I enjoy discovering where commonly used descriptive phrases originate; they are officially called idioms. Some examples include breaking a leg, beating around the bush, and cutting to the chase. Last week, my research team (which is me and my computer) focused on the origin of the phrase "The Silver Bullet". Interestingly, there are many claims about where this saying originated, ranging from 1806 to the 1930s. Answers range from a magic solution to a problem, to a German scientist's description of an antibiotic. Finding this phrase's true origin is as tricky as finding a silver bullet.
The phrase "The Silver Bullet" is used to describe a simple and seemingly magical solution to a complicated problem. Are you and your team searching for a similar solution for our organization? Is it possible to find a simple solution to the complex problem?
I’ve written hundreds of articles and posts on Leadership; it’s my passion. But today, I’d like to introduce a new concept to TFI; “Teamship.”
Effective Teamship is an unnamed dynamic that brings people into a working group to find solutions for various challenges, whether in Sales, Operations, or Manufacturing. It all starts with Humbly bringing Aware people together for a collaborative conversation. Listening is not enough; you must HEAR what each person is saying, creating layers of Trust. Building a foundation of trust through genuine care will help you create a stronger and more cohesive team.
Do Silver Bullets exist? No, because Silver Bullets imply magic or simplicity, and neither exists in the real world. However, the Silver Bullet we've been looking for may be finding the proper process through expanding our Teamship Program.
Care builds trust, and trust builds TEAM at a whole new level.
Blessings
Billy Duren
SAFETY AS A VALUE
A priority is something that changes, due to outside influences and demands.
A value is something outside influences can't change.
Priorities change depending on the situation, but our core values usually don’t. For a culture of safety to catch on, don't prioritize it. Value it.
In life, much like business, a core value is a cornerstone belief that influences behavior and decision-making. Core values are so ingrained in one’s belief system that they operate in the background — we don’t think about them when making decisions because it’s part of who we are.
We aren’t the only ones who benefit; that value reaches our customers. Research shows that safety can also impact stock performance and shareholder value. Companies with proven health and safety programs are likely to have a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Safety is the future of business, and it goes beyond meeting the minimum standards set by regulators.
At Threaded Fasteners, values are embedded in our company culture. Our Mission statement is reflective of that: “Creating value in and for the people we serve.”
Each of us should make the choice to value safety, for us, for our families, and our teammates. Not because we have to, not because of a government regulation, but because we want to.
— Cheri Waldrep (EHS Manager)
All employees with Silver or Platinum Medical Coverage have access to HealthJoy
Download and Activate your HealthJoy App today!
To get started, download the app and activate your account. HealthJoy is the first stop for all your healthcare and employee benefits needs.
HealthJoy makes staying healthy easy with a platform that brings all your benefits together in one place
Find providers, discover pharmacy savings, and keep track of medical bills
Virtually connect with a medical provider any time of the day with 24/7 Teladoc
If you have any issues with activation or logging in, scan the QR code or call HealthJoy at (877) 500-3212.
BBC Fasteners joins Quality Galvanizing, SEF Distribution, and RTC Threaders as a wholly owned subsidiary of Threaded Fasteners. Founded in the late 1950's by Jerry Taylor, and currently managed by Gene Sullivan and Jerry Sullivan, BBC Fasteners is known for its superior quality parts in the fastener industry.
Welcome to the Team!
Misty Allen
Juan Alvarez
Sonia Ballesteros
Brandon Beddigs
Tomasz Bystryk
Robert Carlson
Gregory Ciastko
David Cronin
Robert Davies
Michael Del Longo
Jim Dion
Cornleius Edarenor
Randell Fletcher
Olga Gomez Ramirez
Juan Gonzalez
Jose Gonzalez Soto
Joseph Hoekstra
Joseph Hoekstra Jr.
Matthew Hogan
Chuck Lamphere
Angel Lee
Robert O'Boyle
Mary O’Malley
Matthew Rokita
Bill Schuler
Denise Smoot
Dell Stamps
Gene Sullivan
Jerry Sullivan
Ryan Sullivan
Stacy Sullivan
Jeremy Weston
John Wisniewski
Cody Witherspoon
Jeffery Witherspoon
NEW EMPLOYEES
Demetri Galfos Home Office
Jonathan Parker Home Office
Thomas Browning Home Office
James Smith Semmes
Sunday Opute Semmes
John Barrett Home Office
Sarah Guffey Chattanooga
Wilbert Johnson Tulsa
Christopher Blocker Tampa
Lakae Hill Tampa
Steven Barnard National Sales
Autumn Taylor National Sales
Joslyn Card National Distribution
Paul Hatfield Chattanooga Bryan Carter Lewisville
Elijah Sanders Tulsa
Lourens Van Heerden Mobile
Adam Harrolle Tulsa
Orlando Woodyard Morris Hill
2nd and 3rd Quarter Anniversaries
EMPLOYEE-OWNER SPOTLIGHT
What's New?
Leroy Dunn Senior Account Manager (Retired Dec. 2023) Mobile, AL
What is one piece of wisdom you would give to young owners?
“All employees need to learn as much as possible; the more knowledge you can receive, the better off you will be, and also your future will depend on what you are willing to learn. Believe in yourself!!!”
How do you create Value?
“You create value by knowing the products that we sell, also by building relationships with customers; this seems to be a lost art. Customer relationships can carry you a long way in this company and in your future.”
What has it meant to you to be a part of the TFI Family?
“This company means a lot to me because when I was injured with the Railroad, which I thought would be my forever job, Frank Martin & Steve Sholtis gave me the opportunity to come to work here. I have met a lot of great people here who will forever be in my thoughts and prayers. I have met customers who I now consider great friends.”
What does it mean to be humble, hungry, and aware?
“This job can humble you by not being hungry or aware. Hungry, you feel like you should give your best price in order to get every order you quote. Never feel that you don’t have a chance; believe in your work, be aware of who all is competing against you, and be determined to rise above them all. Without confidence in yourself, you will not prosper in the end.”
This company was founded on value and service. Value all of our customers the same as you would like for them to value you as a vendor and trust that they can depend on you and Threaded Fasteners to supply them with great products and timely delivery. This company could be the future for many who are willing to put in the extra work. With this being an ESOP company, not everyone still understands just how good this could be for them in 10-20-30 years down the road for them. Hang in here, and you will prosper greatly.
2023 Christmas Grants
Each year The Threaded Fasteners Charitable Foundation, with the help of our branch teams, selects an organization, group, or individuals to help bring Christmas cheer to their area. Thank you to everyone involved with bringing a little more holiday cheer to your communities!
Morris Hill Toys for Tots
Quality
Galvanizing Angel Tree
Semmes Volunteers of America
Pensacola Shop w/ Cops
Chattanooga Carecenter | Bayside Baptist
Gulfport
Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport
Meridian Hope Village
Tulsa Neighbors Along The Line
Tampa Hope Childrens Home
Panama City Catholic Charities
Orlando Angel Tree
Lewisville Friendship Church
Tifton Called To Care, Inc
Each of the above organizations received $1,000.
Own It - ESOP Month
Each year our team celebrates National ESOP Month with a series of fun events, educational initiatives, and engaging activities. This past ESOP Month we kicked it off with a Pumpkin Carving Contest where our teams unleashed their creativity, followed by ESOP Bingo where teams were challenged to learn more about the ESOP and complete some fun tasks. We followed those up with a coloring contest for all the TFI kids at home and our TFCF Charity Weekend Dunks for Dough Challenge! Next, we hosted an educational ESOP 101 lunch and learn and kicked off our 10 Days of EO! Then to anchor the month we hosted our ESOP 201 lunch and learn to do some more digging into the nitty gritty of employee ownership and then held our much anticipated ESOP Breakfast! We could not do this without our ESOP Advocates so please thank them for all of their hard work!
Threaded Fasteners Charitable Foundation Open House and Golf Tournament!
Our Open House was not just a gathering of our team and families, but a display of unity and support for a cause that means so much to us - Team Focus.
With our team members and communities help and unwavering support, we've taken another step closer in making an impact in the lives of the youth served by Team Focus. It is a blessing to support a wonderful organization and have fun while doing it, from the ice cream truck to the dunking booth, and let's not forget the fried fish! Everyone's presence and enthusiasm added an extra layer of joy to this special event.
The 2023 TFCF Charity Weekend Open House and Golf Tournament was filled with family, fun, and plenty of outstanding food. Thank you to everyone who participated. With your help we were able to set a new fundraising record!
This year we raised $46,500 in support of Team Focus!
MILLENNIAL CORNER
The Greatness Game
I failed the second grade.
It took me a long time to come to terms with that sentence, although today I am grateful for it. I don’t like to use the term “failed” to this day; I don’t believe in failure. Instead, I see all “failures” as opportunities to grow. My “failure” in the second grade set me on a path to success.
After the second grade, there was an ongoing theme in my life of a push and pull with my education. I would push and push and push. A ‘B’ was never good enough in my eyes. My parents often took a hands-off approach to my education. They never asked for report cards; they didn’t need to. A compliment from them on grades was always followed by me saying, “Yeah, but I got a B in _.”
I am my own worst critic.
In our leadership discussions, we often use a quote from Jim Collins' book “Good to Great:” “Good is the enemy of great.” As a notorious critic, this is hard for me. I firmly believe that there is always room for improvement. Good is the starting line, but great can’t be the finish line.
However, there is a danger when nothing is ever good enough. To be a critic for the sake of criticism is negativity at its core. Our goal should be to have a posture of positivity with the grace of nuance.
So, let’s define “great.”
Jim Collins did not say, “Good is the enemy of perfection.” He said, “Good is the enemy of great.” Great does not mean perfect or that there is no room for improvement. Great is a goal but not the finish line. Great is the two-minute warning, the white flag for the final lap, the last song at a concert when you know there will be an encore after. Great is not the end. Great is the moment to pause and appreciate an accomplishment hard-won and well-deserved.
The key is to choose greatness, not to seek greatness. Greatness gravitates towards goodness. Do good things, and greatness will follow; be a good person, and greatness will find you; influence the good in others, and greatness will impact you.
Great is not the finish line. The greatness game never ends. How we choose to play it is what matters.
From one generation to another, -Hali Gibson
2023 Threaded Fasteners Charitable Foundation Non-Profit Grant Recipients
Our 2023 Threaded Fasteners Charitable Foundation Non-Profit Grant Cycle has officially closed, our committee has voted, and the final counts are in! It's the moment we've all been waiting for; the chosen charities are..... (insert imaginary drumroll!)
1st place: Meals on Wheels - Collin County, TX.
"For 47 years, MOWCC has provided hot, nutritious meals to older adults at risk for malnutrition due to impoverished conditions and isolation due to declining health and energy. Since its start, the program has expanded to provide daily meals and personal contact to approximately 2,300 homebound, disabled, or older Collin County residents, as well as additional clients through congregate, mid-day meals at (7) local senior centers. 80% of each dollar donated to the Home Delivered Meals Program goes directly into the program, enabling continued success and provision to our clients. For many of our clients, the daily delivery is their favorite part, often commenting that their (1) visitor is often their only visitor during the week! Meals on Wheels is the ONLY agency that delivers the meals directly to the front door of our clients.
2nd place: Meals on Wheels - Tulsa, OK
For over 50 years, Meals on Wheels Metro Tulsa (MOWMT) has delivered nutritious meals, wellness checks, and compassion that allow seniors to age with dignity and without fearing hunger. For many seniors, MOWMT is the difference between remaining in their homes and needing to relocate to a long-term care facility. The nutritious meals, caring contact, and wrap-around services help them cope with three of the biggest threats of aging: hunger, isolation, and loss of independence.
This cost-effective solution benefits us all. MOWMT can provide a senior with meals for an entire year for roughly the same cost as a one-night stay in a hospital. Nine out of ten recipients say MOWMT helps them feel more secure. In 2022, MOWMT served 865,586 total meals to 7,859 clients!
3rd place: Fuse Project, Mobile, AL
Fuse Project was founded in 2012 by eight young professionals from Mobile, Alabama, who believe every child deserves an opportunity for success, regardless of their zip code, and over the past decade, they have partnered with over 55 organizations to champion projects benefiting local children. In 2018, Fuse Project narrowed its geographical focus and launched The Historic Avenue Foundation, which operates as a community quarterback to bring together partners and opportunities for high-quality mixed-income housing, excellent cradle-to-college education, and community health and wellness for the Avenue neighborhood, located adjacent to downtown Mobile. The Purpose Built Communities model inspires this approach to holistic community revitalization and is nationally proven to enact transformational change and break the cycle of generational poverty. A transformation that honors the rich history, legacy, and current citizens of the Avenue, empowering them to assist in creating new opportunities and solutions for the community. Congratulations to the winners!
Choosing between 18 very deserving non-profits that submitted was no easy task. Still, thanks to a very generous leadership, TFCF decided to help not only the top-voted non-profit but the top three! Thank you to everyone who participated! Please keep an eye out to serve on future committees. This is a great way for you to engage with the grant-making decisions of our Charitable Foundation.
THE ADVANTAGES OF WORKING
It is our experience that people often fail to fully grasp the blessings that come with having a place of employment. A job offers more than just a paycheck and benefits. While making money is undoubtedly a significant aspect of working, it is not the sole advantage. The workplace provides employees with an opportunity to utilize their God-given talents, skills, and abilities, and for some, it allows them to work in a field where they can align with their gifts and calling.
Here are some key advantages of working:
1.Daily Productivity: The workplace serves as a platform for employees to experience productivity on a daily basis.
2.Skill Development and Creativity: It is a place where employees can enhance their skills, express creativity, and unleash their imagination.
3.Building Relationships: Workplaces foster friendships, camaraderie, lifelong relationships, and sometimes even a sense of family among colleagues.
4.Craftsmanship: Employment offers the opportunity to employ craftsmanship and the skillful use of one's hands to bring forth the creativity residing in their minds.
The benefits of work extend beyond mere financial gain. It provides us with the opportunity to uncover the hidden treasures of our hearts, tap into the wisdom within our minds, and connect with the purpose of our lives.
In fact, the workplace should be one of the most exciting places on Earth, as it is where we discover our potential. It should inspire excitement because it allows us to serve our communities and the world at large through our labor. Your enthusiasm generates passion, which, in turn, creates determination, propelling you from where you are to where you are meant to be. The central focus of our lives should be to find fulfillment in serving and pleasing God.
Here are some relevant biblical verses:
Deuteronomy 28:12: "The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow."
Ecclesiastes 9:10: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12: "That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing."
The advantages of working extend far beyond financial gain, encompassing personal growth, relationships, creativity, and a sense of purpose. The workplace should be viewed as a place of discovery and fulfillment.
Our Mission: To create value in and for the people we serve.
-Calvin Davison, Training and Personal Development
Hats off to Summer
The "Hats Off to Summer" contest was hosted by our HR Team in July, what an incredible journey it was! Thank you to everyone who participated and made this program a resounding success. From breezy beaches, lively cities, backyard brilliance, and more your snapshots captured the essence of summer. As we congratulate our winners — who demonstrated exceptional creativity and an adventurous spirit — we also commend each participant for contributing to a program that encouraged us all to step outside, savor the summer, and create lasting memories!
Home Office and National Distribution Center 3200-A Crichton Street Mobile, AL 36607 P (251) 432-0107 F (251) 650-0080 www.threadedfasteners.com Want to contribute to next quarter's newsletter? Be
