The Findley Companies

In the last Reflections Director’s Compass, we began a two-part series entitled, “The Cowboy Way,” based upon the book Cowboy Ethics – What Wall Street Can Learn from the Code of the West, by James P. Owen, written in 2004 and published by Stoecklein Publishing. In late February, I had two great friends pass away, one a cowboy and another who lived the cowboy virtues. Over the years, I had the opportunity to be around many cowboys -- some of whom were true cowboys, some of wh

This past weekend I spent some time with a former banker and good friend Gary Wright at his cattle ranch in Durant Oklahoma. I have more to say about Gary Wright in Reflections but talked about several of the cowboy friends he and I have known over the years and how important the Cowboy Code has meant to our lives. We visited the Cowboy Hall of Fame and Museum in Oklahoma City and had several friends who found their way into the Hall of Fame. A very prominent part of the Hall

For a long time, I believed there was a “Work Cary” and a “Home Cary.” Two versions of me. One who showed up to lead, manage, and get things done, and another who dealt with everything else. It was a comforting idea. Clean. Contained. But it was also completely untrue. When I got married, that line blurred. The joy, the logistics, the emotional bandwidth followed me into work, whether I admitted it or not. When I became a parent, the stress, the lack of sleep, the constant lo

Change is one of the most reliable sources of anxiety in the workplace, often leaving individuals and teams grappling with uncertainty, resistance, and stress. When COVID-19 disrupted life and work overnight, the upheaval highlighted just how unsettling change can be. For many, it wasn’t just the practical adjustments (like shifting to remote work) but the loss of normalcy and the fear of the unknown that fueled anxiety. In my role during the early days of the pandemic, I wit

Well-being is the cornerstone of managing workplace stress and anxiety. When it’s neglected, a vicious cycle emerges: stress leads to anxiety, anxiety depletes well-being, and poor well-being further amplifies stress. Left unchecked, this spiral can lead to burnout, affecting not only professional performance but also physical, mental, and emotional health. I’ve experienced this firsthand, and my story is a testament to how damaging this downward spiral can be, and how intent

A few years ago, I found myself in a company going through a period of transition. After years of steady growth, things plateaued. A new head of HR joined, emphasizing the importance of learning and development, but their actions didn’t match their words. Our team lacked resources, direction, and leadership after my boss left, leaving us to "keep the lights on" with minimal, low-impact projects. At first, having less to do felt like a break, but as weeks turned into months