Thankful

Holidays are calendar mile markers that help us balance our work and personal lives. We block time out-of-office, schedule flights or get the oil changed in the car just in time to hit the road. Anticipation builds with planning for a house full of family and friends, gathering around a bountiful table alive with conversation.  

However, this year will be very different for most Americans as the pandemic rages on. Trips have been canceled and tough decisions are being made. Thanksgiving shopping lists are shorter, dinner will be enjoyed by a smaller family unit, and fewer will gather to watch the Cowboys, Lions, and Steelers while battling tryptophan slumbers.  

It will be a simpler celebration this year. Yet, despite disappointment, there is still much for which to be thankful. 

Leadership Evolution – An authentic, personal, and compassionate tone from industry leaders brought out the best in our companies. An unprecedented level of cooperation across enterprises – sometimes adversaries – fostered innovation and a “we’re in this together” attitude. From retooling manufacturing lines to make personal protection equipment (PPE) to redeploying people and assets to move critical supplies where they were most needed, enterprises really stepped up. These corporate-driven acts for the greater good are reason to be thankful. 

New Conversations – Work from home (WFH) added complexity to getting things done, and face-to-face collaboration transformed into virtual settings. Moving meetings from conference rooms to living rooms, hearing boisterous children, and seeing family pets in the background revealed our personal sides. But what has been even more refreshing are the deeper, more personal connections being formed across work groups and the new conversations happening that are filled with empathy and caring. These are things we can all be thankful for. 

Helpers and Heroes – When streets were empty and ordinary household and grocery items became scarce, we began seeing those around us in a different light. Healthcare workers, truck drivers, farmers and many others have been recognized for the selfless contributions they make to helping others and maintaining normalcy. From nightly cheers and applause to homemade signs and banners, the air has been filled with gratitude that helps lift us all up. That is something to be proud of and thankful for.   

In difficult times, it is important that we see the best sides of each other, and that has been a hallmark of 2020.  

Thank you to my team for showing strength, resilience, and optimism.  

Thank you to customers for allowing us to help find new and different ways to keep business moving.  

Thank you to every day heroes doing acts big and small – it all makes a difference.  

Thank you to my family for staying positive and fun.  

And thank you to the LinkedIn community for another year of connecting and sharing. 

Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday!