoing education and training is embedded into our culture at Datamax, just as it’s notated on page 6 of your Datamax Little Blue Book. If we weren’t delivering the necessary tools for continued development for every one of you, we’d be committing malpractice on our employees. Our organization must continue to educate and evolve if we expect to stay relevant to our clients.
Reflecting on my own time in this industry, I’ve personally traveled down many avenues of continuing education. In no particular order, here are just three I’d like to share:
- Joining the Copier Dealers Association (CDA). Becoming a part of this organization brings with it numerous benefits for our organization and for me. Being in the midst of the best dealers in the country, best practices and great ideas inevitably become available for us to bring back to Datamax. If they were doing something positive, how can we do that here?
- My relationship with Mike Riordan. I first shook hands with Mike in 1995, and ever since he’s been an invaluable consultant and guide in developing a successful culture and the steps we take in developing a team (putting the right person in the right job at the right time). Following Mike’s lead, we constructed and implemented programs that not only created a more successful, well aligned team, but it made me a better leader as well.
- Being a part of the Young Presidents Organization. I joined this group when I was 29 or 30. The advantages that came with YPO were two-fold: First, I was able to meet and familiarize myself with the Arkansas marketplace and become a stronger, better aware president in Little Rock. Among our tight-knit group, even if we came from varying markets, we traded ideas, shared issues we were having, and learned from each other moving forward. The education I earned as part of this group was priceless.
Speaking of education, as students return to class in the coming weeks, let’s make certain that every campus we serve is properly cared for and ready to run at full speed that very first day. We’re coming off of a very good period, so I want to thank each and every one of you for working to make that happen. Let’s make the next one even better.
Lastly, the friendship I’ve enjoyed with Greg Walker in Tyler over many years has been a tremendous experience for me. The transition we’ve made from ETCS to Datamax has been a very positive one, and I know Greg feels the same way that I do. We’re more than excited about our future here. With that, I want to offer my sincere “Congratulations” to Greg, along with Rick, for building such a formidable organization in East Texas, as well as Greg’s contributions to our industry, to East Texas and to Datamax in his short time with us.
Greg, I wish you and Kris only the very best looking ahead. While I know you’re officially retiring, I also know you’ve got many great endeavors ahead of you. The Best is Yet to Be.
Your Raving Fan,
