Every year at this time, blogs, social media sites, newspaper editorial sections and e-newsletters are filled with heartfelt sentiments about being thankful. And as business owners and managers, there are certain things we should all be thankful for…
- Our clients… without whom we wouldn’t even have a business.
- Our employees and co-workers… who deliver on our promise to our clients every day and make coming to work pretty darn enjoyable.
- Our families… who understand the commitment we’ve made to our businesses and support us when we work late (far too often) or have to be away from home on business.
But beyond those three things that we give thanks for every day, there are a few other things I am thankful for in helping to make my business successful…
It’s so ubiquitous now that most can’t remember ever working without it… but I am thankful for email… seriously! It is the primary means of communications in every aspect of our business. It has become such an integral part of every aspect of what we do – client communications and projects, marketing & sales, internal communications, AR/AP – that we take it for granted. Think about this… what would your business be like if your ability to send & receive emails disappeared tomorrow?
I’m thankful for my local coffee shop. Crazy… but true. Sometimes I just need a break from my office and want a warm, welcoming, distraction-free place to sit and do a little work. Do you have a place like that? If not, find one. The great coffee, the welcoming barista, running into neighborhood friends… often opens up my mind to being a little extra creative and productive. Yes, I am writing this blog post from a coffee shop!
I’m thankful for my good friend, Brian… and not just because he’s been a friend for over 40 years (Wow! That hurts to say.). Brian is also a business owner and we serve as each other’s consultant and sounding board. We talk a couple times each week, giving us each the opportunity to vent about clients and employees (yes, even though we’re thankful for them – they still occasionally drive us crazy!), get feedback on ideas and share business insights. He is also the one person who can and does hold me accountable to running and growing my business. Thanks, pal.
I am thankful for cold beer! No, really… there is nothing like coming home after a long, hard day at the office, plopping down in my favorite chair – feet up on the ottoman – and enjoying an icy cold beer. The “ahhh” that always seems to escape my lips isn’t just because the beer tastes so good (I’m an IPA man, by the way), it’s the marking of that point in the day when I can disconnect… when the de-stressing can begin… when the hub-bub of the office is replaced by the comfort and quiet of home.
What about you? What are you thankful for in your business? What would make your work more difficult – or at least, less enjoyable – if it wasn’t around? What little things make a big difference for you?
We’d love to hear from you. And by the way, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.