As we enter the holiday season, I reflect on the past year and all the Merlot enjoyed, pontifications with friends, and memories created. I have enjoyed working through some significant client challenges, helping them right the ship out of the storm, and of course beating Loyd at golf is always a memory worth cherishing.
We have experienced a year filled with some challenges with hurricanes, flooding, fires, shootings, and political unrest. However, we have also seen a year of exponential growth in our economy and record highs with the stock market. Industries, that just several years ago were flailing, are now thriving. Technologies continue to develop new and innovative ways to work and live. And entrepreneurship and home ownership are attainable.
I often find myself working clients “out of the dumps” with the 24-hour news cycle. Too often, we are faced with only the messages of negativity, and all that is positive is being lost. It is for this reason, I challenge us all to spend some time reflecting this holiday season on the silver linings and uplifting events we have experienced in the last year.
For example, with mother nature being a force to be reckoned with this year, one of the most amazing outcomes our clients and I witnessed, was communities coming together. Strangers helping their neighbors, businesses helping their communities and non-affected individuals and companies banding together to help. We may not all have the same opinions and beliefs. But what we all do when it matters most, is care for and take care of our communities and our people..
Positivity is all around us, if we choose to pay attentio¬n to it. We must sometimes sift through what others want us to focus on, but I promise you, if you look for that silver lining, it is always there. To quote my friend Loyd, “Our attitude is the only thing we can control.” With that in mind, reflect on your past and can you point to the silver lining?
To keep things on the lighter side, I will share with you one of my reflections. This past year, Loyd beat me at a round of golf. I hate losing, especially to Loyd. My silver lining here is that although I lost, the time spent with my friend was more important. Oh, and I noticed he might have added a couple of clubs to his bag, so I might have to go out and do some early Christmas shopping for myself!
Share with us your silver lining and keep the message of positivity going forward.
Dealing with complex business, family, generational, recruitment or growth questions? Ask Dr. Merlot: drmerlot@rawlsgroup.com.
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The Succession Planning Matrix
The Succession Planning Matrix
Preparing a business to transition from one generation to another requires a focus on 10 key areas which we call the Succession Matrix. Click the following link for more drill down resources on The Succession Matrix
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