WHAT ARE YOUR CORE VALUES?

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Hi there! Thank you for taking the time to read this. In October, Monarch decided to refine our core values. Our previous list of values was very admirable and true. However, they felt a little like something I put together because I knew we needed a list of words to anchor our mission. I probably read a business article talking about the importance of mission statements and other business phrasings.

12 years later I approached refining these values differently. I asked a few staff members to spend some time with me coming up with a theme for 2021. Themes are good because they drive marketing, conversations and unite a group of people. Think of a themed conference or party. The theme gives you a broad-brush idea of what to expect when you get there.

As we began to discuss theme ideas, one staff member said let’s take a theme from our core values. As we read through the dry list of words it became obvious that we needed to make these values more personal. I asked the team gathered to tell me what they see every day at Monarch.  Core values are who you are not who you want to be. That being said, we identified the following:

ROOTED IN RELATIONSHIPS

CULTIVATING COLLABORATION

GROWTH WITH PURPOSE

As we cemented these values it dawned on me that one cannot Grow without Collaboration and one can’t Collaborate without Relationships. These values work in business and in life. If you are frustrated or feel stuck it’s most likely because you are not growing. The lack of growth is going to be tied to relationship issues or lack of depth in the roots.

As your Chief Encouragement Officer, I challenge everyone to take inventory of your relationships. If your relationships are healthy, expect a big year that will include exciting collaboration and healthy growth.

Merry Christmas,

Matt Davenport

C.E.O.

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GET SMALL TO GET BIG

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This month is always amazing and exhausting. In addition to the holidays, we have two daughters that have December birthdays. By the time Santa gets here I feel like an ATM machine buried in some smoke-filled casino.  A few years ago I made a conscious effort to try and fight back the Grinchy tendencies by reducing December commitments and focusing on what’s important.

Most recently, my oldest daughter Madison turned sixteen. Madison is the type of kid that makes you feel like a good parent. She is smart, beautiful, and grounded. So, what does a smart, beautiful, and grounded young woman want to do for her birthday? Go stargazing of course. At her behest, my wife, Madison, and her three best friends loaded up the RV and headed to Joshua tree.

Due to Covid restrictions, we were forced to stay at a private campground in 29 palms. This extremely remote location was nothing but sand and stars. The new moon laid the black sky bare for us to see. This particular day was the Geminid meteor shower which was gracing us with nearly 100 shooting stars an hour.  

There we were sitting with our lawn chairs leaned all the way back in the middle of the desert. We piled up blankets, crammed hand warmers in our pockets, and simply stared off into the great unknown. As the minutes passed, my mind began to move away from analytical and into observation. Stars seem to be falling on top of us and I simply felt small. Better said, I felt like a should feel.  

Often times, we think we are bigger than we are. We think if this goes right or if this goes wrong life is over. Yet, there I was with my wife, my oldest child, and her best friends realizing that I am small. I require help, I don’t control every outcome.

Getting small means to see yourself rightly. Nature always does that to me. I feel like I’m in control until I get into the ocean. I feel strong until I walk amongst trees that have survived the past 200 years. I feel noteworthy until I stare up into the sky. Anytime I stop thinking about myself, I become more creative and think bigger.

Your Chief Encouragement Officer hasn’t figured anything out. I’m on a journey just like you. My encouragement this week is simple. If you feel Big, Get Small. If you feel Small, Think Big.

Star Gaze,

Matt Davenport

C.E.O.

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ARE YOU A LEADER?

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The simple answer is yes. We are all leaders in our own spheres. Leadership happens in the home, at work, with kids, at the car wash, at Costco, on the freeway, you name it, leadership is required in every aspect of your day. You are probably disqualifying yourself as you read this. Well… I’m not a leader like this person or all I do is this or that. Stop it!

There are 2 types of leaders, good leaders and bad leaders. A good leader is able to pull something out of a person that others never thought possible. A good leader sees value in others and does not seek recognition in the process. A good leader is a person that is willing to speak hard truths to someone who is humble enough to hear it.

A good leader goes out ahead of those they are leading and looks for landmines. A good leader does what they are asking you to do. A good leader takes ownership of the mistakes of those they are leading. A good leader never blames others. A good leader is always learning. A good leader is a hard worker. A good leader is persistent. A good leader elevates those around them. A good leader is accountable to their purpose. A good leader reproduces other good leaders.

A bad leader does the exact opposite of all those listed above.

You are a leader. You may not be a perfect leader but if you listen, humble yourself and acknowledge that you are held to a higher standard than others, you will grow into a leader that you would want to follow.

Lead,

Matt Davenport

C.E.O.

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