Sunday Night With John: A note from my younger self

A note from my younger self 

John Paul Derryberry 

Dear Older John, 

I hope you are having fun winter-trekking through the Ozarks. Please remember that watching Bear Grylls for three years does not make you a wilderness expert; neither do the ten hikes you have completed up to this point. Respect nature.  Also, do not let Kyle lead. He will attempt to talk you into a polar bear plunge because it will make for a good story. Look, we both love Kyle, and you could not ask for a better best friend, but sometimes his line of thinking goes way off the rails. 

However, I am not writing today to discuss the odd decision that, when life is so good, you decide to attempt your first winter trek in the middle of the coldest stretch of weather we’ve had in decades. We both know you will not stop searching out new stuff to do. I’m here today to remind you of the lessons and thoughts you have had and learned in the past, before you start your new adventure as a leader of the non-profit, Family Promise. See if you remember that this was always the goal -- to become a national public speaker and to run a non-profit. And here you sit, at age 35, on the cusp of completing both, which means you are actually starting both. 

The 23-year-old John wants to remind you of some lessons and some people who helped you along the way.  Remember how much you respected Theresa Jones for how open and honest she was with every employee? You filed that away and said that’s number one,  a leader must be honest even when it’s hard. You promised that when you were the leader, when you met the loud, passionate, and combative employee, you would thank them for challenging everyone to be better, not quell their drive. You would nurture your employees like former bosses, such as Bob and Ranea, did for you.  

Also remember, it’s never about you. It’s about the people you employ and the people you serve. Anytime you have gotten selfish in this career, things have gone sideways on you. Allow your unselfish nature to guide you. It has always helped the people you serve reach their desired outcomes. Lastly, and I cannot stress this enough, do not forget your principles. You dad started building them years ago, and you lucked into friends that shaped them. And then, you chose a wife who helped you polish those principles into the pillars of your character. Do not waver, or move away from them, you will need them now more than ever. 

If you haven’t already, set new goals -- ones that will serve the mission of Family Promise, ones that will help you and others build a non-profit that the community is proud of, ones that the people receiving services will speak highly of, and ones that the employees will grow under Family Promise’s direction -- now is the time to do it.

Finally, let a quote from one of the most iconic movies, Scent of a Woman, be your rallying cry: “I’m just getting warmed up.”  

Sincerely,

Younger John