>> Nick Road was a corporate executive for more than 35 years.

But his new book will humble those who think titles and ladder climbing are the only keys to success.

A conversation with the former Kentucky American Water president about his new book called The Goodwill Jar.

Reflections on Leadership and Legacy Now on Connections.

♪ ♪ Thank you for joining us for connections today.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Happy New Year to you.

A little light.

Nick Row is a familiar face and name throughout Central Kentuckyian the state as a whole.

The bowling Green native was a longtime executive prominent and business circles who cemented his legacy as a servant leader.

And it's still exist today.

Now you cannot author to his list of accomplishments as Nick has just released his new book called The Goodwill Jar.

Reflections on Legacy and leadership.

His first book, it's a refreshing view on what servant leadership looks like and how it's put into action.

And it prompts readers from school age children to those who are retiring or near retired already retired to ask.

>> I think I am and my true to my foundational principles and how to KET the main thing.

The main thing and what does leaving a legacy really main?

We're delighted that Nick Rose here to share the wisdom he's penned in his book with us on Connections Today.

Good to see you.

Thank you for having Renee.

Always a pleasure.

You know, I'm a big fan of yours.

Not just because your fellow hilltopper.

That's one good, but it's because you're a good person.

Thank And you can get well because and that's what your book and a short way.

All with 140 something pages to tell us how to do it really talks about it doesn't matter how successful you are, because you have reached the pinnacle of success.

But your book doesn't recount every single thing that you've ever done.

It's really personal.

>> Yeah, it really is.

You know, when when I retired, I thought what about the that the leaders in the next generation of leaders who are coming up that there are a lot of good people out here in this world.

And I thought right now where we're is where we need some good will and and talked about the goodwill Jarman wife kind of pick the name of the and it's really about how do we just be a good person and some more in our society.

When I grew up, you grew up.

Yeah.

We were told to be good people.

First first, we're imperfect.

We're going to make mistakes and we're all imperfect human beings, but it doesn't take a lot.

Just treat people, right?

Yeah, it doesn't matter how you rise and your station in life.

Time to treat the server.

Brought the same way you treat the CEO that the same way were no, you know better than anyone else.

So that's really simple to may.

But.

>> And Hughes net in corporate America at the time when I came through stuff because people said, look, you've got to get it.

>> You've got to charge past Renee and everybody else I fly and I'm just going to the right where I want to treat people right.

And my hopefully my work.

My mayor will speak for itself and trying to do the right thing right?

>> You're talented.

Good at math.

And all those things engine earring degree a business degree.

So you know how to do what should share, right?

But with humility, I want to go back in and talk about the significance of the title, the Goodwill Jar.

Sure, and how you use that with your 2 beautiful daughters.

Yeah, 2 daughters then the 30's now that engineering majors and both from Georgia Tech grads with her masters.

>> And we have year we went they were small.

We have a John account are.

>> And that memo wife or put good things.

And when they bring home good grades, good job dominate.

>> But every day I get gold today in soccer basketball murder case should be that great job and my great meal.

So they also put into the jar to put into jar.

So as as I started to start my career and I was a young professional them, I thought, you know, it's OK because that's what people KET telling me.

So I try to put ago will jar as an employee for my as my peers with my subordinates because I KET that I was always going to need something out of Goodwill.

Jarwin have to go to John and sound and say hi, you're not doing a good job.

And I got to tell you, got to improve in this area.

I have some time ago will jar with because I put so much good in about Tom.

What the good things they did so therein lies the whole concept of our whole life is kind of like a charred.

You We're filling.

Just KET putting good things are what your neighbors, your friends with your marriage with your partner and I were the case may be be a good neighbor to people.

You still do that?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Now now that your your daughters are grown women did they have their own goodwill job?

You know, I don't know that I assume they're keeping score there to the Baja.

But you also say about, you know, not keeping score.

Yeah, right?

Yeah.

We have to reframe what we think about you.

Do good for me.

I don't have to do good for you, but you also that has to be some reciprocity somewhere.

Yeah, but you know, it's just like it's like letting somebody know you have wait in traffic jam.

>> And you let somebody and you let the person in the people that want to let a man that came up the Circle K, but we're all going the same place among the one minute later, then why was were OK to let more people in with a gun?

Anybody behind them?

I know, but we're not keeping score.

Yeah, you know, so I too much scorekeepers going on in the world about.

Yeah, I'll make you fit that.

The 2 reunite more about going 80%.

You come in 20%.

Yeah, it works.

And marriage with your neighbors and where our neighbors and not the best neighbors.

Well, I got good neighbors because, you know, I try to be a good neighbor.

So sometimes we have to kind of reflect our ourselves as well.

Right.

>> I love how you also talked to about, you know, growing up in Bowling during the time of segregation and integration.

Sure, right.

And you drove?

Yeah, I don't know if you said how many miles to get to school, right, right.

you what?

You know, you lived and mostly a predominantly white neighborhood.

Sure drove across town to go to the black school.

Talk to us about how that impacted you.

>> Yeah, you know, I didn't understand at that age.

You know, the first and second grade.

I was telling my dad, mom, while we're driving all across town, we're get up earlier.

I got the that's breakfast for.

That was worth 8.

The preface every day.

And we would drive over crosstown.

And and I think that's a school right around the corner.

Yeah.

>> You know, that's a time of integration, segregation and integration happened and I moved to the school close by.

and my dad, mom, but never going to a lot of details and said, but that's a really good But we're taking it too.

So because they want to put in my mind dots that I was a lesson in what else?

Right?

But then when I got to them, agreed to school, I realize, wow, I look a little bit different than other people.

I never thought that much about it.

But people treat a little bit different because you're kind of a now right?

So it's funny that that's years later.

And we're still wearing the colored people scan and where they come from and talk about the book.

You know, 99.9% of our DNA.

It's a sign were all the same.

What makes us different?

Low 1.1% or DNA makes a little bit different.

>> And once you realize that, think about where we've been America, if people in this world with site.

We're all pretty close to each other and we're not that much different.

You do things a little bit different than I do.

But overall, it's just hard to get people.

Most of the people that give me hope in a challenging time in America.

And one reason I wrote the book is that there's still more good people in this world.

The bad people.

That's right.

And I think that people may get more press.

Yeah.

Alright are outnumbered and out.

No match to my daughters.

Every time you run into a person.

>> Who has some view that is it's negative toward women are color your skin or whatever.

Turn your head.

A few degrees, you'll find someone else.

And if you don't find him and turn him a little bit more, there are still more good people in this world.

so just too good that people right.

>> I love how you talk about, you know, it did take your our white peers a little bit to warm up to you.

Yeah.

And what?

And when they found out your math genius, right?

That change things right.

And how you're able to really be the best in the class center and win competitions and they were rooting for you and cheering you on so that the color of your skin wasn't the first thing they taught they thought about it was the fact that you are math genius.

>> Sure.

Yeah.

He's in the 3rd grade to him and think about how far we came.

And since the 3rd grade, I'm 66 years old.

Now.

And and I just hope it's good So I became, you know, people like it's pretty doggone spark, you know, it's funny came full circle.

And I talk about the book, how I became the first African-American doubt that when a bowling Green high school with a big school, you know, 16, something high school students we had about 400 in our class.

you know, I came full circle side graduate, valedictorian.

Of the school more couldn't get him the first and second grade, You Boehner in public schools, but that was that House call with in that go into the other high school.

But that high school went away and all became part of a partner in public school system.

So funny how God gives you challenge us in your life.

Even at a young age, you really there to accept where you are, make the best of it.

>> You do talk about faith a lot.

Yeah.

That that's foundational to who you are.

Sure.

You don't shy away from that.

What did you think that with someone?

>> Well, you know, the writer that was helping me out, but that's why I can't I can't go through this book for 12 and write this to not talk And I try not to push my fate on other people, but I'm a Christian man.

I believe that that doesn't mean a perfect meantime, imperfect 90 God's grace and mercy.

Get me through.

But I think it's really important because through my years up there, my fate.

It's gotten through about everything.

And even talking there.

You know, we're for 10 CEOs.

Nobody survives.

Renee in corporate America 10 Co know by now because you do anything wrong just because I want my own person that you're nice guy.

So how do you survive?

And I said, well, because I never got a master.

I think once we understand.

The power of faith in our lives.

So for me, it was fate.

Bam Lee career.

That was my order.

>> You also talk when you are working your way up and being in places where, you know, they saw this guy, they saw you in a truck and you're sitting at a diner and you're not trying to insert yourself.

You're just watching and listening and striking up a conversation asked them about their families.

I mean, what you really describe as one being a good person, but that's how you also become in effect, the leader by being an active listener and just letting people get comfortable with you in their own time.

I meet them where they are.

So yeah.

>> Yeah, you're you're spot on.

And that that that Thomas actually working for the railroad and how.

That's why I'm And you can imagine that the young African American engineer traveling to the Caufield this Kentucky, but they're good people.

It was.

But if I went and I would in a restaurant with a chip on my shoulder problem, we're at a little bit different, but we're going not talk a lot.

But listen.

talking a book about that, you know, maybe do a little bit more listening course.

How I would >> so so, you know, none of us can listen enough for so quick to win.

You.

>> Talk, I want to read Just as I learned to just humble myself and those folks really treated me well.

I never had any problems.

>> I love how you incorporate awesome sentiments from your friends and the book to talk about experiences even with your family.

Having met your parents are hearing stories that your father, sure I I I thought that was so compelling.

What did you feel?

It was important to include other people's voices?

Well, just >> I didn't know what they're going to say, but it makes I want to book be very sincere.

And at the Nick and you know, we really picked out.

You know, little things that they said, but it's all their words.

What's up?

My words?

Because if those folks have worked with have been friends with over the years.

And they tell the story better kind of validates.

They're all good people.

The good leaders, we all started different places, small, Finnish of different places.

But at the end.

But it doesn't matter if we put something in somebody that will jar.

Did we make the communities that we all lived in a little bit better.

Yeah, that you're measuring stick.

>> And you do.

I mean, the your chapters are appropriately and I Love the last You know who's saying your name?

I think it was.

Yeah.

Favorite.

Yeah.

Right.

Tell us what you mean by that?

Yeah, because I want when I was working, I just go around the people.

>> Everybody, you know, grounds had reached the NIT senior executive level of organization.

But I would say hi to my senior night where you mean by that.

So well, I walked around the building here and I say whose influence short career with ever say your night?

Some not so much to be saying your name in the community somewhere.

You may help me do this or this.

John, help me do this are in a help me do that.

If that number say your name is kind of been about you.

You know, the book is really it's really not about us about the Spurs.

It's about other people be, you when I used to travel one books, every level, the purpose driven life, all yours for just about my wife or go to Walmart about its books and we would.

>> Should pack my luggage.

And I said when I come back on Friday, live on Monday, all those got it for 5 weeks in the in the first.

Sent us in that book is it's not about you right?

And once we've learned that in this world that is really about how much we give to others and not to be again, we're imperfect now.

The made 1000 mistakes are going make some more before I get home to date.

But this really is about being a giver, not a taker.

So many takers in the world today.

Take take, take, take take all as to how much have you given who say your name when you leave, you retire or when you move on out that community are people saying they were great neighbors, kind of love having dinner with them.

Gosh, I love playing golf for him or do they say got some kind of glad they're moving up, help friends and people?

I won't say France.

We know people with some ice as the you want to go been not The one played on and I can't be on the golf course which you prefer for right?

You know, so small doses of all of those are the architects will have those who don't be one of those that want to says I want to go earn it to wherever.

>> I love how you talk about, you know, the CEO because, you know, so many people right?

There are CEOs who they know lots of people, but they're not very deep relationships in.

So we go in there funeral.

It's empty.

>> Yeah, right?

Yeah.

>> And that was a nobody saying their name.

>> Yeah.

That was a true story.

My best friend that wrote the foreword to blot on bird.

He lives in California and he called one day.

He says I just feel this guy.

We're 40 years for the organization.

But there's nobody year.

Wow.

I said, wow.

>> It's no one was ice training, whatever.

But it doesn't matter.

You gonna go.

A fat person made a difference in line.

But he had all the Welton world not being judgmental of him, but it was to open her from either side.

And he said, I don't ever forget this takers were too young leaders.

And we've got understand who's going to share a name who's going to be there for us at the Would you talk about that relationship with your with your best friend?

Yeah.

Is also a corporate executive.

Yeah.

>> And how you all, you know, kind of grew up.

So I say, yeah, we did.

You know, we we were we moved to Pennsylvania, Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is chocolate capital of the world, were both young and >> we don't have a lot of and we need that right.

And he takes me.

We go to launch.

And I think you stop by to talk to real term, build a new house and he says we're at no time to talk.

He says.

>> I'm the one what 36 a lot.

So we come next door neighbors.

And since then, we've been firmly married her high school sweetheart.

So he's a very servant leader, is all about other people about giving.

But he's he drive result is a high performer.

You still advisory all the things I talk about the book so you know, so he's counts special to me.

We're kind of joined at the hip and we say iron sharpens on were we kind of sharpen each other and he's tax May 2 or 3 times over the weekend.

And I'll take some back where there's about a ball game.

He was he's a soccer player from of Cornell.

So he's a athlete.

But we're all done that.

He had retired just so he's trying to mentally get rid of for this process.

You're helping him to help him do that that high and it's pretty good, right?

You know, just >> as he may be at a place where he's on certain routes.

I really ready right to be Don.

Yeah, yeah, it's hard.

It's a hard decision.

What how did you know it was time because like you said, you just 66 new retired 2 years ago, right?

>> And you know, it's it was a struggle for make-up.

My watch left to the age.

57 see 63 now and she tried to go.

62 a probably should have, but I couldn't I just kind of thought to that process.

What am I going to do?

I can sit around been going at this pace for so many years.

So, you know, I I do a little detective coaching for young executives across the that that that need help in.

How do you work in the C-suite and and something to talk about the book in just just do the right thing, right of always believed that if you do the right people.

Got to do right.

But you're right.

>> This is never the wrong time to do the right thing.

Yeah.

Somebody in the yeah.

Give some should I do this?

It's a right.

Yeah.

Can you think get a after all the 40 years in corporate America actually good.

Yeah, you know, and there's a way to do things and those are right when the wrong guy and I'm trying to do it right where it was.

All right, all the time.

You know, I made mistakes.

Absolutely.

Am an imperfect.

Absolutely.

>> I feel pretty good about one man.

Yeah.

>> The fact that you write in a voice that everybody regardless of what stage they're am and their life and their career, whether they're young, I mentioned school age children.

I believe young teens can get a lot from this book and those who are facing retirement are wondering what's next for them.

I mean, it really is a good guide on how to really assess who you are and what you've given.

Yeah, I think, you know, at first chapter is about foundation now a lot to my parents for that.

We all have had somebody >> in our lives for this parent or grandparent, a teacher, a counselor that gave us a good foundation.

And if we don't waver from that foundation, which is a teacher in April, right?

Be a good person.

That's what we were told.

It would mean you're taught that a simple.

and as you move up, the corporate ladder.

Are wherever organization and you really feel like I have arrived now, I don't really need all that Can do what I want to do it anyway.

I want to know you never get away from those simple values that we're taught to us by our parents, grandparents and our neighbors and, you know, to speak at people.

Yeah.

>> A lot of people, as you said, feel like they have to have an edge in order to be competitive in order to get ahead.

Sure, right, that they can't show a softer side over on our ability.

Do you think, though, that's changing with each generation and that's your grandkids will be even more?

Yeah.

Future grandkids will be even more.

>> Open to different styles of leadership.

>> Yeah.

So you can't.

You can't.

When I came through organizations, you can't manage those cool way.

The day with the new generation is going like this are granted to be different.

People want to come work because the number one reason people, State organization, it's who they work for us, not money.

People say it's always really, that work for because you're working where you really a very talented to your work anywhere.

Always felt like I could go to work in a ruckus on power and that found a job.

But it's really the people you work with and how do you how flexible are they?

And in a new generation is really all about their family.

You know, the people that you know, at first I asked how much vacation died, right?

When I came along, there was no way I was going to you are going say remote, united hard but today.

So it really is different.

Yeah.

How you treat people make them part of the organization for >> Yeah, that is.

So that is so true and other benefits that are not necessarily monetize like, you know, pet insurance or yeah, having a rec room, yes or things.

It's really care for kids.

Day care for kids is a combination of work-life, endure work environment.

Sure.

But do you think that because often times and you mentioned this allude to in your book about how we think that the next generation, you know, has a less work ethic or whatever.

But you say the opposite.

Like with each generation, we get better.

It's stronger.

We get smarter and wiser.

You see that when you look at Z?

Yeah, her agency, I think that's what they You know, you know, the work ethic is handed down generation right?

So >> my daughter so young, I think I do school work at the work early in the first one.

There.

Do your job work work hard harder than anyone there.

So I don't know over losing 8 out thing.

The work-life balance is a challenge for young professionals today.

And I'll talk about the book that non work like ours.

All my work right now to talk about that because if you want or organization on your work, life balance, there's never enough time in the day to get on the work done.

So always took time to watch, says, hey, we've got parent teacher conference tomorrow with have been her dominate and you've got to be the moms.

Always that right.

Mom saw with women always stacked.

So they need our shared a job as always.

I was always that or my wife or my daughters.

That was important and there.

But I KET that it Talk about the book, everybody even as well.

He was going to go, oh, he's going to work tomorrow.

Who generation are really beginning their families and travel.

Yeah, Apple's key and the NFL to tell you I'm not going work as hard as you guys did.

My work smarter.

All become it.

I'll do a good job.

All deliver results.

But I want flexibility right?

>> And they may have come from homes where they saw their parents work 30 to 40 year somewhere in their pensions evaporated.

Sure, right.

When the jury took a tank, I'm going on now 20 years ago, right, 15, 20 years ago.

So that can change the mindset about, you know, what's the personal return on investment other than the paycheck?

Exactly.

Right.

So the workforce?

Yeah.

Yeah.

When you think about the the the new generation of work are the future of work and how flexibilities important remote isn't as important.

I mean, how do you think what businesses need to be doing when you do these consulting talks and, you know, an uncoated you say to be an effective leader.

This is what you need to do for your people.

>> Yeah, I think number one, any league you have to inspire You know, when you've got inspired, people have to want to work for you.

We don't get to write decide on who the who if you're a leader because a good time for your time, right?

When the when you walk in Rome, people know if you're the leader because people give you the right to be the leader.

You don't get right family because I've got to have time on here.

Well, you might think you there, but, you know, talk about the book of verse of Foreign the building and also on the president of the company.

And everybody goes out this way.

And so my because in all my his exit over here, who they don't believe that's right, that time, it's not about my title.

It's about who they believe in.

So I think I would say inspire people to want to work with you make make you deliver results because you you have to live results for the company to be strong for that person to have some security in his job, his or her job because they know that you're performing at high level and set an example as a leader.

People watching us all the time.

People watch us all the time.

They new atomic can work into it to my left.

So find a business meeting early in the morning outside the law.

Community Benson are coming at 10 o'clock.

I would pass the guys and they should have about way, guys.

I was downtown at a and I was up at 6.30, had to be there for A cart breakfast.

I want them to know.

I'm not just coming to the on the golf course, right?

Because that was important for me to live, by example, right thing leading by example, is so important.

Not just to work, but in our neighborhoods are in our churches where it has come lead by your actions and being involved in the community.

We see the ball weighs Don and we could spend a whole lot more talking about that.

I know there's got to be a party to this.

I'm not sure what it is.

I don't know what that is yet.

You know, because that was cover for me.

Is that right?

The book is emotional protests, right?

But I feel that there's more India.

>> Yeah, well, hope so.

Yes, it is.

Yes It's always a You are a pillar in this community and in this state Ashli Watts will be the first one to say that set out to her for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and so many others.

You have done so much for this day and thank you for your work and for this book.

Thank you.

And I'm humbled by the opportunity to justice, but my next generation.

And thank you for having my pleasure.

My pleasure.

>> You can always check in with us on KET.

There are programs and on social media.

We've got all that on the screen.

>> And thank you so much for watching today.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Take really good care and I'll see you soon.

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