Purpose Driven: It’s All About the People!

By: James Grier

For quite some time, I’ve been dodging my opportunity to put together this Purpose-Driven article (sorry Dayton😊). There was just something I was deathly afraid of; I’m still not quite sure what it was. Finding a topic – now that stressed me more than anything. “What will everyone think if I share this?” I just couldn’t get myself to open up and share. Thanks to Noah’s article about the comparison trap – and how my worth is not determined by what I put on this page – I was finally able to write something.

I recently read a book about how we all experience a shift of focus at some point in our lives. It’s a shift from pursuing experiences or physical things to focusing on the people in our lives. Depending on the individual, this may be in our teens, twenties, or thirties. Some of us may never even see this change. I can honestly say that I’d probably be one of those “never” individuals that is still pursuing experiences if it wasn’t for this company’s impact on me.

What I’ve enjoyed most about Nussbaum is its focus on building relationships. We have a culture that breathes community and fellowship each and every day. Nussbaum pours into its people, and you see the impact on the relationships you create here. Over the weekend, I ran into one of our drivers (and their newly adopted dog!) at PetSmart. Prior to Nussbaum, I might’ve tried to hide myself from being noticed by a coworker. I can definitely say that is not the case here. I enjoy any interaction with someone from Nussbaum, whether at PetSmart or the Sam’s Club food court.

I was in the Marine Corps for four years and served under several leaders. Their focus and motivation were never close to what we have here – a genuine need to connect and get to know the individuals we work alongside. GrowRED, Network Lunches, feedback loops, food days – these are just a few things that come to mind when I think about how Nussbaum brings us all together. We lead with our hearts and focus on building people up, never tearing people down or pointing fingers to make ourselves look better.

My intention in writing this wasn’t to come across as a cheerleader aboard the Nussbaum hype train. But if that’s how it felt, I’m truly not upset about it. I look forward to my next opportunity to meet a driver or peer outside these walls.

Every day, I feel a true purpose in my life and get to observe the impact we have on people. Not just on our teams or with our drivers, but on our customers and the many motorists who see one of Nussbaum’s trailer messages.

Truly, it’s all about the people!