Thanksgiving….turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy….parades and “Black Friday”. As we enter the holiday season it is so easy to forget why we are celebrating in the first place.
This post will be random (surprise) and disconnected, but will be just another way of saying “Thank You”…..no spell check, emotion, typos and more! Transparency in the raw.
While it is a personal priority of always letting people know that I appreciate who and what they are, and what they do, the majority of us still are pretty poor at showing appreciation. For some saying “Thank You” is akin to Fonzie and “I’m sorry”.
As I reflect on things and think about my business and personal life, I realize that in being a small business owner, the two are joined at the hip.
I owe many people thanks and I am grateful for many, many things. I would like to share just a few that have helped shape who I am.
Family
It all starts with family, and without it, I am nothing. Just a few incomplete thoughts about the parental and immediate influences of my “fam damily”…
Thankful For:
My wife and kids
Think Brady Bunch Lite….I have two step-sons whom I am VERY proud of, ages 14 and 17 and a daughter that will soon turn 5. Between sports, dance and school, we always have somewhere to be. I’m thankful for the kids putting up with gadgets littering the home and the crazy work schedule of a small business owner and more importantly for reminding me of what is really important. Watching games, coaching a team, going to a dance recital, playing “tickle monster” and ….coloring.
My wife…..why she puts up with me, I haven’t a clue. I could write a book…
I’m thankful for her dealing with me working late, having to travel and rambling about CSS, search and the latest Google update. She has stood beside me all along the way, taking the feast and famine nature of starting and running a small business in stride.
From running to Staples, stops at the post office and helping with filling out tax forms and paperwork, I couldn’t do it without her.
My grandparents for instilling in my entire family the importance of hard-work and education (amongst other things!)
My Grandma Mary for teaching me patience and that anything can be accomplished amongst family. She and her sisters collectively put themselves through school (one set would work to pay for the others schooling, then return the favor) to become teachers….she rode a horse to school for her first job.
My Grandpa Gene for teaching hard work and the art of tickling. He died when I was young so my perspective is that of the eyes of a child. As a kid every time I would walk through the door of their home it was clock work, “Paaaaattttttttttt-aaaaaaaaaa-reeeeeee-kkk-usssss!” and he would then tickle with a finger mangled in a railroading accident. My Grandpa worked hard, multiple jobs from railroading to mailman, to support his large family. Work ethic and responsibility.
My Grandmother Ruthie for teaching me to tell people what you really think and more importantly that it’s that it’s perfectly fine to have fun ! Whooppin’ hollerin’ and spending that “mad money” that you saved for a rainy day on things that make you and others smile (you can’t take it to the grave right!). Ruthie loved life and it loved her back.
My Grandfather “Granddaddy” for teaching me work ethic, education and walk softly while carrying a big stick. He grew up in lumber camps and on farms and despite all odds, found a way to get an education on his own. He overcame obstacles of the era (farm chores and his own father’s de-emphasis on education) and worked by the light of an oil lamp to complete assignments. In this manner he completed high school, then college and became a teacher and principal. He worked hard, he served his country, he gave back.
My Mom and Dad for always, always, always being there and as difficult as I made it at times, supporting me no matter what.
I could write a book about all my parents have done for me….but will highlight one thing. Fast forward to the 8th grade!
I always loved playing sports, but basketball was never “my game”. However, I decided in junior high, that I wanted to play for the school team. I tried out…and was cut.
Don’t expect a Michael Jordan story, here, something on a smaller scale, it was the lesson it taught…not the outcome.
As a kid, I was pretty good at all the other sports I played and it was tough being cut. My parents took time to explain to me that things don’t come easy…you have to work at things and earn it.
One quote from my Dad that stand out, “You can prove them right…or you can prove them wrong”.
They bought a basketball hoop, put it up in the driveway and handed me a basketball. In hindsight, I guess it was their way of seeing what I was made of. I decided to prove them wrong.
Everyday, snow, rain wind I shot baskets, worked on layups, free throws….and shots behind the back from the rhododendrons! (Hey…never know when a game might come down to that!). By the time tryouts rolled around the next year that ball was worn smooth…I can still see and “feel” that ball to this day. I tried out, made the team….and started every game (yet somehow managed to only score 20 points!).
Them…proven.
Work ethic….check.
Events
It’s interesting to take a look at how events in our lives shape who we are and what we become. I touched on one earlier, but there are others that I look back on that had a major impact on my business.
I’m going to keep this short, but it’s quite a story, next time you see me ask for the “non-condensed” version.
Years ago, I handled the marketing for a small rafting company. There was no budget and so I turned to the then emerging Internet as a low cost marketing tool. Little did I know, it would later become my career.
I learned the in’s and outs of how search engines worked, how a website worked and how to use them to promote a company. Long story short, we had great success and the business saw a significant surge in rafters. After two years of growth, I asked for a modest raise….I was single, had very few bills yet was still barely making it.
My request was denied and I attempted to explain, in the foyer of their brand new log home, why I thought it was a valid request.
Their business had grown substantially, and I mentioned that I had “become pretty good” at what I did. When I said that, one of the owners laughed and she said, “I don’t think so”.
I walked out the door and haven’t looked back. Dad…I took your advice, and proved them wrong!
Sadly, they went bankrupt two years later.
People
There are a great number of people that have helped me in various ways. From providing encouragement, advice and business I am indebted to those folks that went out of their way to help. Just to mention a few….
Geoff Heeter, of Opossum Creek Retreat Cabin Rentals fame, was not my first client…..but he was my first paying client! He has endured countless experiments and has provided valuable feedback on a variety of things. More importantly, he has become a great friend and has provided great, at times much needed, laughs along the way. Be sure to follow Geoff on “Tweeter” (I think he’s becoming insecure about his single digit followers!) and ask him how his Linux install is going!
Susie Hofstetter and Len Hanger at Songer Whitewater gave me a job years ago, and an opportunity. An opportunity to also work on my own projects and grow my business on the side. Their help, encouragement and support played a huge part in getting Matterhorn Marketing off the ground.
Dave Arnold at Class VI River Runners is an entreprenuer’s entrepreneur. While I have never had an opportunity to work with Dave, and despite working for his competition, he has always supported, encouraged and opened doors that otherwise would have never opened. I have developed a great amount or respect for Dave on both the personal and professional level and am thankful for the help he has provided.
Sorry!
I apologize for being long winded, and could (and should to adequately say thanks) easily write much more. Much like telling my family I love them, It is important to me to say thanks and make sure people know it. I am often quite liberal with my use of “Thank You” and “I really appreciate that”, but I mean it when I say it.
Reminds me of a time, not long ago, while tucking my daughter into bed. She was half asleep as I pulled the blanket up over her shoulders and kissed her on the cheek.
I whispered, “I love you”.
She whispered back, “I know”.
Let people know…
