Collin County Living Well Magazine Fall 2013 | Page 53

Most business leaders today will tell you the health and well-being of their employees is an important part of running a business. Always a man ahead of his time, Pickens was one of the first to promote the idea that physical fitness led to more productive workers. In 1979 Pickens built a multi-million dollar fitness center for Mesa Petroleum and instituted one of the first corporate wellness programs for all employees. Through the 1980s, Mesa Petroleum went through a period of huge growth as a business, and Pickens attributes much of this success to his focus on corporate health and wellness. His dedication to both his personal fitness and the physical fitness of his whole company led to Mesa Petroleum being declared the “Most Physically Fit Company in America” in 1985. This commitment to physical fitness also began to show its financial value. Mesa was showing health care savings of nearly $1.6 million a year. Mesa’s health care cost per employee dropped far below the national average and even further below the energy sector average. Participants in the program were more energetic and more productive than non-participants. Pickens proudly states, “We had the best coverage at the lowest cost. We had the fewest sick days of anybody. You could see our results right there.” Pickens proved that a healthy, fit workforce was a more productive and efficient one. He cared so much about the health of his community that he implemented cash incentives for employees whose families participated in the program. Pickens believes one of the keys to the success of his program was the fact that he made company executives participate in the program and used them as role models for other employees. The program bonded Mesa employees together and created a deep sense of camaraderie. Pickens demonstrated that no matter where you are in the corporate world, taking care of your body and keeping yourself in shape is always important. Pickens’ efforts to improve company performance through healthier workers began a trend of corporate wellness programs that continues in many businesses to this day.

Pickens, shown in the office workout room in 1994, has pioneered company health and fitness programs throughout his career. regularly displaying his prowess on the racquetball court. Pickens recalls, “I was often racquetball champion for months at a time.” Describing the friendly games he would play at Mesa with his co-workers, “As the champion I could never dodge a challenge.” Although he finally quit playing racquetball at 65, he still exercises every day and has used the same personal trainer for more than 20 years. When asked why he made his own health such a priority, Pickens replied, “I don’t want to get old and feel bad; it’s that simple. I’ve seen too many people do it to themselves; smoke, drink, obesity, one thing or the other. They’re not going to say I did it to myself.” In 2008, Pickens shifted from focusing on individual health to the health of the environment with the Pickens

“exercise has always been in my blood”
Pickens himself was one of the most avid participants in the fitness program. According to Pickens, “Exercise has always been in my blood, so if I drop out and don’t do something for a little while, I feel guilty.” Pickens was introduced to racquetball in his 40s and became a regular player at his local YMCA. As he played, Pickens noticed his concentration improve, in addition to becoming more energetic. After building the fitness center at Mesa Petroleum, he practically became a fixture at the gym,

I don’t want to get old and feel bad:

it’s that

simple.

Collin County Living Well Magazine • Fall 2013

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