What Are We Thankful For?

Last week I applied to be a keynote speaker on "Change" at an annual holiday employee meeting in Michigan. They know that next year is going to be tough for them - so they want someone motivational and uplifting to speak to them.

Michigan!  If there's one state in the union that is the poster child for all of our recent economic woes, it's Michigan. From the big three's meltdown to a record number of foreclosures to the Mayor of Detroit's corruption scandal - any of us can understand how those good folks in might be in need of a pick-me-up.

If hired, I intend to give it to them; they deserve it.  But not by delivering the normal "touchy, feel good, we-can-all-be-winners" kind of keynote which provides a momentary caffeine-like high only to be forgotten just a few hours later, then followed by a downer headache.

No, I intend to follow the lead of one of our nation's greatest business thinkers, Max DePree, who wrote in his amazing little book Leadership Is An Art, "The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality."  I simply have  start my speech by defining the reality that we're all facing: the short term future looks tough; times are hard for most of us and none of us are sure when it's going to end.

And then I believe its my job to help my audience understand themselves.  You see, whenever we face change, especially major change such as a severe economic downturn, there's a part of each of us that just wants to run away and hide, and hope that it goes away.  That feeling is natural; and you know, dropping out of life and woe for a day or two isn't such a bad thing to do; it often helps us feel better.  Okay, so we do that, it's human.

I'll also try to put change into perspective; to see that the coming change may not be as traumatic as we might imagine; or compare it to some other - even more challenging - change, such as a loss of a loved one, that could befall any of us at any time.  While this may sound like a real downer approach, I can tell you that when most people start to compare and contrast the coming changes in their lives with even worse events or the difficulties others may face, they start to breath a little easier, to get past their anxiety, to free themselves up to be thankful for what they have.

And so, right now, even though you may be staring tough times in the face, I'd like you to try to put things into perspective and ask yourself: What can you be thankful for?  Who in your life is making a positive difference and contribution to you?  Who and what can you give a solid thanksgiving for?

So, if I think about it for just a moment, even though I'm pretty anxious about my financial future, I realize I have many, many people and positive situations in my life that I am extremely thankful for.  I'm sure you do too.

Being thankful for what we have: isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about?  It may take a little reminding - but I'm sure that's what it is.

I wish us all - especially the folks in Michigan - a truly happy and thankful Thanksgiving.