eLeader September 2024

Yesterday marked one year since I lost my father to esophageal cancer. Certain moments from those final weeks and days remain sharp and vivid, while other memories have faded.

It’s easy to get caught up in daily life—the things on your to-do list, the work priorities or stresses, getting from one commitment to another. These often seem like the big things until they no longer matter. When life shifts suddenly, you realize what truly does. In the end, it’s not the things that hold importance, but the people in our lives that matter most.

I remember my dad’s memorial service and being so deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support. We met some of his former co-workers and even long-lost family members, and I got to see a softer side of my dad through the stories they shared. Then, in the weeks following came the unexpected moments with strangers—the employee at Walgreens, the furnace repair technician—each with their own stories of my dad’s kindness in small interactions. These little reminders, shared by people who crossed paths with him, have helped shape the big things I hold onto now.

People and relationships are the big things that truly matter. My dad’s memory, the family and friends who you can turn to in tough times, the colleagues and neighbors that show big acts of kindness or small reminders of compassion, and even the brief encounters with strangers who have a story to tell—all of these people matter. They make the things worth doing; but without them, the same things don’t matter.

Keeping busy has always been my coping mechanism, and this past year has certainly flown by. Time is precious and slips away quickly, regardless of how we spend it. This is as much a reminder to myself as it is an encouragement to you: focus on the people and relationships that truly matter. Life can change quickly, but the lasting impact of the people we love, the memories we share, and the care we give—that’s what endures and what matters most.

Who matters to you? What can you do to make sure they know this? What distracts you from the important things, and how can you pay attention to what matters most?

For leadership.

Unreasonable Hospitality ??

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Discover how renowned New York restaurateur Will Guidara transformed Eleven Madison Park into the world's best restaurant by reinventing their approach to service and hospitality. In a thought-provoking episode of Simon Sinek’s A Bit of Optimism podcast, Will discusses the power of being intentionally unreasonable and explores the key concepts from his acclaimed book Unreasonable Hospitality.

For entrepreneurship.

HubSpot for Startups Fundraising Hub ??

Explore it here

HubSpot for Startups has curated free resources dedicated to startup fundraising. From VC connections and pitch deck templates, to tools to help you build financial projections, check out the resources available to you.

For innovation.

AI Simplified ??

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Join the Small Giants Community on September 25th for a free virtual workshop that will help you leverage AI to amplify your company’s purpose and mission. Whether you’re already familiar with AI technology or brand new to the concept, explore its potential to enable business growth, increase efficiency, and drive innovation in actionable ways.

For culture.

Building a Loyal, Brand-Building Community ??

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On September 12th, join Inc. and featured speaker Karen Young (CEO & founder of OUI the People) for a free virtual event that will help you convert your customer base into a loyal community that builds your brand. Whether it’s building an online community or turning your company into a physical destination for your community, learn how to best tap into your customer base to grow.

For personal growth.

The Unpleasant Essentials ??

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I recently read this interesting article by entrepreneur and self-proclaimed dabbler, Josh Pigford. It simply reflects on the difference between things we like and don’t like to do (aka the “unpleasant essentials) and how to avoid procrastination to realize success.