Category Archives: Weekly Column

For most of my early life, barbecue wasn’t much of a staple. Not because I didn’t like it—far from it—but because there simply weren’t a lot of barbecue options in Hattiesburg, Mississippi during the 1960s and 70s. There was a popular legacy restaurant called The Wagon Wheel, and it was beloved by locals, though manyContinue reading “Holy Smokes: Discovering Barbecue Heaven at Sacred Ground”

Pride is a complex emotion. Sitting in the audience, watching my son walk across the stage to receive his bachelor’s degree, I felt it surge in a way that caught me off guard. Pride isn’t always a good thing—too much can be toxic, too little can lead to defeatism. But pride in your children? That’sContinue reading “Parental Pride”

Last night, my leadership team gathered for our 37th annual Christmas dinner—a tradition I cherish. It’s a moment to pause, reflect, and thank the incredible hard-working and dedicated people who make everything we do possible. This tradition brings together our leadership team, C-Suite, admin staff, and their significant others for an evening of barbecue ribsContinue reading “Team and Leadership”

My success today is rooted in the failures of my past. Failure can be a necessary ingredient for success, and the earlier it happens, the better. I learned this the hard way, stumbling more times than I care to count. But each failure, no matter how brutal, was a steppingstone. Looking back, I wouldn’t changeContinue reading “Success Starts with Failure”

Thanksgiving was different this year. The usual hum of our family traditions felt even richer, the air filled with the unmistakable aroma of turkey, fresh herbs, and gratitude. My son and I spent four hours in the kitchen together, cooking side by side. We’ve cooked together many times before, but this time was different. ThisContinue reading “Thanksgiving in the Kitchen”

It’s a strange position to be asked to write an obituary for your mother. It was something I dreaded for several weeks. She passed away while I was working out of the country, and I tabled it for a few weeks. Finally, on the flight home, in an environment without distractions, I started, and finished,Continue reading “Mom part II”

HATTIESBURG, MISS— After seven weeks overseas, I’m finally home. My time in Italy was a whirlwind of hospitality, history, and a heavy heart. Five groups of 25 people each joined me on tours across the island of Sicily and in the heart of Tuscany. These RSJ Yonderlust Tours aren’t just trips; they’re journeys through localContinue reading “No Place Like Home”

PETROGNANO, TUSCANY—Yesterday, I took my guests to a local friend’s sheep farm just down the road from our villa. It’s a working dairy farm where 500 head of sheep provide milk to make excellent pecorino cheese. This farm isn’t for show. It’s where three families live and work. The spicy fig jam they sell inContinue reading “Exposure”

PETROGNANO, TUSCANY— Last night I was sitting at the long dinner table in our Tuscan villa. Fourteen of my American guests from all across the South were enthusiastically engaged between courses. I found myself doing something I often do—pushing my chair back from the table and leaning back to take it all in. The roomContinue reading “The Hospitality Gene”