Letter on the Third — December 2022
Dear Datamax Family,
The month of December serves as a great time of reflection for me every year. What was successful, and what wasn’t? What were the positives from the past year, and what do I need to work on, both in my business and personal life?
This season is also synonymous with family. When I reflect on our Datamax Family, I can’t help but conjure up words like commitment, openness, accountability, empathy, and even selflessness. Selflessness can transform workplaces, communities, and families by building trust, fostering teamwork, and strengthening relationships. Being selfless is a powerful way to change the world around you. When we as a family admit that “it ain’t about us” all the time, it’s amazing how selflessness leads to self-fulfillment.
What makes our Datamax family so strong? Let’s reflect.
They prioritize the needs of those around them.
If a customer calls in with a need, or a coworker forwards you an urgent request, you respond. If you come into my office, it’s on me to look up and pay attention. Once we understand that we’re all involved in the same ultimate mission, it’s much easier to prioritize the needs of those around us.
They keep an open, honest line of communication.
Keep everyone informed. If you’re unhappy, go to someone who can do something about it. That’s what a good family does. When someone has a need, be sensitive but also open and honest. We really do have the right to disagree — otherwise, no one grows. Open feedback is necessary for any family to thrive. If someone questions something that we’re doing, it’s our responsibility to listen. Just understand that the ultimate decision has to be good for the entire family.
They think bigger than just themselves.
When I made the decision to move from St. Louis to Little Rock in 1985, to become president of what was then Datamax Office Systems, wife Patti and I hardly knew a soul. There were plenty of things I didn’t know about in this new state and this new home. However, one thing I did know: If we were going to make this work, we had to think bigger than ourselves.
In this new venture, I couldn’t just sit behind my desk and stay hung up on business. I knew that I was going to have to get out there and start meeting people. So that’s what I did. I got involved with multiple professional boards and non-profit organizations. As a company, we embedded ourselves in the community, giving both time and money to organizations like Riverfest, Centers for Youth and Families, CARTI (Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute) the Children’s Protection Center, Ronald McDonald House, and most recently, the Children’s Tumor Foundation where I danced the Salsa knowing little about dancing.
It was amazing what transpired over the years. People began to recognize us as not just another copier company, but an organization committed to something bigger than ourselves. That’s what a great family does. It understands that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It realizes that there are needs out there beyond our own. When we can think beyond ourselves, we can do amazing things.
The Best is Yet to Be.
