My 5 MVP's for 2020

This year that we’ve just walked (or crawled) through is one that will mark many points in time - starting new traditions, breaking old ones, picking up new habits, interests or hobbies. 

But what I think will ring through with the highest volume as we pivot to 2021 is our reliance on others. Reaching out for help. Giving support when we can. 

We’ve acknowledged our need for connection and support more than ever before. 

So while talking with one of my favorite people (@Christian Smedberg) he shared a story about his 5 MVP’s for 2020 and I decided to take that idea and run with it - and hope that you will too. 

My 5 MVP’s for 2020:

My teammate and partner in crime, Nick Belling. Nick’s enthusiasm for the kitchen and bath industry and his infectious love of people along with his incredible emotional maturity WAY beyond his less than 30 years on the planet are what drew me to him (at an @NKBA event, of course!). And we were able to get him to join the Caesarstone sales team so that made it all even better.

Nick jumped right in with me, feet first, when our team dove right in to doing live webinars during lock down. We share the gift of being able to play off another’s energy almost effortlessly. 

His knowledge of fabrication and installation has allowed me to continue to develop my expertise on this topic and I just love being on the same team with him. 

The next person is also a fellow teammate, @Kathleen Hayes. Kat is someone I was able to be involved in the hiring process of. She’s also the one who got “reassigned” many of my favorite accounts as management shifted our territories. That could be an invitation for disaster, yet we took it as an opportunity to be helpful to each other beyond just being a good teammate. Today, and moving forward, I am proud and grateful to call her my friend. I know her life and career aspirations and she knows mine. We bring every issue right into a phone call to resolve it - and that includes Himalayan Moon!

@Jennifer Cyra is my 3rd MVP. Jen is someone who’s been my friend for many years but this year in particular I’ve been afforded the gift of her incredible mentorship. 

You see, Jen has years of experience navigating the field mines of corporate America. 

I do not. 

So as a multitude of extremely difficult, unfair things took place in my work environment, Jen was always just a phone call or email away to guide me in the direction of the best and highest good. I’m holding my head high, with optimism and a ton more confidence because of the time and wisdom she has been so generous in sharing. Everyone needs a Jennifer Cyra in their life!

And then there’s my friend, Patti Capri, my greatest cheerleader and confidant. Patti took a terrible fall with a blow to the head a year ago and has had a difficult and slow recovery. Still, whenever I doubted myself, needed to vent or wanted to share something wonderful that had happened, she too was just a phone call away. Patti is one of the greatest living examples of generosity of spirit, truly sharing in whatever life throws my way. 

And rounding out the MVP’s are the double whammy team of @Oprah and @Deepak (yes, we’re on first name basis here). And they are on the list because I’ve been participating in their online meditation experiences since they started doing them in 2013. During the pandemic, I went back to the first one and listened to the last meditation in that series. I’d never listened to it before. The topic is world peace. I’ve listened to only that meditation over and over and over again during this last year. The takeaway = my peace is the peace of the world. 

So in 2021 and forever moving forward, I wish you as much inner peace as you can access on any given day - because your peace is the peace of the world.

Who are your five MVP’s of this last year?