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Meanderings from Jean's Desk....
Blog Archive
Feb 1, 2012: Transforming Our Thinking
Jan 2, 2012: Looking At Life From The Third Person This Year
Dec 15, 2011: There Is No Standing Still
Dec 1, 2011: Scarcity or Abundance?
Nov 15, 2011: Am I a Human Doing or a Human Being?
Oct 17, 2011: Seek Fresh Eyes To Ask Better Questions
Oct 1, 2011: Solving For A Greater Purpose
Sept 15, 2011: If Not Now Then When
August 22, 2011: Consider That Heaven Has A Better View
August 1, 2011: Though I May Not Be Gracious I Want Attention Too!
June 1, 2011: Albert Einstein And Problem Solving
Video
2009 Kenosha Business of the Year:
LMI Packaging Solutions, Inc.
It Takes A Village
An African proverb, chosen by Hilary Clinton for her book title; words that until now I just thought had a nice ring to them.
Recently though, as I watched my family come together in a powerful way to celebrate the life of my mother, Theresa Sykes, they took on a new meaning. As one mom left this world a new one was joining it as we concurrently celebrated the news that my daughter Jennifer was pregnant and another grandbaby would be added to the growing 27 direct descendants. As all of us gathered around Jennifer, rubbing her tummy, hugging her, expressing our excitement and generally just blubbering all over her, my oldest sister said “Remember we’re all here for you because it takes a village to raise a child!”
She just said it in passing but I have become acutely aware of the truth in her words these past few weeks. I have thought of my own children and all who participated in raising them to be the fine adults they are today. As I thought of how we were supported in raising them by my parents and in-laws, my siblings, my friends, teachers, coaches, and their friends, the list went on and on, and I got emotional with gratitude. It truly did take a village to create the difference they will make in the world.
This week I was acutely aware of those words again, this time at work. At LMI Packaging Solutions we experienced a major advancement on a key initiative and in our corporate culture. I caught myself thinking about how what was once a dream that I had talked about with friends in a hotel conference room in Deerfield, Illinois, had come to fruition. And again I was reminded that “It takes a village!” It had been so long since I had stepped off the ledge to dare to do things differently then I was used to that I almost forgot I had any input at all to what I was now experiencing. I remembered the consultants and friends who had debated, brainstormed and supported me to step off that ledge without getting too badly hurt. But again that was so long ago. What about today and all the people in the company who have embraced that dream and made it reality, something I was no more capable of doing alone then brain surgery. Too many amazing and heroic efforts have been made to ever be able to name all of them. There were the thinkers who strategized and planned and brainstormed, putting meat on the bones of the original dream. There were the never-ending efforts by so many of our LMI Packaging family who implemented the plan and tweaked it as necessary. There was the support from customers and suppliers, community and strategic partners who were involved in the processes. And there were the shareholders and shoulders of all who have come before upon which we stood.
I am truly overwhelmed at how the greatest things in life really do Take A Village. And the real joy in life is not so much what we accomplish but who we become and get to be as a contributing part of that village.
For the people of the villages I have journeyed with in my life, I am forever grateful. There will never be enough words or words with enough meaning to convey what you have contributed to my life and who you have allowed me to be. THANK YOU!
Questions, comments for Jean?
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