May 26, 2017

Dear Grandchildren:

So how are you doing creating good habits for yourself? I know it’s a never-ending challenge, but the rewards are well worth your efforts. As I mentioned before, successful people have developed successful habits. Learn to observe what those habits are. Study successful people, talk to them, and ask questions. If your request is sincere, truly successful people are happy to share their ideas.

One person I admired was your great-grandfather, C. Glen Catt. It took me several years of working for and with him to realize he was a “special” businessman. I can say I learned from the best. He was always kind and treated everyone as an equal. He never took his success for granted. He was meticulous in everything he did. If he could avoid them, mistakes were not in his vocabulary.

His son, Dr. Larry Catt, has the same approach to life, and he is amazing at dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. Like father, like son. I say this with no hesitation, he’d have been a natural addition in our company if he hadn’t taken up veterinary medicine.

In your life and company, I’d like to introduce our fifth word: Accountability. Understand I’m not talking about accountability towards others, including your school, work, or family. No, I’m talking about being accountable to yourself. You and you alone can make a difference for you and your future. Yes, others will encourage and help you, but the results rests in your heart and mind.

Being accountable to yourself isn’t always easy, but it’s important for success. When to say yes and when to say no to yourself when you know that direction isn’t a good choice for your future.

For example, I was talking with my son Tom about my eating habits, and he shared how he has to say no to how much food he puts in his mouth. He said diets come and go, but eating just enough food every meal is his desire and choice. I noticed while we were golfing, we all ate a candy bar but he took a little nibble on his to quench his sugar craving then wrapped the rest for later. He was saying no to going along with the group and saying yes to his body and health. Good job, Son.

Your thoughts take shape as words, which shape your reality. So decide what is important to you, then pursue it. As you do, you’ll have the accountability of saying yes or no to the choices before you. This is where life gets a little harder. Many times, other people throw cold water on your dreams and efforts. Or other choices can also compromise your intended direction.

One time, when talking to a young associate in our company, he said, “I’d like to be a store manager someday”.

“I’m surprised,” I said.

He asked, “Why?”

“Because your approach to your job isn’t very serious. It takes a major commitment to learn and train for that position. You’re basically showing up for work and doing an okay job, but there doesn’t seem to be passion for your work and that isn’t going to cut it. If you approached becoming a store manager like you practice being a good golfer, the results would show.”

The bottom line Grandchildren is, this associate first had to decide what he really wanted in life. Was it to focus on his career or to become a better golfer? He had to make that decision for himself, then make those positive choices to fulfill his destiny. He may have to say yes to his career and no to playing golf all the time.

It’s easy to want to do everything that comes your way or to do what others are doing. God has given each of us a special gift and it’s up to us to discover what that gift is, then live it. It usually something that we enjoy doing or are passionate about.

For example, many high school athletes play three or four sports because they want to participate with their friends and have fun. But a few say no to the other sports and work on one particular sport year around. These are the athletes who usually play in colleges and a pro team. They have decided to focus on their goal, and this means having to say no to other things. Both are acceptable, but the one-sport athlete has to make a different sacrifice.

So this next month, write what you’d like your future to look like. Then realize it will be up to you primarily to be accountable to yourself to make the right choices to get there. And you may have to say no to yourself and that’s okay.

As always, I love hearing from you. Looking forward to seeing all of you at Jon and Alanna’s wedding.

I love you,

Grandpa