Earlier this week, I was asked a question during a podcast interview that really stuck with me. The question was simple but profound: What is your biggest challenge right now? My answer was just one word: people.
When pressed further, I explained, People today are different. I’ve noticed a troubling trend, one that I believe hits at the heart of many struggles in business and life. There seems to be a lack of hope, faith, and belief. Now, I’m not talking about faith and belief in a spiritual sense, though that may be related. What I mean is our collective understanding of why we’re here on this planet.
At its core, I believe our purpose is simple. Every day, we are here to do two things: Produce and Serve.
What It Means to Produce and Serve
Being productive doesn’t mean churning out tasks for the sake of it. And serving isn’t limited to grand, life-changing gestures. These concepts are woven into our daily lives in big and small ways.
For example, when you pick up trash strewn across a yard, you’re not just tidying up; you’re serving your community by contributing to its cleanliness. When you go through a fast-food drive-thru and order a cheeseburger, there’s a chain of service in motion. The attendant serves by taking your order, the team produces the meal, and you provide payment in exchange for that labor. This cycle of production and service creates value and builds the systems we rely on every day.
The concept is deceptively simple but profoundly impactful. Every single human interaction, every working system, and every thriving community hinges on our ability to both produce and serve. Yet, in today’s world, this basic principle seems lost on so many people.
The Disconnect We Face Today
I believe the challenges we face in business and society today come down to this breakdown of understanding. Too many people don’t grasp the importance of these two simple ideas. They don’t see the value in showing up, taking pride in their work, and contributing to something bigger than themselves.
Why is this happening? Maybe we’ve stopped teaching it. Schools focus on technical skills but often skip over the essential life principles that build character and purpose. Parents, distracted by modern noise like TikTok and endless to-do lists, might miss opportunities to mentor their kids about these values. Society, at large, seems to glorify consumption over contribution.
This isn’t just a youth problem or a generational issue. It’s something we’ve all collectively allowed to happen. If we’ve stopped prioritizing production and service in our own lives, how can we expect others to model those behaviors?
Fast Lanes and Slow Lessons
Here’s a story to illustrate this. The other morning, I wrapped up a run with my F3 group. We welcomed each other, pushed ourselves during the workout, and left feeling energized and hopeful. On my drive home, that sense of hope was quickly interrupted.
I got behind a minivan where two guys were very clearly doing their own thing—and by that, I mean hotboxing the vehicle in clouds of skunky smoke. They were driving well below the speed limit and swerving between the lines, completely oblivious to their surroundings.
What stood out most to me wasn’t just the poor driving or the smell. It was this overwhelming sense of carelessness. These two individuals lacked awareness of how their actions affected others. They didn’t seem to realize that kids would soon be outside heading to school or that their behavior could put someone else at risk. They weren’t producing. They weren’t serving. At 7 a.m., while most people were starting their day with purpose, they were coasting through life in a fog, literally and figuratively.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just about the person in the minivan. It’s about all of us. When we fail to understand the balance of serving and producing, we lose something critical—not only for ourselves but for our families, companies, and communities. We all have a responsibility to engrain this mindset in the next generation.
Simple lessons like “take pride in how you show up” or “don’t just look the part; be the part” can change cultures. When we teach our kids, coworkers, and teams to value service and productivity, we build a future where people care, aim higher, and respect one another.
The Call to Action
Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Ask yourself how you’re producing and serving in your life right now. Are you adding value at work? Are you showing up for your family? Are you creating positive ripples in your community?
If you’re a leader, this mindset is even more critical. Businesses thrive when everyone—from the intern to the CEO—understands this balance. You don’t just clock in to get through the day; you contribute to something bigger. If your team doesn’t get this, it’s up to you to show them the way.
Life really is simple when you break it down. Produce. Serve. Repeat. When each of us embraces this as our purpose, we start to see the beauty in people again. The community grows stronger. Business gets easier. And life feels more meaningful.
Take the time today to reflect on how you can live by these two words. Serve and produce. Because when we all do, everyone wins.
– Gabe
