Coach Dan Foster

A 2011 USA Today/Gallup Poll found that 92 percent of Americans believe in God. If any of that 92% are like me, I bet they wonder how they can actually please God in their careers and personal life. Is it possible to bring joy to the creator of the universe? As I go through life each day, is there anything that I can do that really helps me connect with the Almighty? I believe these types of questions have been asked for thousands of years and many of us are still searching for the answer.

We all have those days when nothing seems to be going right and the world is literally against us. The words people use, their actions, and their body language tell us “you suck!” and are the cause of what I’m going through and pain I’m experiencing right now. Whether you are to blame or not, there are days when you will be treated badly for no reason. The question we have to wrestle with and answer is, “How do we respond in times like this?” Should we lash out and attack back or endure, knowing that we are innocent?

I first met Rob Morris through my coach, Barry Engelman, of Building Champions. Rob is an owner/operator for the successful quick service restaurant chain, Chick-fil-A, Inc. Rob has worked for Chick-fil-A, Inc. since he was a junior in high school. He has risen through the ranks of the organization and currently owns two franchises in West Palm Beach, Florida. Over the past seventeen years Rob has led his life and employees with purpose. In my interview with Rob we discuss his coaching leadership style, the importance of clearly defined values for your organization, the challenges facing leaders today, and what he is doing to stay at the top of his game as a leader.

When we were young we thought we could do anything and be anything. We possessed a childlike faith in our talents and abilities which made it easy for us to dream of being a super hero or the world’s next greatest athlete. Our self-confidence and optimism about making a difference and being someone special made it exciting to get up each day, explore the world, and engage people. Our dreams were something we not only could see and believe in but we expected them to become the reality of the world we lived in.

One of my greatest struggles is to remain disciplined and focused on the priorities in my life and business. There are so many “things” calling out to me during the day that take me away from being fully engaged in what I need to be doing. The ability to stay focused and disciplined at work and in life, in my opinion, has never been more difficult.