Winning Spirit Magazine September-October 2015 | Page 2

MESSAGE FROM LHMSE PRESIDENT STEVE STARKS GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY In the tunnel of the Utah Jazz locker room, there is a quote visible to everyone who enters or leaves: “Nobody laid down, nobody quit, nobody left anything in the locker room. It was all out there on the floor…I’ve always said to our guys, ‘I’ll never ask you to win, but I will ask you to give us everything you’ve got.’” – Larry H. Miller I love this quote because it is a reminder that one of our core values is hard work and giving your best every day. This value of hard work is as relevant to each of our 11,000 employees as it is to the Jazz players. Whether you are selling sports apparel at a Fanzz store, reviewing contracts for Total Care Auto, or playing point guard, you can leave it “all out there on the floor.” In the Who We Are booklet, Hard Work is listed as Value #2. In this section we read: “Hard work is a commitment to excellence. It’s about applying fundamental disciplines consistently. As we do so, we get better every day.” Getting better every day is a result of consistent hard work. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased.” took pride in his work. I was even more impressed after meeting him and discovering that he worked part-time having recently retired after a great career. He could have walked past the fingerprints on the door frame and nobody would have noticed but, instead, he was leaving it “all out there on the floor.” As we do the same, we find greater enjoyment and fulfillment in our work. True satisfaction comes not just in finishing, but also in exerting sincere effort. This is true in our personal lives as well. We are fortunate to have an organizational culture that encourages both hard work and quality of life. I learned this lesson in my third year with the group. I had been working hard on several projects without taking time off for more than a year. One day in my office, Clark Whitworth and Jay Francis asked me when I last took a vacation. When I explained how long, they were both firm in encouraging me to take some time away from the office and be with my young family. They warned me that if I failed to do this, I would eventually burn out and become ineffective at both home and the office. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE THAT ENCOURAGES BOTH HARD WORK AND QUALITY OF LIFE. In the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, each of us is part of a team. Great teams put in the hard work necessary for each member to learn their role, communicate effectively, and learn together how to adapt and become better. Championship-caliber teams in all industries place a premium on teamwork and getting better every day. Last year I was visiting one of our Megaplex Theatres in St. George and noticed one of our teammates across the lobby cleaning a door frame with a spray bottle and a rag. The man didn’t know he was being watched, but it was evident how much he cared and LHM Group’s Value #2: Hard Work. Events like the Tour of Utah, the LHM 1000, an NBA or SL Bees season, or even completing a college degree don’t just “happen.” They take commitment and hard work, all while facing constant challenges and surprises along the way. The best kind of “hard work” happens when you put your heart into it – when it transcends being a “task” and turns into a passion. Satisfaction comes not just in finishing the project or reaching the goal, but in exerting a sincere effort to get there. This was a great life lesson for my family and we are grateful for their encouragement. Along the way, Gail and Greg Miller have often reinforced the need for all of us to be good at work and home. I also encourage you to strike a healthy work/life balance because you will be better and find greater fulfillment in your entire life. As you continue to leave it “all out there on the floor,” you will continue to grow in your career and be more successful in your personal life. As we all continue to work hard by leaving it “all out there on the floor,” we will continue to be a world-class organization that reaches new heights and enriches an increasing number of lives. WS Discussion ideas for managers, leaders and teams: 1. What do hard work and excellence have in common? How do you (individually and as a group) measure hard work and excellence? 2. How do you stay motivated to give your best every day without becoming burned out? What’s the best way to get/stay excited about the work? 3. What goals do you have (individually and as a group), and what steps are you taking to make them a reality?