5 min read

A Little Empathy Goes A Long Way

By Liesel Mindrebo Mertes on Mar 7, 2024 6:30:00 AM

 

Empathy, or the lack of it, makes for unforgettable customer experiences. 

Last spring, my older son got his third concussion while scrambling for an errant, playground football. It was a long night in the ER, and we weren't discharged until nearly midnight. 
 
And when it rains, sometimes it pours. My all-day conference was winding down two days later when my husband texted:  "I think Moses is having appendicitis; I'm taking him to the ER." 
 

Topics: Leadership
4 min read

It's Been One Year...ALREADY?!?

By Laura Butler on Feb 22, 2024 6:30:00 AM

 

After making any sort of significant change in your life, you may have found yourself saying “Well, it’s only been a few months since…” to explain why you don’t know something, why you’re still catching up, or as it relates to the progress you’ve made in a positive way. Recently, I found myself saying, “Well, it’s been almost a year since I joined Gibson.” What I didn’t say out loud, but was certainly thinking in my head, was “ALREADY?!?” 

 

So much can change in 12 months. And life changes—such as a career move—are not ones to make lightly or haphazardly. As my dad taught me, “You find a job and work really hard. You stay loyal to them, and they will be loyal to you. You ride out the hard times because of the good.”   

Topics: Leadership Team Leadership
6 min read

Pursue Growth: An Ongoing Journey

By Jon Slusser on Feb 8, 2024 6:30:00 AM


On May 2, 2022, my mother, Kelly Slusser, was killed in an auto accident. She was involved in a head-on collision. The other driver was texting and driving. 
 

As a devoted stay-at-home mom, my mother raised five children, and was at every game, concert, and birthday, as well as the occasional meeting with the school principal. She was relatively quiet and reserved. At her funeral, I expected to see a few family members and close friends. To my surprise, hundreds of people showed up, with a line extending out of the building.

Topics: Commercial Risk Management
4 min read

Throwback Thursday: Accelerate Success…By Slowing Down For A Day

By Brock Squire on Jan 25, 2024 6:30:00 AM

Throwback Thursday: This blog was written in January 2020. Four years (and a pandemic) later, here I am getting ready for another Gibson State Of The Company meeting - this time with over 170 employees tuning in from offices in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Utah! It has been exciting to see these meetings evolve with our organization, but even if some of the elements have changed, the essentials are the same – we are paying close attention to the details to make this meeting a great experience for our people, employee recognition is a BIG part of the day, and we always try to have some fun!  

Earlier this month I attended my first Gibson State Of The Company (SOTC) meeting. All 140 Gibson employees gathered in South Bend for the day to reflect on the past 12 months and ignite our energy for the year ahead.

Topics: Executive
4 min read

Doing Better Work in 2024

By Nicole Fallowfield on Jan 11, 2024 6:30:00 AM

 

I have never been one for making New Year’s resolutions. In my experience, these grand promises we make to ourselves often prove to be more daunting than beneficial and are rarely sustainable beyond the first few weeks of the year, leading to feelings of failure.   

This year, I am taking a different approach. I’m focusing on gradual, consistent improvement—implementing small, manageable daily changes that allow me to do better work and commit to being excellent in what I do. 

Setting my focus on doing better work does not mean my current work isn’t great or impactful. It means I am setting a goal of sustainable excellence—and creating a system that allows me to support myself in reaching my greatest potential. 

Below are a few simple strategies I’m incorporating into my work routine in 2024. I encourage you to try integrating one, two, or all these habits into your work life, too. I am confident these little steps, taken consistently, will lead to big achievements over time. 

Topics: Executive
2 min read

Top 5 Blogs Of 2023

By Tim Leman on Dec 21, 2023 6:30:00 AM

We started our Gibson leadership blogs over 10 years ago – wow! I’ve especially enjoyed the unique collection of leadership thoughts, perspectives, and insights our guest bloggers have provided. I also want to thank our Gibson team for sharing their voices throughout the year – it was great to have so many of my fellow employee-owners featured in our posts!  

Let's celebrate our most popular blogs of 2023.  

Topics: Executive
4 min read

Top 5 Podcasts Of 2023

By Tim Leman on Dec 14, 2023 6:30:00 AM

What a year for The Edge Podcast! We recorded 21 episodes – featuring leaders from across the country and a vast array of industries and experiences. We even had a very special Mother’s Day edition featuring the one and only Ruth Leman.  

I learned so much from these guests and their journeys. They each have a unique edge in life and lessons to share. I hope you enjoyed listening to their stories!  

Let's celebrate our most popular podcast episodes of 2023.

Topics: Executive
3 min read

Ice Cream For Breakfast

By Courtney Montfort on Dec 7, 2023 6:30:00 AM


A tradition is born

To cap off the holiday chaos, our family celebrates a sweet tradition on Christmas morning that's far from ordinary – we eat ice cream for breakfast!  

This tradition started as a fluke in 2020. In an effort to make Christmas as special as possible after a year of chaos, I had planned on decadent cinnamon rolls that morning. I envisioned a Hallmark-worthy moment; the house smelling of cinnamon, kids tearing into presents followed by family time around the table with the kids devouring their treat. Turns out…my kids don’t like cinnamon rolls…at all. Desperate to save the moment, I said they could have whatever they wanted for breakfast. My then 7-year-old says “Even ice cream????” Why not! A year later, when we were preparing for Christmas, both kids reminded me about the AMAZING thing we did last year...ice cream for breakfast. A tradition was born.

Topics: Executive
2 min read

Throwback Thursday: For Whom The Bell Tolls

By Tim Leman on Nov 30, 2023 6:30:00 AM

Throwback Thursday: This 2015 blog shares important reminders for the holiday season. Take some time to listen - what bells are you hearing? 

You would be hard pressed to miss the sound of ringing bells this time of year. Church bells, sleigh bells, and of course Salvation Army bells all proclaim the joy and happiness of the Season. It makes me wonder – do we all hear the same bell?

Topics: Executive
1 min read

The Edge Podcast: Being A Connecting Superhero

By Gibson on Nov 16, 2023 6:30:00 AM

The purpose of my life is to be a connectingsuperherofor every Visionary who shares their stories with the world." - Justin Breen

Justin Breen, a self-described “dad who happens to be an entrepreneur,” joins host Tim Leman on The Edge Podcast. Justin is hyper-focused on connecting Visionaries – he has made it his life’s work. He and Tim also discuss the importance of family and how Justin strives to “win at the right game,” to always keep trying to be a better dad.     

Topics: Executive