Hal Donaldson

Yeah, you know, people ask me that. They say, what's the secret sauce? How has it gone from the back of a pickup truck to being, I think we're actually number 35 on Forbes list? You know, I can honestly tell you that I believe vision is incremental. You know, it's just doing the right thing, doing the opportunistic thing. Opportunities come your way, doing it and doing it well.

Yeah, you know, people ask me that. They say, what's the secret sauce? How has it gone from the back of a pickup truck to being, I think we're actually number 35 on Forbes list? You know, I can honestly tell you that I believe vision is incremental. You know, it's just doing the right thing, doing the opportunistic thing. Opportunities come your way, doing it and doing it well.

And just building upon that, I don't know that 30 years ago that we had this massive strategic plan that it was going to be, you know, something this large. It really was just responding to needs. You know, I'm a person of faith, and so I believe that God puts needs in front of you, and it gives you opportunities to respond to those needs. And the same for your listeners.

And just building upon that, I don't know that 30 years ago that we had this massive strategic plan that it was going to be, you know, something this large. It really was just responding to needs. You know, I'm a person of faith, and so I believe that God puts needs in front of you, and it gives you opportunities to respond to those needs. And the same for your listeners.

As they go through their daily life, when they encounter someone who's hurting, someone who's lonely, it's as simple as that. And I really think that's been the story of Convoy of Hope. We've just responded to needs for 30 years and tried to do it in a way that helps people maintain their dignity. You know, we feed nearly 600,000 children every day around the world.

As they go through their daily life, when they encounter someone who's hurting, someone who's lonely, it's as simple as that. And I really think that's been the story of Convoy of Hope. We've just responded to needs for 30 years and tried to do it in a way that helps people maintain their dignity. You know, we feed nearly 600,000 children every day around the world.

About 50,000 women and girls go through our jobs training, our teaching every year. We have 25, 30,000 farmers that go through training. so that they can increase their yields. It wasn't a big plan. It was just like, hey, here's an opportunity. Let's step into it. Let's do the best job we can, see where it takes us.

About 50,000 women and girls go through our jobs training, our teaching every year. We have 25, 30,000 farmers that go through training. so that they can increase their yields. It wasn't a big plan. It was just like, hey, here's an opportunity. Let's step into it. Let's do the best job we can, see where it takes us.

And I know that's probably not a good business model, but it's certainly how we've grown. You're doing something right.

And I know that's probably not a good business model, but it's certainly how we've grown. You're doing something right.

Yeah. Well, as you know, Gary, I have a book and it's entitled, What Really Matters? How to Care for Yourself and Serve a Hurting World. And my hope is that people will learn from my mistakes. Because in the early days, I was so passionate about helping people escape poverty. Again, because of my upbringing.

Yeah. Well, as you know, Gary, I have a book and it's entitled, What Really Matters? How to Care for Yourself and Serve a Hurting World. And my hope is that people will learn from my mistakes. Because in the early days, I was so passionate about helping people escape poverty. Again, because of my upbringing.

And when I saw poverty in the lives of other people, I just, you know, I want to do everything I can. And I found myself really traveling all over the world, all over the United States, spending 150 nights, 200 nights away from home. I had four small daughters. And so, you know, I think I had reckless ambition, much like my grandfather. I was abusing my family. because I wasn't there.

And when I saw poverty in the lives of other people, I just, you know, I want to do everything I can. And I found myself really traveling all over the world, all over the United States, spending 150 nights, 200 nights away from home. I had four small daughters. And so, you know, I think I had reckless ambition, much like my grandfather. I was abusing my family. because I wasn't there.

And when I was there, sure. I mean, I took good care of them. I told my kids bedtime stories. I tucked them in. I did everything that a loving father should do. But there's something to be said about time and time away. You know, it hit me probably about the age of 50, it really hit me that I had paid too great a price. I was making sacrifices I didn't need to make.

And when I was there, sure. I mean, I took good care of them. I told my kids bedtime stories. I tucked them in. I did everything that a loving father should do. But there's something to be said about time and time away. You know, it hit me probably about the age of 50, it really hit me that I had paid too great a price. I was making sacrifices I didn't need to make.

Those sacrifices were time, they were finances, they were health. And you tell yourself, you know what, I can sacrifice sleep, I can sacrifice nutrition, I can sacrifice et cetera, et cetera, because I'm doing such a good work around the world. But what I discovered is that when you take care of yourself, that's not a selfish deed.

Those sacrifices were time, they were finances, they were health. And you tell yourself, you know what, I can sacrifice sleep, I can sacrifice nutrition, I can sacrifice et cetera, et cetera, because I'm doing such a good work around the world. But what I discovered is that when you take care of yourself, that's not a selfish deed.

That's actually a selfless thing because it enables you to help more people. And not to operate from this constant deficit. That's huge. What was it? Was there a health scare? Yeah, I was sitting at my desk and I had a short pain in my back. And I thought, okay, well, this feels like it might be a kidney stone. And so I left work, drove home. It didn't get any better.

That's actually a selfless thing because it enables you to help more people. And not to operate from this constant deficit. That's huge. What was it? Was there a health scare? Yeah, I was sitting at my desk and I had a short pain in my back. And I thought, okay, well, this feels like it might be a kidney stone. And so I left work, drove home. It didn't get any better.