Pallet Enterprise: What is the best piece of business advice you have ever received?
Gardner: When I first started in the pallet business, I had a longtime friend and pallet business owner tell me, “There is no bad business, just bad business people.” I have thought about that often especially when times were tough. The second thing and even more important was from my C12 coach: “It’s not YOUR business; it all belongs to God, and you are the steward of it.” Both have changed the perspective on how and why we do business.
Pallet Enterprise: What is one thing you do at your company that is different from other pallet companies?
Gardner: Since joining C12 in 2012 my whole life and business perspective has changed. Our business is our ministry; everything else is secondary. Keeping that perspective is not always easy. Since it is not my business, only God can provide, and he always does, not always how I expect. I have prayed for Him to send who he wants to work here and take out those he does not. Keeping in mind it is also on His timing and not mine.
We also engage with Corporate Chaplains of America. Robert Terrell is our chaplain, and he visits every week and is building relationships with everyone here. He is a humble servant and often spends time and prays with our people. We also have two Bible studies here per week. We use a storytelling method which is very effective and engaging. It has been incredible to see the growth that is evident in the people that attend and how those that don’t attend are affected, as the meetings are not mandatory. We are always encouraged to pray with and for everyone in the business.
Pallet Enterprise: I understand that you run a Christian business. Can you tell us more about what that means and why that’s important to you?
Gardner: Prior to 2012 and joining the C12 group, I was a Christian business man, but since then the business has become a Christian business. Both are completely different from each other. As a Christian business man, it affected the way we did business. A Christian business has affected not only how we do business, but why.
We rewrote our mission statement which is what we have posted in our business, on our business cards and on our website. It says, “Honoring God in all we do, Helping develop people, Pursuing excellence, While growing profitably.” Everything we say and do is measured by that mission statement. We also list our core values. We are a company grounded in Christian values of honesty, integrity, kindness and social responsibility. We strive to honor God in all we do. This is a reflection in how we conduct our business, and how we care for our employees – our greatest assets.
Pallet Enterprise: What is the most important thing you do each day?
Gardner: Read and study God’s word every morning along with journaling my thoughts and prayers. God has a plan for each one of us and our lives. He wants a relationship with us and speaks to us through his word. It is also the best book ever written about business. Everything in it is relevant today.
The next great revival in our country will be in the marketplace with the pallet business being a big part of that. There is a group of pallet industry people that got together in September in Denver to start that and seek what God has for us.
