This year marks the 400th anniversary of Thanksgiving. It was 1621 when about 50 Pilgrims and roughly 90 members of the Wampanoag tribe celebrated that first harvest feast. I wonder if the original group of people who started the Thanksgiving tradition had even the foggiest notion that 400 years later, we would still be following their example and reflecting on all we have to be thankful for. What an incredible legacy.
I hope that my legacy will be that of a grateful person. People will not remember what cars we drove or the size of our house, but the type of person we were and how we lived our lives will carry on with the ones we love. The same is true for our companies. Does anyone remember the Q3 earnings of any company in 2019? I sure don’t. But I remember the behavior, good and bad, of many. I remember the companies that inspired me and dared to be bold; I remember Dan Price, the CEO who raised the minimum salary for all his employees to $70,000 per year.
So, what is your company’s legacy? What will you be remembered for?
I hope that this year, after multiple years of the pandemic, we will continue to be grateful as organizations. Thankful to the employees who keep us in business, the clients who trust us with their business, and the communities in which we live and work. When we focus on being grateful, our stress levels drop, and we are more likely to perform at our peak.
Likewise, when our employees and clients know we appreciate them, it reduces their stress and allows them to work at their peak as well. Never forget, this is not a one-time thing. It is a way of living and managing. You may remember the hit 80’s song “what have you done for me lately.” Well, what have we, as leaders, done for them lately? I find myself sometimes thinking, “my team knows I appreciate them,” but how do they know that? Did I tell them this last month? Don’t underestimate the power of words and the impact a sincere statement of appreciation can have on everyone in your life.
Thank you
So to all my clients, co-workers, vendor partners, and friends: Thank you for sticking with our company and me as we strive to be the best versions of ourselves. To my competitors: Thank you for keeping me on my toes and never allowing me to become complacent. And to everyone reading this: thank you for taking a few moments out of your time to spend with me.
Happy Thanksgiving!
LJ Morris
President & CTO
SmartSearch