This is my last entry for the year, so first I just wanted to say thanks to everybody who takes the time to read through these random thoughts each week.  If you were receiving these emails a year ago you might remember this one.  It’s about A Charlie Brown Christmas, and I couldn’t think of a better message to end on.

In the special, Charlie Brown is upset, because so many people are making Christmas too commercial.  He keeps asking what Christmas is all about, and as you remember Linus finally steps on stage and delivers the core message.  The core message of Christmas is love.  Whether you are talking about the biblical story or you are talking about the spirit of the season, it is about love.  It’s about showing other individuals that you care for them and it’s about showing compassion.

I think the exact same series of events happens to us in our work.  We get so stuck on the numbers, incentives, competitors, tools, processes, etc. that sometimes we need Linus to step on stage and remind us that all of our work is really about love and people.  It’s about caring enough about the people we serve that we will do whatever we can to help them.  It’s about caring enough about each other and our team to spend the time and effort to build people up when everything else keeps trying to knock them down.

Here’s to being Linus, and when the time is right to being Snoopy and busting out some sweet dance moves http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUQX2B67KL4  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.

Peace and joy,

Andrew Embry