Please don’t rip your clothes off… but please do consider the irony of a new years resolutions and the celebrations thereof.
Most companies (who follow calendar financial years) start afresh on January 1st, rather like a baby (with a bit of baggage in the nappy).
While those companies focus on the next 12 months, may I suggest they spend a little time learning from the last 12?
Many companies have weathered the bad economy, some have withered (which is like weathering, only worst), and some have survived and dare I say thrived?
The challenge is, at what cost?
If the last 12 months have taught us anything, it’s that at the end of the day “it’s the people stupid“, not the stupid people (present government excepted).
Companies that are still around owe a tremendous thanks to their employees, the people who have done more with less and (mostly) come out of it unscathed. Because… some management haven’t felt the same tightening of belts and fear of unemployment.
Case in point… at the movie theater today the customer service manager was downright rude to a couple of patrons who felt they hadn’t been forewarned that their membership card had expired.
Rather than thank his lucky stars that he has a position of power, he began to wield his power is a decidedly unservice-like manner.
Management everywhere need to look back and thank those that have allowed them to survive, the employees and customers who have come to work everyday, or bought whatever product or service they’re offering.
At the end of the day, a “nude” year should be a time to rip away all the facades of protection and face the next 12 months with humility, gratitude and bare skin to the night breeze, because we are lucky to still have food on the table, a paycheck, and the ability to spend time with those we love.
A nude new year is more than celebration of a new (nude) beginning, it’s a chance to be reborn with a better attitude and mindset of gracious thanks.
Thank you for reading this. It’s appreciated. Seriously.