See and Be Seen

Have you ever walked into a store, distracted by the endless to-dos, only to have something stop you in your tracks and shift your entire day? Maybe it was something tragic or touching. At that point, you probably forget the list, or at the very least, the one crucial item you need to remember, but for the rest of the day, you cannot help but recall that experience you just witnessed. Maybe you might even pull it out to share for small talk at the next company party.

Last Christmas, I experienced one of those moments, but not as an observer. I was in the hustle and bustle of preparing for the family to visit, needing to get the last-minute items before heading to the airport to pick up the kids, and then it happened! I could feel the body heat from the thief. I watched him and his buddies come down the aisle, and I could smell the odor because he almost touched me. My hand lifted slightly, and then it happened. In a split second, everything was different. Before I could even react, my purse was gone.

The chaos unfolded before me, but the fundamental shift happened in the following days. It took a bit, but I had to become intentional about not allowing this moment to ruin the season. I chose to slow down, notice, and see things differently. When I go to the store, I am intentional and more aware of my surroundings. I tend to go when I am less rushed and shop in more small, locally owned mom-and-pop shops, accommodating the need for less chaos and stress.

I walked into a family-owned and run store specializing in foods they believed the consumers would want and love. Maybe because they were items they liked, but I started to notice everything. I became acutely aware of looking up and seeing my surroundings. I began to acknowledge the time and attention they put into the desserts they sold, made fresh daily, or the particular product placement to capture my attention. For all I know, I could have been the only customer in the past hour, and they were excited to serve me. They went out of their way to make me feel special that day. We chatted about their products, and I got the two items I wanted. Then it clicked: I left with my two items, but I gained so much more: a meaningful experience, friendly faces, and the feeling of being truly seen.

Like that family-owned store, businesses succeed when they intentionally see and serve their customers. In our rushed lives, as consumers and business owners, we forget to look up and notice the small, human moments that create lasting connections.

On LinkedIn, we often scroll past job changes or milestones, too focused on our own goals. But what if we stopped? What if we took a moment to acknowledge a colleague’s journey, support someone looking for work, or celebrate a milestone instead of rushing by? Those moments of connection can potentially transform not just their day but ours. These are small ways to see and be seen. Then we can be known. There are many intentional people out there, and the more we see and be seen by each other, the more impact we can make in our community, both from a business standpoint and mainly from a human perspective. Start small; it only takes one minute to change your and someone else’s lives forever!

I challenge you today to look up, acknowledge someone, celebrate their journey, and show up. It takes just a moment to change a life—and maybe, in doing so, change your own, even establish or build a new relationship. By seeing others, you become a part of the community that strengthens us all; we are all seen and known.

I want to thank those who have taken the time for me this year and impacted my life professionally and personally. Thank you for seeing me and others around me and helping us all make a difference in our world. Ed Melendez Ryan Brubaker Ruth Markham Tom Roepke Anne White Cory Dunham?? Clint Swan Jasen Coldiron Chad Hankinson Rebecca Bormann Abigail Tiefenthaler Jake Stahl Mike Mittendorff Mike Estridge Joanna DiNello Bryan Mishkin Kelly Kronbauer Beto Montoya Paul Convery Erin Decker Jen Porter, Women's Empowerment Coach, CPC, PCC Frederick McCracken