This time of year, I am prone to reflect on the gifts of life for which I am most thankful. I hope that sharing my list might prompt you to share your own list with those you care about the most.
I am thankful for the clients I work with who challenge me in ways they may never realize and in return provide me with rewards beyond belief.
I am thankful for the chill of fall, the warmth of spring, and the brilliant colors of both seasons.
I am thankful for relatively low interest rates, relatively high employment, and an economics degree that helps me make some sense of both.
I am thankful that this past year I had the opportunity to spend three weeks traveling Canada from Nova Scotia to Montreal, Toronto, and Quebec City.
I am thankful to have had my mom (who passed away six years ago) who inspired me with her tremendous spirit and passion for life and a dad who left this world way before his time, but who lives within me each moment of the day.
I am thankful that almost every day my computer turns on and works flawlessly despite the bombardment of spam, spyware, and nasty viruses.
I am thankful that I live in a country where my religious faith is used less like a sword and more like a shield.
I am thankful for the great entrepreneurs of our time, such as Ray Kroc, Bill Gates, and Herb Kelleher, who have, through their own classic examples, set magnificent examples for the entrepreneurs of the future.
I am thankful for having relatively good health that allows me to walk, swim, and play lots of tennis.
I am thankful that despite all the complexities of business today, despite the overwhelming assortment of technologies that plague us, and despite the ever-increasing number of adverse events we as business owners face each day; the basic principles of business have stayed steadfast. It’s still all about solving customers’ problems profitably.
I am thankful for two sons, Taylor (35) and Carter, (31) who make me very proud every single day.
I am thankful for our new grandson Nicholas (Niko) Michael Fulton who arrived this year in August.
I am thankful that at age 18 I followed my instincts and traveled a great distance to pursue my post-secondary education which resulted in a great academic experience, a band of lifetime friends, and the opportunity to meet the girl of my dreams and my wife for 41 years.
Lastly, I am quite thankful that Small Business still Matters.
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving,
Tim