Broken Icee Machines & Other Preventable Grievances

I've always had a love affair
with Frozen Drinks

I love Icees. 

          For reelz, folks.

With all my heart, I... really... love... Icees—and slurpees and slushies and shaved ice and candy and soda pop and... well, a lot of things that can be found lining the walls and shelves of your local convenience store.

Throughout my travels to all 50 U.S. States over the years, my love of convenience stores has of course accompanied me. Consequently, I have become a fairly knowledgeable and credible Convenient Store Connoisseur, at least in the United States.

Laugh if you must, but I am not joking. I'm a pretty good authority on the best places around the country to quickly and easily satiate those persistent sugar cravings.

To wit: Buc-ees of Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida is by far the best. Indeed, without any question or debate, Buc-ees is the perennial GOLD MEDALIST at the Convenience Store Olympics—held about every other day in the arena of my mouth. And the good news is that they are in the process of expanding into Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

God Bless the South!  

          Click HERE to learn more about Dr. JJ's lifelong love affair with the Southern States.   

While less grandiose and expansive than Buc-ees, QuikTrip crosses the finish line in a strong second place finish (more on QuikTrip later in this article). RaceTrac brings home the bronze, and Maverick and 7-11 merit honorable mentions. Everyone else is just an "also ran" albeit with some glowing individual exceptions here-and-there. As for the bottom of the pack, I'll just leave it at: "If I can't say something nice, I won't say anything at all!"   

A new Buc-ees near Daytona Beach, Florida. Notice the
halo of sunlight just above the beaver's head?
Coincidence? Uh, I don't think so!

Having moved away from Texas, I sadly am unable to darken Buc-ees' doorways as often as I used to. My wonderful wife—the CFO of our family—feels otherwise, which is due mainly to her puzzling preference for reviewing monthly credit card statements bereft of a big bill from Beavertown. 

This glaring loss to my sugar life was recently mollified to some degree upon my visit to a brand new Buc-ees in Florida, which recently opened along I-95 just outside of Daytona Beach. It is only the second Buc-ees to grace the Sunshine State, and more are on their way. 

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

QuikTrips have not yet come to Florida, but RaceTrac and 7-11 are fairly common here. And it won't surprise you to learn that I'm not above driving out of my way to visit a specific location in search of a delicious Icee or Slurpee with perfect sweetness, frozenness, texture, and consistency. Indeed, you might say I'm also something of a frozen drink connoisseur. And on those rare occasions when I find one that is "Just Right," I feel as though I've stumbled across a veritable gas station goldmine—and continue to "whistle while I work" my way back to said mine over-and-over-and-over again.

Indeed, it can be devilishly difficult to find a frozen beverage confection that is "Just Right," especially at anywhere other than Buc-ees—which is uncannily consistent at everything they do, wherever they exist. That is one of the reasons Buc-ees is, hands-down, the consistent gold medalist at the convenient store olympics.  

But why is this?

Why can't everybody else get it as right (and as often) as Buc-ees does? 

For example, why do I keep visiting my local RaceTrac only to find that most of the eight Icee machines are either malfunctioning or not functioning at all?

How is that serving the customer?

Does the manager have any idea how much money she is losing from people like me because most of her Icee machines are down seemingly most of the time? Does he even care about how his staff's poor service is hurting his store's bottom line? Doesn't she know that "The Customer is Always Right" and I (the customer) say they are seriously screwing up their Icee sales potential. And for what?

Inattention?

     Apathy?

          Laziness?

               A personal vendetta against Icee lovers?

Whatever the reason[s], the bottom line is that some vendors simply care more about the customer (and their own bottom line) than others. Buc-ees, for example, has better LEADERSHIP and really cares about its customers. And that is precisely why they have about a bazillion customers visit their stores every day of the year.  

Broken things were not meant to stay broken.
They were meant to be FIXED!

At Freedom Focused, we are frustrated by broken Icee machines (literally and figuratively speaking)—and especially the ones that remain broken for days and weeks on end. I mean, we understand that things break. What we do not understand is why people will go for-(seemingly)-ever before they bother to buckle down and get things fixed up and properly running again. 

At Freedom Focused, our vision is to be the Buc-ees of professional education, character development, and self-help. Aside from our aim of being the very best and biggest in the industry, we (more importantly) genuinely CARE about our customers, clients, and students. As such, we never settle for mediocrity—or even above average. We never let things stay broken, and we are continually working to improve everything we do as leaders, trainers, producers, and customer-service experts.  

For me personally, a primary motivator for building Freedom Focused from the ground up has been the mediocrity and poor customer service I continually see all around me. While there are a variety of noticeable and noble exceptions to this trend—which always inspires me—it seems as though the prevailing cultural winds blowing through American Corporations and other organizations of all kinds are perpetually lacking in both the kind and degree of EXCELLENCE of which their agents are capable. It's not that they couldn't be stellar; it's that they choose—by virtue of their thoughts, speech, behaviors, habits, and cultures—to be less than their capabilities and potential. 

And it always begins with the small things—with the broken "Icee machines" that go unfixed. 

The ignominious Enrons and WorldComs of our society do not implode overnight. It always begins with small acts of apathy, laziness, duplicity, and vice. Then it multiplies and builds until one day: KaBoom!

And while most companies don't completely atrophy from the inside-out, many organizations do fail to reach their fullest potential—not because they can't, but because they simply don't know how, or don't care enough to try hard enough. For far too many people and organizations, "Good Enough" is, too often, well, good enough.  

At Freedom Focused, we think this is sad.

          We also think it is avoidable. 

No one individual or organization is perfect; nor will there ever be such an organization in this world. But that's okay because we are not asking for perfection. We are merely calling for excellence—consistent, persistent, dedicated, and even elite EXCELLENCE.

Is that too much to ask for?  

Unfortunately, for far too many organizations, it apparently is too much to ask. Indeed, I could go on for days about all the negative experiences I have had with companies that were performing far below their potential, but I think you get my drift. 

Since we can only control ourselves as self-action leaders, we at Freedom Focused aim to persistently and consistently direct that control where it belongs—on making our own selves, groups, teams, and organization the very best they can be. That means when things break, we fix them; when things need upgrading, we upgrade them; and when things need changing, we change them. And we always begin, continue, and end with an indefatigable quest after the most important kind of change in the world. What kind of change is that, you ask? 

The answer is: SELF-CHANGE. 

It also means we are prepared to release (aka FIRE) anyone who fails to live up to the stirringly high expectations set forth in our corporate Declaration of Independence and Constitution. After all, no one—including myself as the Founder and CEO—is above the law; and at Freedom Focused, our corporate DoI and Constitution are THE LAW.

Convenient Store Olympics Podium Winners
Gold Medal: Buc-ees of Texas.
Silver Medal: QuikTrip of Oklahoma.
Bronze Medal: RaceTrac of Georgia.

Like Buc-ees, one of the things that makes QuikTrip score so high in the convenient store olympics is the culture of EXCELLENCE it has established at every one of its 835 locations. 

Unlike most gas stations, QuikTrip sets the bar high for its employees. Just any old "Jane" or "Joe" cannot work at QuikTrip. You must have "outstanding social skills, presentable character and social adaptability, [a] positive attitude ... and [a] willingness to work hard."*

And if you've ever visited a QuikTrip, you learn that its employers mean what they say because QuikTrip employees are FANTASTIC—I'm talking heads and shoulders ahead of most of their peers at other convenient stores in terms of their attitude, conduct, decorum, intelligence, and performance. Such employees turn a simple visit to your neighborhood gas station into a pleasurable experience that is both remarkable and memorable.  

A math test and other certifications are also standard operating procedures during the hiring process at QuikTrip.* While it is harder to get a job at QT than at most other convenience stores, the benefits in pay and other compensations make it worth it. And having QuikTrip on your resume will outshine most other convenient store brands.  

Years ago, I had the opportunity to facilitate a training seminar at QuikTrip corporate headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was impressed with what I experienced and observed there. My time there, in concert with my countless visits to actual QuikTrip convenient stores throughout Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, and Texas over the years, further instilled within my mind and heart a VISION for the kind of EXCELLENCE that Freedom Focused expects of its leaders, trainers, and other agent-employees.  

Human beings are admittedly imperfect. However, this reality should never lead us to cower beneath our inspiring—even sky-high—potential for EXCELLENCE and GROWTH. Despite how far we have come in the history of this world, we can still go so much faster and farther, do so much better, and become so much more. 

Freedom Focused will lead this effort throughout the first half of the twenty-first century—and beyond. To learn more about how we aim to accomplish this, visit our website at www.freedomfocused.com.

Over the weekend, my wife and I stayed a couple nights at a hotel on Miami Beach to celebrate our 13th Anniversary and my 42nd birthday. After visiting South Beach and the hotel pool on Saturday afternoon, I spent some time relaxing on our 9th floor balcony. As I peered out on the beautiful downtown Miami skyline, I reflected on the progress that has been made in our world since I was born in 1979. On many fronts, such progress has been impressive, revolutionary, and even quantum in nature.

Despite this fact, I would argue that we still have so much to accomplish and look forward to in the next 42 years. These uplifting and spectacular changes and developments will mirror the micro and macro character improvements and infusions of integrity that Freedom Focused will influence and lead throughout the United States and World in coming decades.

Think the world has changed in a LOT in the last 6,000 years?
Or even the last 40?
Just wait until the next 40!

On August 21, 2063—my 84th birthday—I'm looking forward to reflecting back once again on what we've accomplished together. When that distant, yet certain-to-come day arrives, I am confident we will all look back and be even more amazed looking back than we are now. As hard as that may be to imagine, that's my prediction—and I'm sticking to it!

As such, I invite you to buckle your seatbelt, hold on tight, and prepare yourself for the ride of your life because the next four decades are going to be an exciting, fulfilling, and growth-filled adventure the likes of which this world has never before seen in its approximately six-millennial span of recorded history. 

Get ready my colleagues and friends; the world is about to change in ways never before imagined. And YOU have the unprecedented opportunity to be a part of it.

Let's get moving!          

-Dr. JJ

August 25, 2021

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 226th Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013. 

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 225 FF Blog Articles.  

.........................

Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

And if you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to sign up to receive future articles for FREE every Wednesday.

To sign up, please email freedomfocused@gmail.com and say SUBSCRIBE, or just YES, and we will ensure you receive a link to each new blog article every Wednesday.  

Click HERE to learn more about Freedom Focused

Click HERE to learn more about Dr. Jordan Jensen

Click HERE to buy the SAL Textbooks

Notes:

* See https://www.job-applications.com/quik-trip-job-application/

The Magic and Power of Synergy

You are probably familiar with the famous acronym T.E.A.M., which stands for: Together Everyone Achieves More. 

This cooperation cliche is often just that—a cliche. And while it makes a good classroom poster or workplace buzz word, rarely is it fully exposed for the priceless gem it really is. Indeed, there is enormous meaning and power in this simple statement. 

The acronym T.E.A.M is a simplistic encapsulation of another word that is likewise jam packed with meaning and power.

The word is: SYNERGY 

In the fields of leadership and human resources, SYNERGY is a term used to describe the possibilities and potential of human beings when they work together effectively and harmoniously. More specifically, it has been described as a process that unfolds when: "the whole [becomes] greater than the sum of its parts."* 

1 + 1 = 3 (or more)

According to Dr. Stephen R. Covey, when SYNERGY is unleashed, one plus one can equal more than two; and in some cases, much more than two. What exactly does that mean? It means that two or more people working well as a team can always accomplish more together than they ever could if they invested the same amount of time and effort separately. 

The phenomenon of SYNERGY can be seen in any relationship, group, team, department, organization, community, state, nation, or world when its respective members figure out how to work together effectively and harmoniously. Doing so is not always easy. But for those who succeed in spawning SYNERGY, any marriage, friendship, partnership, or any other kind of human relationship, team, or organization realizes heights that would be unattainable without it. Conversely, the absence of SYNERGY is just as noticeable, albeit in a negative sense. 

Think about it for a second...

From your knowledge and experience, what is the smoothest running organization that provides the best customer experience and service? Whatever your answer to this question might be, that organization has almost certainly figured out how to create massive amounts of SYNERGY as a result of their leadership, culture, systems, and practices.

My personal answer to this question would be two fold: Buc-ees and QuickTrip convenient stores. And if you have any experience with either of these two convenient store chains, you know immediately what I am talking about.

The SYNERGY is so strong at Buc-ees that whenever I get within parking distance of its big, adorable beaver logo, I swear the heavens open and multitudes of angels begin to sing. I suppose the fact that I love convenient stores about three times more than the average person deserves some credit for this seeming angelic chorus; nevertheless, the SYNERGY is thick and strong wherever a Buc-ees is built. And I've had to face up to the fact that angels simply don't sing as loud or long at other convenient stores.  Although much smaller in scope, QuickTrip convenient stores offer similar service, quality, and cleanliness. Back in 2012, I had a chance to conduct a professional training seminar for QuickTrip at their Corporate Headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was impressed at their facilities and the way they valued and treated their employees. The whole experience has remained a positive memory for me.      

What sets Buc-ees and QuickTrip apart from the hundreds of other convenient store brands throughout the United States and beyond? While there are many answers to this question (i.e. clean bathrooms, professional and efficient customer service, expansive customer-centric product selection, etc.), it is SYNERGY that ultimately drives the desirable outcomes that keep customers coming back again-and-again to these stores—and avoiding their competitors in favor of them.

The leadership, culture, systems, and best practices employed at Buc-ees and QuickTrip maximize the productivity and quality unleashed by their impressive array of human capital (managers and employees). They also tend to attract top talent because of their reputation for higher pay, standards of excellence, and brand supremacy. Yet, in the end, the people who work at Buc-ees and QuickTrip are just human beings like the rest of us. As such, the real difference can be explained in their capacity to consistently generate SYNERGY.  

SYNERGY is a driving force behind all above-average and superior team performances. And the same can be said of individual relationships, like marriages, friendships, and even business partnerships.

I never ceased to be amazed at the power of SYNERGY that has been unleashed in my personal marriage.

I do not have a perfect marriage; no one does. However, it is pretty good, and the productivity and progress that has occurred in our relationship, family, personal lives, and careers the past 13 years since Lina and I tied the knot on 8/8/08 has been a beautiful and productive experience. 

On our own, Lina and I each have individual talents, abilities, and capacities. Moreover, we are both capable of accomplishing significant things independent of each other.

However... as we have worked together effectively and harmoniously, the difference—meaning the surplus productivity, progress, and prosperity derived through cooperative SYNERGY—is noticeable and the results have been highly desirable in both of our lives.

In short, our mutual commitment to continually helping and serving each other as EQUAL PARTNERS has been an ongoing source of satisfaction, success, and of course—SYNERGY.

The united, proactive, and intentional convergence of our two separate lives, talent sets, educations, proclivities, and strengths has empowered us to get more done in less time, ease the stress and burdens of each other, and progress in our lives and careers far better and faster than we could ever have done all on our own. In fact, my own career wouldn't even exist—at least not in the same way—if it weren't for Lina's successful career. Moreover, Lina's career—to say nothing of our children's well being—would face a slew of added challenges and stresses if I was not able to be a stay-at-home Dad.

One specific, outlying, and memorable example of the power of synergy in our marriage took place shortly after we tied the knot in 2008. We were able to save $20,000 on tuition Lina's senior year of college (2008-09) at Georgia Tech because she was able to secure State residency by being married to me, a Georgia State resident. Later, Lina's successful career proved a primary driver of eliminating our combined student loan and business debt. 

Bottom Line: we continually help each other, magnify each other's strengths, and minimize each other's weaknesses; and the result is the creation of a huge amount of productive SYNERGY in our personal lives, professional careers, and family relationships.  

One of my favorite things about the creation of SYNERGY is that we as individuals can avoid some of the things we least like to do by helping each other based on our unique, individual competencies and proclivities. For example, I am not very good at, nor do I like: cooking, managing money, and doing taxes. Lina is better at these activities and doesn't mind them the way I do. On the other hand, I focus more on doing the dishes, taking out the trash, and attending to yard work—and I am more than happy to oblige in these ways in order to avoid the aforementioned tasks.

We both, of course, still have to do our fair share of hard and/or unpleasant work tasks on a regular basis. For example, I still cook sometimes and Lina still does dishes from time-to-time. Nevertheless, by completely committing to our mutual lives together and continually helping each other until the work gets done, much time is saved and enormous amounts of SYNERGY is produced along the way. The result of this SYNERGY is that both Lina and I are farther ahead in our lives together than we could ever hope to be separately. For this, and many other reasons, I dearly love Lina, and enjoy being married to her. 

"Thee lift me and I'll lift thee; and we shall both ascend together."

— Old Quaker Proverb 

Marriage, of course, is not always readily possible (or even desirable) for everyone, and even when it is, it comes with a measure of adjustment and difficulty. But when it works—meaning, when two people mutually commit to making it work—it can be a truly magical, rewarding, and satisfying experience. And I have experienced enough of this magic to give thanks everyday to God for my wonderful wife and life partner. And I will do everything in my power until the day I die to nurture, cultivate, perpetuate, and prosper this sacred relationship.

Does this mean marriage is always easy for Lina and me. Of course not! Does it mean we never disagree? No! If two people in any relationship never disagree, I would wager at least one of the two is almost certainly not thinking for oneself, or is failing to consistently speak one's own mind on matters that arise. Nevertheless, despite any and all difficulties or issues that arise, we have mutually committed—and even covenanted—with each other and with God that we will always value the sacred union of our marriage above and beyond any disagreement, no matter how seemingly pressing or significant in the moment. This conscious, committed, and mutual dedication to this common cause has thus far enabled us to successfully navigate any bumps in the road, and everyone faces bumps in the road of marriage. Lina and I certainly have. That's just real life.

I could go on to detail other, different friendships, relationships, and business partnerships that have been similarly blessed by the magic and power of SYNERGY, but I think you get the point.  

In summary, consider some of the secrets and obstacles to SYNERGY, as follows:

I will add to this list the importance of never giving up when the cause is worthy or the relationship or team is worth saving—and more often than not, it is! 

Whatever relationships, teams, or organizations you find yourself a part of, aim for SYNERGY. While it is not always readily achieved, it is worth continually working towards, striving for, and never giving up on. Why? Because if you are willing to persistently and patiently pay the price over time, the rewards of SYNERGY are rich, highly desirable, and include payments of compound interest.  

Much of what I have learned about SYNERGY has been a result of personal experience as well as reading the work of Dr. Stephen R. Covey. Dr. Covey rightly teaches that NATURE itself is highly synergistic, and therefore provides us with a plentitude of natural examples of its genius that we can readily observe and apply. He also teaches the possibility of intra-personal SYNERGY, and suggests that the pursuit of SYNERGY within ourselves—created among the disparate parts of our own mind, heart, body, and spirit—is as desirable and important as the pursuit of SYNERGY among others with whom we live and work. This principle is a vital component of the SAL Theory and SAL Model, and invites self-action leaders to approach the leadership of their lives holistically with a balanced focus on all aspects of their nature (i.e. constitutional, spiritual, moral, mental, physical, emotional, social, and financial)

To bolster your own understanding of SYNERGY, I recommend you begin by reading about HABIT 6 in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. In conjunction with having read this article, studying Dr. Covey's work on SYNERGY will provide you with a springboard that will propel your understanding and application of this incredibly valuable personal and interpersonal phenomenon. When properly applied, you will begin to see your own relationships and organizations become further impacted by the magic and power of SYNERGY. And the results will be truly transformational and life-changing in the very best of ways.  

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Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

And if you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to sign up to receive future articles for FREE every Wednesday.

To sign up, please email freedomfocused@gmail.com and say SUBSCRIBE, or just YES, and we will ensure you receive a link to each new blog article every Wednesday.  

Click HERE to learn more about Freedom Focused

Click HERE to learn more about Dr. Jordan Jensen

Click HERE to buy the SAL Textbooks

References

*  Covey, S.R. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York, NY: Fireside. Page 263.