CHARITY WHISNANT AND THE CREW AT UNION MILLS
My lovely wife, Charity, co-owner of Union Mills, with her sister Debbie are doing wonderfully working together in this bakery business. They give the glory to the Lord. Both ladies love the Lord and bring that message to the business. You generally just don't drop by the bakery for a pie or cake, or sugar cookies or rolls, you are welcomed with a friendly greeting, a conversation, and you become a friend.
If you drop in to buy a few sugar cookies, most likely you will leave with a dozen. Debbie is not going to let you off with just a few cookies. You might leave with a loaf of bread, some candy, and a dozen cookies. And with a smile on your face, you leave saying, "how did that happen?"
If you come in to the bakery, you will be able to talk to Charity or Debbie as long as you want, even if it's after closing hours (provided it's not busy like this week). As a matter of fact, just because the sign says "Closed," it doesn't mean we are closed. I tease the girls that the closed sign is merely a suggestion. And sometimes they will wait on you to get to the bakery to pick up an order after 5.
Last night Charity came home about 7 p.m. and was up around 10 p.m. and back at work around 12 a.m. This is another busy weekend for the crew. High School graduations.
Five girls were at the bakery this morning at midnight getting ready for the rush of people who will pick up about 120 cakes, and who knows how many cookies, bread, and rolls. And all before noon. Two or three others will be in later this morning to help. Now there are a few guys, like me, and Rich and Bob who come in and do a little work. It's a real good team effort by the whole crew. (Sondi, Tammy, Kindra, Illy, Charity came early early, then Debbie, Mary, Keri came later, and of course I was there later, Bob came and was the carry out fellow, and of course early in the week Rich came. Charles mowed the grass, and Mr Gibson planned flowers and trimmed the shrubs. Now did I miss anyone.
It seems that all of the team takes personal responsibility for their work. This is my personal opinion as I see it, but it seems the workers at Union Mills practice personal accountability.
I received Dave Mills Quick Notes e-mail and this is what he had to say this week:
- the boss asks the team, "So, do we all agree with this new plan?" Heads nod, thumbs go up, and polite smiles abound. But not three minutes later, at the Water-Cooler Huddle, colleagues murmur, "Wow, that was a dumb idea." "Where does he come up with these schemes?" and "Doesn't she know it'll never work?!" And even worse is when we blame others for our whispered water-cooler whining with, "Well, our culture doesn't allow people to speak up" and "My boss really doesn't want input from me."
This attitude doesn't seem to be the norm for this group. Of course they have fun, but they are serious about their work and their product. And they really like each other most of the time and appreciate each other all of the time.
Debbie and Charity work as a team, and it seems that the other workers work as a team as well. It seems to me, that each one thinks that the business is theirs. They take pride in their work, to do it well.
What is really good, I think, is they seem to all love the Lord, and they want to illustrate to the public how a business can operate with values that would be honoring to the Lord.
All of them would make Bob and Lenora Temple proud.
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