I’m usually all about marketing, branding, “top of mind” – and I don’t fault companies for using each holiday as a reason to reach back out to customers under the guise of holiday-celebration. But sometimes I balk at this, even though we do it as well. Somehow, I’m more sentimental this year. Maybe it’s my oldest child coming home for Thanksgiving after her first semester of college. Maybe it’s seeing the fragility of life anew after hearing of wars in Europe, civil rights abuses in the middle East and at home, a divided country surfacing once again during a mid-term election.
I think the main thing that started me on my sentimental journey was a gratitude email from an old acquaintance I haven’t seen in years. Out of the blue I received an email where he recounted some kindnesses my wife and I offered him in a difficult time of life. I had forgotten those events. I did not know the impact they had on him. He was so generous with his thanks that I began to cry as I read the email. It wasn’t long, it was just from the heart. And in my busy day-to-day business world I unfortunately have less and less inclination to carve out time to express my gratitude. My friend provided the wake-up call.
This November I am thankful for my team at Clark Machinery Sales. They are driven by a pursuit of excellence, filled with generous hearts and are kind. I enjoy going to work each day. I am thankful for the hard-working business owners, shop managers and operators we are lucky enough to call “our” customers. They are incredible. They are sincere. They are the foundation of our business but also our country. They are the heroes in my book.
Once I begin to list the many things for which I am thankful I realize the list goes on and on. I have yet to mention family, or faith, or friends. The lesson for me this year is to re-orient my vision to appreciate the things I have and those around me, instead of regretting the things I don’t have and those I’m not connected with.
If you’re reading this – and made it to the end – well, thank you! May your heart be filled with gratitude for the things in your life. And like my friend who sent me the unexpected thank-you note, maybe you can lighten up someone’s day by expressing your gratitude for them as well.