Today marks a special day for us at the LPJ: we officially cut the ribbon on our thriving small media business in what I hope will be in front of our friends, family and community partners.
Now, not a lot of businesses will wait nearly three years to cut its ribbon, but we’ve always thought of ourselves as just a little bit different from the norm.
Our group of Malcolm Butler, my wife Dr. Judith Roberts, and me came together in the summer of 2021, spending countless hours in the evenings and weekends trying to figure out if this was the right thing to do.
There is always angst in the early formation of a business — I know I felt it — and so mapping out everything from what success would look like all the way to how we would amicably part ways professionally if this didn’t work was something I had to have handles on. And it kept me awake at night over that summer.
Now factor in two kids, my own full-time job at the time where I had never for a moment considered leaving, and what could have been a tremendous financial risk by our group? Those right there could make any risk averse person flee for safer pastures.
But through those conversations, there was something that helped me throw away my fears and ultimately dive right in — I knew, without a doubt, it would be meaningful work for us and a service to our community.
Ruston, and Lincoln Parish by and large, has a very rich history and the people who live here all have amazing stories to tell. These are stories about family, service, achievement, goodwill, arts — you name it, it’s out here.
And you have trusted us to be the ones to tell those stories. We don’t take this charge and this trust lightly. It’s why we get out of the bed every day.
Some days, as with any job, are easier than others. But I can say with certainty that in the years we have published the journal that the good days have by far outweighed the bad.
Because when your heart is connected to the work that you do, the rest comes very easily. And I have so many people to give my gratitude for that.
I believe that I’m the most blessed man alive because nearly my entire professional life has been dedicated to meaningful work while making meaningful connections and relationships all along the way.
It’s certainly something that I hope will continue for many, many years to come.
So thank you to Malcolm and to Judith for being in this journey with me. And thank you to our sales reps, writers, photographers, advertisers, community partners, Journal Services and our readers.
You all have given meaning to our work, and we humbly hope you will allow us to continue to serve all of you in the coming years.
The Lincoln Parish Journal will hold its ribbon cutting ceremony at the Experience Ruston – Visitors Center at 2:00 p.m. today.
“Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for men. Remember that you will get your reward from the Lord. He will give you what you should receive. You are working for the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24)
