A passionate life…
“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he is doing leaving others to wonder if he is working or playing because to him he is always doing both.” ~James A Michener
I was introduced to that quote over a decade ago at a conference in Orlando, FL. I found those words so profound that day, it’s what my father and Mr. Hensley built into our culture almost 60 years ago. That is, to build a business to endure multi-generational leadership, you must develop deep meaningful relationships with the people you serve and the people you serve with.
The financial service business by nature is transactional, but to build an independent, multi-generational business you must cultivate transformational relationships with your clients. They become part of a community, a family. So, the Michener quote inspired me and the firm to sharpen our focus on our relationships with clients, friends, and family.
But, as difficult as it is to go through change, change is inevitable. Therefore, this is another new beginning, a renewal like each new day!
God created night and day so we could wake each day new. God’s wisdom transcends through all facets of human endeavors, including B&H Wealth Strategies…so, endure we have, and endure we will, because this firm does not belong to me nor did it belong to my dad, nor will it belong to Jake when I have gone home. No, this firm belongs to the Lord; we are just stewards commissioned to use our God given minds to acquire knowledge in financial matters. He gave us two ears to listen to our clients and one mouth to ask questions in order to develop transformational relationships.
But, “The show must go on!” and B&H Wealth Strategies will most certainly go on as it has for nearly 60 years. Nancy, like my father, Bob Bingham and co-founder, Norman Hensley, and a list of supporting characters have helped build this firm and create a culture of being different from other financial/investment firms. This was done by delivering an experience of “going the extra mile” and by executing 4 simple things:
- Show up on time
- Do what you say you are going to do
- Finish what you start
- Say please and thank you
These are some of Papa’s Principles and they are true for both business and individuals.
So while the cast of characters change, the firm is built on a foundation that is rooted in these principles. They endure the test of time unlike humans who have expiration dates. These principles and values are passed on from one generation to the next, from one founder and one team member to the next.
Individuals may come and go, but the principles and values first come from God, who is the same today as he was yesterday, and will be tomorrow. We now call this our 4 Seasons Experience and began using that about a decade ago. We had been delivering “unreasonable hospitality” as a firm from the beginning in 1966, but we sharpened, refined, and identified the 4 Seasons Experience about the time we joined Silver Oak in 2015. But, it was new and had always been the culture, from the parking lot entrance of our home through the kitchen, greeted with a smile, a cup of coffee or cold beverage, into our living room waiting area, to our meeting room with a fireplace, crystal ball, chocolate kisses and Kleenex (real planning deals with life, sickness, and death). Our Center St. building is not an office, it is a home literally and is home to all B&H past, present and future. It has also been home to B&H team since 1987. So, it has been created by individuals who were given much by God and understand and honor the command that much is required.
Most of you have heard me say many times how much comfort, consistency and confidence it provides for the B&H family that when people become clients or team members they stick. In 2019, when Cathy Rhinehart retired, she had been with us for 21 years and at that time Nancy had been here over 23 years, and Sherry Bingham for over 18 years. When Cathy left the last day of May, Jake stepped into Cathy’s marketing role, albeit part-time, he was in school at UT Chattanooga. But, of course, “The show must go on!” The characters change, but the culture does not. The perfect is still strived for, the aim is at the highest. We always fall short of perfect, but it is always a worthy endeavor and while perfect is not attainable by humans, excellence is. The 4 Season Experience is that aim!
“The best is yet to come.” This is something I have been saying and writing into communications recently and I believe it with all my heart. Why, you might ask? Because we are just stewards of this business, each of us from the founders to myself, to Jake, and all the team members that have faithfully served our clients over the last 60 years. We were created by God and he is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow. As a result we are built to last. It is true that time stands still for no one, but a business built on a foundation of values and principles can endure through time, so our business should be just fine as we are setting the stage for our next 50 years.
This year we set out to put in place some procedures that if something happened to me (I am not planning on going anywhere, but…), Jake would not be left alone to run the firm. So, Billy Hopkins, President of Silver Oak Securities and my dear friend began discussing the future of B&H. We looked around as many corners as we could think of and thought of a few more. I will be glad to discuss these with each of you, but if I met my fate today, Jake and the B&H family would have an experienced and competent team of advisors working on your behalf as Jake quickly is settling into a highly skilled Wealth Advisor. We are doing some exciting things at the firm that are designed to improve your “Experience.” Stay tuned for updates and announcements.
The following is a quote from Thomas Carlyle and is often called The Great Law of Culture, “Let each become all that he was created capable of being.”
Keep the Faith, God Bless America
Jeff