Timeless Values demand continuous change

I grew up on a farm near Springfield, IL. Both my parents came from many generations of farmers. It seemed inevitable during my formative years in the 1970s and 80s that I, or one or more of my 4 siblings, would also be farmers. That was not meant to be, for reasons that I will share.

By today's standards, our farm was small. Back then, we were considered to be a large farm operation. At one time, we annually raised 300 pigs, 100 cattle, and several hundred acres of corn and soybeans. A farm family of 7 could not support themselves today on such a meager foundation. The largest farmer in that county then farmed 3,000 acres. Today, the largest farmer in that county farms over 50,000 acres.

My dad had a deep respect for the long heritage of our farm from previous generations. He worked extraordinarily hard, and he expected the same from all of us. In addition to farming, he ran a Mobil gas station, sold seed corn, delivered US mail, and had a snow plowing business in the winter.

"It was just as important to me that my customers and employees trusted me as it was that my wife and kids trusted me."

Dad never took anything for granted. Always stretching himself, he learned to become a great farm machinery mechanic, performed most veterinary services on his own animals, studied the commodities markets to know better when to sell grain or livestock, and monitored weather patterns with a satellite dish before anyone knew what one was. He bought a personal computer when they came out in 1983, and continuously challenged himself to learn new technologies until he died at age 92.

What does this have to do with you, me, or Med One? Well, a lot!

My parents had a set of strong timeless values: do it right the first time, always finish the job, do what needs to be done before you are asked to do it, do the right thing all the time, never stop learning, don't get stuck in the past, and many more such sayings! Med One has a long history of consistently doing the right thing for its customers, employees, and families. For decades, the company has made difficult decisions, worked tirelessly, and continually evolved to meet the needs of the market and its stakeholders. Throughout this time, Med One has remained guided by a strong set of values, principles, and an uncompromising work ethic, while also embracing change, staying ahead of the market, and making strategic financial investments in the future.

And to be sure, there were failures and setbacks along the way, just as there were for my parents. Sometimes we get second chances and sometimes we don't. We cannot grow comfortable thinking that there will always be a second chance in our work or our relationships. We have to work, prepare, practice, and focus on what we are called to do at work and at home so that we maximize our limited time, use all of our abilities, and make a difference in every aspect of our lives.

I have never been one to distinguish between my life at home and at work. I have strived to pursue the same high standards in all areas of my life because if I was compromised in one area, it was inevitable that it would negatively affect all areas. It was just as important to me that my customers and employees trusted me as it was that my wife and kids trusted me. Just as when a piece of trash blowing through your yard needs to be picked up, so too does a piece of trash in the parking lot at Med One need to be picked up.

Med One's Timeless Values

• CREATIVITY
• OBSERVANT LISTENING
• UNITED TEAMWORK
• RESPONSIVENESS
• ABOVE & BEYOND
• GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS
• EVERYDAY - DO IT RIGHT
• OUTSTANDING INTEGRITY
• UNIQUE PATIENCE
• SIMPLICITY
• LEARNING & GROWING
• YOU'RE THE DIFFERENCE

Med One has timeless values that are consistently reinforced in all of our messaging. Timeless values (culture) do not mean that nothing needs to change. In fact, we need to be changing continuously. Learning, stretching, evolving, and opening our minds to new and better ways to serve our customers, our fellow employees, and even our family and friends. Searching for improvements to everything we do, finding ways to do things we previously thought were not possible, and delivering at a lower cost or more efficiently. That is what is needed to safeguard timeless values!

Let us all be someone who doesn't just depend on authority or direction or inertia, but who is eager to take responsibility, act with urgency, and bring out the best in everyone around us. That is the way my parents lived their entire life, and they have 5 kids that are still living those timeless values.

One of the most difficult decisions my dad ever faced was when he realized that his kids needed to go do something else productive with their lives besides farming. The investments needed to support two more families on the same farm required new thinking. His decision was decisive and without any regret. The world had changed for small farmers, and my siblings were compelled (and supported by our parents) to start new businesses and careers with the same timeless values of our youth. My cousins would go on to farm the land at a much larger scale, and that heritage continues in all of our hearts.

Med One is a great company for the countless reasons that we all know well. Culture and values are a foundation that demand growth, learning, stretching, and investing for everyone associated with the company. As we start a new year, let us all embrace this promising future by calling ourselves to new levels of performance and adherence to timeless values at work and at home.