From the Jon Gordon Newsletter:
Servant Leadership and a Sandwich
Servant Leadership and a Sandwich
When I think of Servant Leadership I think of my Mom making me a sandwich.
Seven years ago I was taking a walk with my Mom near her home in south Florida when I noticed she was getting tired. My mom and I always walked together. She was a fit, walking machine and never got tired so I knew something was wrong.
"Let’s go back to the condo so you can rest," I said.
"No, I want to walk to the store so I can get some food to make you a sandwich for your drive home."
I was headed back to my home in Ponte Vedra Beach and my mom thought I might starve to death without eating during the five hour drive. : )
"Ok," I said knowing she had her mind set. Growing up in a Jewish-Italian family, the one thing you didn’t do is argue with mom about food. To her food and love were one and the same.
We continued walking, made it to the supermarket and as we walked back I could tell she was getting more and more tired. When we arrived back at her condo she was exhausted and yet the first thing she did was walk into the kitchen to make me a sandwich.
On my drive home I ate her sandwich but didn’t think much about it at the time. Now, seven years later, I think about that sandwich a lot because it was the last time I saw my mom alive.
My mom was battling cancer which was why she was so tired. She didn’t tell me how bad it really was nor did she mention how bleak the odds were for her survival. She was fighting for her life and yet on that day her biggest priority was to make me a sandwich.
Looking back I realize she wasn’t just making me a sandwich. She was showing me what selfless love and servant leadership are all about.
At her funeral many of her real estate clients and colleagues came up to me and shared countless stories of all the selfless acts of love my mom did for them as well. Turns out she served her team at work and her clients the same way she served her family.
We often think that great leadership is about big visions, big goals, big actions and big success. But I learned from my Mom that real leadership is about serving others by doing the little things with a big dose of selfless love
This week I want to encourage you to lead others by serving them. The opportunities to serve are endless. Just do something that let’s someone know you care about them.
Who knows you might even make someone a sandwich!
Seven years ago I was taking a walk with my Mom near her home in south Florida when I noticed she was getting tired. My mom and I always walked together. She was a fit, walking machine and never got tired so I knew something was wrong.
"Let’s go back to the condo so you can rest," I said.
"No, I want to walk to the store so I can get some food to make you a sandwich for your drive home."
I was headed back to my home in Ponte Vedra Beach and my mom thought I might starve to death without eating during the five hour drive. : )
"Ok," I said knowing she had her mind set. Growing up in a Jewish-Italian family, the one thing you didn’t do is argue with mom about food. To her food and love were one and the same.
We continued walking, made it to the supermarket and as we walked back I could tell she was getting more and more tired. When we arrived back at her condo she was exhausted and yet the first thing she did was walk into the kitchen to make me a sandwich.
On my drive home I ate her sandwich but didn’t think much about it at the time. Now, seven years later, I think about that sandwich a lot because it was the last time I saw my mom alive.
My mom was battling cancer which was why she was so tired. She didn’t tell me how bad it really was nor did she mention how bleak the odds were for her survival. She was fighting for her life and yet on that day her biggest priority was to make me a sandwich.
Looking back I realize she wasn’t just making me a sandwich. She was showing me what selfless love and servant leadership are all about.
At her funeral many of her real estate clients and colleagues came up to me and shared countless stories of all the selfless acts of love my mom did for them as well. Turns out she served her team at work and her clients the same way she served her family.
We often think that great leadership is about big visions, big goals, big actions and big success. But I learned from my Mom that real leadership is about serving others by doing the little things with a big dose of selfless love
This week I want to encourage you to lead others by serving them. The opportunities to serve are endless. Just do something that let’s someone know you care about them.
Who knows you might even make someone a sandwich!
Adopt-A-Family
December 2019
December 2019
In our 5th Annual Adopt-A-Family trip, our Seniors & Juniors went shopping for two families. We had some great items picked out for a few younger kids.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make someone elses Christmas a lot better! Our boys did a wonderful job shopping! Thanks again to all who donated! |
No-Shave November 2019
This year's NSN money was given to a local family. They lost their sweet baby after only a few days. Hopefully, this tree can help serve as a positive reminder and celebration of their little ones life.
We were able to raise $275 in gift cards to place on a 4ft. Christmas Tree. Special thanks to all who helped donate and give to this special family! |
Adopt-A-Family
December 2018
December 2018
In our 4th Annual Adopt-A-Family trip, our Seniors & Juniors went shopping for two families. We beat last years record for monetary donations and were able to buy many presents for both families. We also had a sweet older lady donate $5 to one of our senior groups when she found out what we were doing.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make someone elses Christmas a lot better! Our boys did a wonderful job shopping! Thanks again to all who donated! |
No-Shave November 2018
This year's NSN money was given to a local family. They received the unfortunate news that after beating cancer and being cancer free for five years, the cancer had returned. Chemotherapy started the day after Thanksgiving.
We were able to raise $325 in gift cards to place on a 4ft. Christmas Tree. Due to some wonderful parents in our program, we were able to deliver the tree to the family this year. Our seniors took the tree and gave it to the family in what was an incredible experience. The boys in the family looked at our baseball players like Pro Guys. Special thanks to all who helped donate and give to this special family! |
Adopt-A-Family
December 2017
December 2017
We adopted two families this year. Our Seniors and Juniors in the program each received a family and purchased some presents for them this Christmas. We had a record number of donations this year- thank you to everyone who helped make someone elses Christmas a lot better!
Our boys did a wonderful job shopping! Thanks again to all who donated! |
No-Shave November 2017
Jillians Dinner October 2017

Jillian Davidson was a student LHS. In 2001, Jillian died from a very rare form of cancer. Jillian was a Sophomore at LHS when she passed. Jillian was one of the nicest young ladies in the school. Never had an unkind word to say and was kind to everyone. She was voted the Sophomore attendant but was unable to attend Homecoming. She passed away Homecoming night. Her parents decided to celebrate her life and to help each year by donating the proceeds from this dinner to a family that has a family member with a terminal illness. Our student body has always participated in serving the dinner. This year, many members of the baseball team signed up to help serve at the dinner in honor of Jillian.
Adopt-A-Family
December 2016
December 2016

We were again able to "adopt" a couple families this year. Our Juniors and Seniors each received a family and a budget to purchase Christmas gifts and needs.
The boys once again did a phenomenal job.
Go Gales!
The boys once again did a phenomenal job.
Go Gales!
No-Shave November 2016

This year's NSN money was donated to a local teacher and her family. In the end of May 2016, the family received devastating news that they had lost their baby at 37 weeks.
As a team, we raised money to purchase a Christmas Tree in Lola's honor. We were also able to purchase a personalized gift to the family.
As something that is close to my heart, I am beyond blessed to have been able to give to a family in need during a tough time.
As a team, we raised money to purchase a Christmas Tree in Lola's honor. We were also able to purchase a personalized gift to the family.
As something that is close to my heart, I am beyond blessed to have been able to give to a family in need during a tough time.
No Shave November GiftCard Christmas Tree: 12/15/2015
A big thank you to everyone who supported and participated in No-Shave November!!!
We were able to raise over $300. With that money, we purchased a 4ft. Christmas Tree and decorated it with gift cards as ornaments. The Christmas Tree is going to the family of Wyatt Barber. Wyatt tragically collapsed at Football practice and stopped breathing. He was 9 years old. The following is a little bit of information about Wyatt from one of his teachers: Wyatt was a soft-spoken, quiet, mannerly boy in school, but boy was he ornery! You could tell he was up to something when he had that ornery smile on his face. ☺ One of my favorite memories of Wyatt is when he brought his little Gideon bible to school and took it out to recess to show the other kids. He attended church and Sunday School at First Southern Baptist Church (near Meigs High School). Wyatt was a true country boy with a wild sense of adventure. Wyatt LOVED the outdoors and enjoyed hunting with his dad. Wyatt’s class was given an assignment at the beginning of the year in which they were required to list and draw about their favorite things. Here is what Wyatt wrote on his poster: Color - Blue. Animal - Dog. Season - Winter. Food - Pizza. Activity - Football. Song- Kick Up the Dust. He also wrote that he thinks “his dad” is a real-life superhero because “he is nice.” ☺ |
Adopt-A-Family: 12/14/2015
Each year the LHS Gales Baseball Program adopts two families in the community and goes Christmas Shopping. Fairfield County Job and Family Services provides us with a list of items the families would love to have for Christmas. We ask all of our players to donate money to go shopping for these families. The Junior Class is responsible for one family and the Senior Class has another. They are provided with a budget and try to get all the items on the list plus additional items. Our boys do a great job.
Go Gales! |