Time to Reflect and Time to Appreciate
By Jon Broadley – Business Advisory Service Manager
It is the time of the year where we are all trying to bring the year to close in a well-ordered and methodical manner. In reality everything is going crazy and we are trying to juggle Christmas shopping, school graduations and planning holidays along with doing our day jobs! Given all those distractions it is easy to forget those that have helped you manage your busy lives and kept your business profitable this year – your family, friends, employees and customers.
Now is a good time to reflect on and show your appreciation for these people. That is what good business owners do. Consider the following true story:
"Charles Plumb was a navy jet pilot in Vietnam. On his 76thcombat mission, he was shot down and parachuted into enemy territory. He was captured and spent six years in prison. He survived and still lectures on the lessons he learned from his experiences.
One day, a man approached Plumb and his wife in a restaurant, and said, "Are you Plumb the navy pilot?" "Yes, how did you know?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb was amazed - and grateful: "If the chute you packed hadn't worked I wouldn't be here today..."
Plumb refers to this in his lectures: his realisation that the anonymous people who packed the parachutes held the pilots' lives in their hands, and yet the pilots never gave these people a second thought; never even said hello, let alone said thanks. Now Plumb asks his audiences, "Who packs your parachutes? Who helps you through your life? Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually? Think about who helps you; recognise them and say thanks."
As we head towards Christmas please remember all those who contribute to your success and reward them accordingly. I am not necessarily advocating that you need to spend lots of money that you may not be able to afford. It may just mean spending a bit of time with them (some of your 1440 minutes in each day!) or publicly acknowledging their efforts or unexpectantly turning up on their doorstep with a bottle of wine! Make sure you appreciate your key players.
Finally, I would like to thank you for the year that was. I hope that you are going to be able to get a bit of a break over the Christmas/New Year period to relax and enjoy the company of family and friends. To you, your family and your Business Team, may you all have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year. Please give me a call on (07) 827 5192 ext 846 or mobile 0272 333 111 if I can help you in any other way. All the best with your Business.
It is the time of the year where we are all trying to bring the year to close in a well-ordered and methodical manner. In reality everything is going crazy and we are trying to juggle Christmas shopping, school graduations and planning holidays along with doing our day jobs! Given all those distractions it is easy to forget those that have helped you manage your busy lives and kept your business profitable this year – your family, friends, employees and customers.
Now is a good time to reflect on and show your appreciation for these people. That is what good business owners do. Consider the following true story:
"Charles Plumb was a navy jet pilot in Vietnam. On his 76thcombat mission, he was shot down and parachuted into enemy territory. He was captured and spent six years in prison. He survived and still lectures on the lessons he learned from his experiences.
One day, a man approached Plumb and his wife in a restaurant, and said, "Are you Plumb the navy pilot?" "Yes, how did you know?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb was amazed - and grateful: "If the chute you packed hadn't worked I wouldn't be here today..."
Plumb refers to this in his lectures: his realisation that the anonymous people who packed the parachutes held the pilots' lives in their hands, and yet the pilots never gave these people a second thought; never even said hello, let alone said thanks. Now Plumb asks his audiences, "Who packs your parachutes? Who helps you through your life? Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually? Think about who helps you; recognise them and say thanks."
As we head towards Christmas please remember all those who contribute to your success and reward them accordingly. I am not necessarily advocating that you need to spend lots of money that you may not be able to afford. It may just mean spending a bit of time with them (some of your 1440 minutes in each day!) or publicly acknowledging their efforts or unexpectantly turning up on their doorstep with a bottle of wine! Make sure you appreciate your key players.
Finally, I would like to thank you for the year that was. I hope that you are going to be able to get a bit of a break over the Christmas/New Year period to relax and enjoy the company of family and friends. To you, your family and your Business Team, may you all have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year. Please give me a call on (07) 827 5192 ext 846 or mobile 0272 333 111 if I can help you in any other way. All the best with your Business.
