Three Things I’m Thankful for in Business – By Laura Book

My love for business started early. Growing up as a child of parents who owned a small restaurant, I was fascinated by how a business operates. I enjoyed watching how everything would come together to provide guests with a great dining experience. Today, I continue to be passionate about business for many reasons. In particular, I appreciate the impact that businesses have on improving the lives of those they serve. As I reflect on my experiences in business thus far, here are three things that I’m thankful for:

1) The Opportunity to Learn From Others: I am thankful for the opportunity that business provides to learn from others. While much can be learned in a textbook, the most meaningful lessons come from working with others, exchanging ideas, and listening to others’ perspectives. I have learned countless insights from those that I’ve worked with, whether it was from a co-worker, an employee, a boss, or a mentor. I’ve gained valuable knowledge and skills as a direct result of working with others. Each individual brings his/her own unique experiences, backgrounds, and viewpoints into the workplace, and that provides such an incredible opportunity to learn, evolve, and improve.

2) The Value of Relationships: Relationships are at the heart of any business, and I am thankful for the opportunity to build relationships each day. When first starting out in management, I naively believed that I could accomplish everything by myself. I quickly learned that in order to be successful at accomplishing goals, I needed the support of my co-workers and employees. I found that through building relationships, getting to know those that I work with and through showing them respect and support, I could unify our efforts to achieve great results. The value of relationships extends beyond those that I interact with on a regular basis to include an intricate network of individuals who I continue to learn from as well.

3) Supporting My Passion of Helping Others: I am passionate about helping others and business provides a wonderful opportunity to do so. When working in hospitality management, I enjoyed the opportunity to serve guests and provide them with a memorable experience. I enjoyed leading a team and helping employees learn and grow. Today, I am thankful for the opportunity to work with clients to help them achieve their goals. I feel honored to be able to share my knowledge and insights to help improve performance, support the attainment of goals, and have a meaningful impact for the business and for the customers they serve.

Although business often comes with different challenges, each day provides an opportunity to learn from others, build relationships, and continue helping others. There is much to be thankful for.

Thank you to all the business leaders for sharing your valuable lessons and insights!