"When a person doesn't have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity.
A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude."
Elie Wiesel
Holocaust Survivor and Nobel Peace Prize Winner
1928-2016
Love the One(s) You’re With
Executives are so focused, understandably, on attracting new talent that they may be running the risk of losing key players they are taking for granted. Your “HR Brand” is not just for the newbies, but for your veterans as well.
This short HBR Blog post explores how to know who’s a keeper, and how to “love the one(s) you’re with. Spend some time thinking about “Are You Trying to Retain the Right Employees?”
The Folly of ‘Family’
One of the most important social institutions is that of the family. This is so widely acknowledged that more than few organizations have attempted to overlay many of the elements of family life onto their organization, or at least describe themselves as being “a family.”
These good intentions may be paving the road to organizational and cultural dysfunction when applied to non-family social groups….like a business.
This short article from HBR explores and warns against “The Toxic Effects of Branding Your Workplace a ‘Family’.”
A Life Well Lived - General Colin Powell
General Colin Powell passed away last month at age 84. Most know that General Powell lived a remarkable life gauged not only by his contributions, but by the obstacles (racial and otherwise) that he had to overcome to be rise to the positions of US Army General and Secretary of State.
Much has been written about his service to our country and I hope you will avail yourself of his history. But perhaps more important is who he was at his core. WSJ Columnist and Reagan White House speech writer Peggy Noonan explores this remarkable American in a recent column “Colin Powell’s Great American Journey”.
Econ Recon
Looking for trouble?: Many business people take cues about the state of the economy from the stock market. The stock market can be informative, but other financial markets provide better guidance for what’s ahead with the economy.
According to ITR Economics Brian Beaulieu, we need to pay more attention to what the bond market augurs for the “real” economy. In a recent blog post he observes “One thing I've learned a long time ago is if the bond market is cool, then why go looking for trouble?”
A Message From Scott:
Friends,
Just a note as we approach Thanksgiving to thank you for what many of you you bring to my life and, more importantly, to each other’s lives.
One of the many things I've learned over the years is the importance of gratitude. I don’t think I’ve ever met a truly happy person who wasn’t also truly grateful….and I am very grateful for you, my members, friends and colleagues.
Last year in the midst of a horrific year which included my parents passing, one of my favorite writers, Peggy Noonan, wrote a column that still resonates with me today. Although a year old, it still speaks volumes to our frame of mind. I hope that, like her, you’ll take time to mediate on your “Blessings in a Hard Year.”
Blessings to all of you.
Scott
