CKCA President – Mike Slobodian, Decor Cabinets (Manitoba) Message to close out 2018.

Some of you may be familiar with one of my favorite books called “Everybody Matters – The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People like Family”.  This is the story of the Barry-Wehmillar company’s cultural shift to caring written by Bob Chapman the CEO.

One of the stories from the book, and there are many, that really struck me was when Bob was asking a colleague what he felt good about in his life.  The gentlemen was very successful and owned a number of companies employing thousands of people. He answered that what made him feel good was a minority scholarship program he created that supported about 6 to 8 people each year.  Bob proceeded to comment that “you feel good about helping six or eight people outside the company, but the hundred thousand people who work for you every day, whose life and joy depend upon the way they’re treated, their just objects to your wealth?”

The fellow had no immediate response but after considering he made the following statement…. “I get it. I thought I worked so I could do good. You do good at work.”

We so often look outside our work lives to help others and get great joy and satisfaction from doing just that.  Whether it’s helping a neighbor or friend, volunteering at your church, volunteering or donating to your favorite charity.  These are all great things and we should continue to do them but if we stop and look around us each day where you  work there are so many people right there that could benefit from having a little joy, a kind word, a helping hand or maybe just a genuine smile added to their work lives.

So my challenge to all of us is to not just go to work so that you can do good elsewhere but to take a look around you and see if there is opportunity to do good and spread joy right where you work.

My hope is that we all experience and find opportunities to bring joy and peace to those around us this holiday season and throughout the coming year.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

Merry Christmas everyone, be blessed and be a blessing!