By Brian Mitchell, Managing Partner & CEO.
Well, here we are, another year nearly in the books. A time for reflection and gratitude. March 2025 will mark 5 years since COVID suddenly became so present and disruptive in most of our lives. Many lost loved ones and suffered economic losses. Many found a blessing in disguise, rediscovering relationships and a new understanding of what actually matters. It was unprecedented, strange, and etched in all of our brains. Over the last couple of years, the COVID fear has largely subsided, life and work returned to a new normal, and has normalized even more since. For me, the last 5 of my 54 years have been filled with significant change and by far the most learned of my life, and the past few weeks provided more personal illumination.
The Monday after Thanksgiving, I woke up feeling quite ill. I thought I must have had food poisoning because I was completely debilitated and couldn’t imagine what else it could be. After a couple of awful days with serious pain and no improvement, I stubbornly went to the hospital where I would almost immediately undergo emergency surgery and spend the next 4 days and nights recovering. I’d had rotator cuff surgery a while back and some minor procedures over the years, however, I’ve never been hospitalized. I’ve really never been terribly sick. I don’t want to hash out all the details, but I had diverticulitis which in and of itself is painful, however, I had additional complications that were very dangerous. It could have been fatal if the doctors didn’t catch it, and respond as quickly and competently as they did. I’m worlds better now, go in for a CT scan tomorrow and if the doctors like what they see, I’ll have this annoying drainage tube removed from my abdomen the following day. It has been eye-opening and I’m still mentally processing the experience.
All said, I’m feeling gratitude. Gratitude for exceptional medical care. Gratitude for my family and friends who supported me in every way they could. Gratitude that I was bored out of my mind the last day or so in the hospital because I felt so much better. Gratitude to celebrate the holidays in improved health, with plenty of resources, and those I love around me. Gratitude I woke up today.
It has me thinking about what a great opportunity I have to move forward and make the very best of my life. Personally, professionally, philanthropically, familially, physically, mentally, and otherwise. So, I wanted to pose the question to all: if you felt like you had a second chance in life or career, what would you do with it? Why aren’t you taking steps toward those goals or ideals now? What is preventing you from pursuing those dreams and making them your reality? Where were you 4+ years ago in the midst of COVID and what have you done since to further yourself or those people or causes you care most about? What is holding you back?
Father time is undefeated and as we get older, and hopefully wiser, it’s incumbent upon each of us to individually recognize what is truly most important in our lives. So what is that for you? As you prepare your annual plans for your company, your division, your 2025 income and career objectives, I’d encourage incorporating your personal “why?”. “What is your why?” is a phenomenal question for all of us to ask as we seek self-awareness, as we seek to understand what we value most in life, and what we want out of this unique opportunity we have to roam the earth and experience relationships and humanity as a whole. We all have goals that are hopefully specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timed. That said, asking ourselves ‘why is this goal important to me?’, and ‘why is that important to me?’ can be revelatory. For example, ‘I want to make $XXX,XXX in income in 2025’ is a fine goal. It’s important to me because I want my kids to have a comfortable and secure life, free of worry about food and shelter, and plenty of opportunities. That’s important to me because I love my children more than anything on earth and I feel an overwhelming obligation to provide for and protect them no matter the sacrifices I might need to make for myself. The underlying ‘why’ is tied to my values and what is truly most important through my lens.
I encourage you all to take the time to ask “what if?” and to discern the underlying need that drives your personal and professional goals. There’s no wrong answer; it’s just a matter of taking the time to ask the question, reflect and deliberate, and take action on what actually counts in your life.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays. I truly wish the very best for each of you in 2025 and beyond.