We are entering the home stretch.  Many of us just have a few weeks of work left in the year.  For these last few weeks I’d like to share some thoughts inspired by various Christmas specials that I watch with my family every year.  This week we will look at Prep and Landing and the importance of everyone doing their part.  Spoiler alert.  This blog will reveal plot details of the show.  By the way, this week’s blog is inspired by Anshu who suggested last year we do something on Prep and Landing.

Prep and Landing focuses on an elite group of elves that prepare every house for Santa’s arrival, so he can get in and out as effectively as possible.  After all, Santa can’t do everything on his own.  Instead, this group of elves preps the roof so Santa can land with his sleigh and ensures the children are sleeping, the dogs are friendly, the cookies are ready to eat, there is room for the presents, and stuff like that.  The story centers around Wayne, one of the prep and landing elves who has been doing that job for hundreds of years.  Over time he becomes disenfranchised with the work and begins to feel that the work he does isn’t valued and he’s not valued. 

As a result of not feeling valued, Wayne doesn’t take the job seriously on Christmas Eve.  There is a crazy snowstorm, and since Wayne hasn’t prepped the landing site it doesn’t look like Santa will be able to stop at Timmy’s house to give him a present.  The situation looks dire, but luckily Wayne and his partner find a way to pull through and save the day.  On Christmas morning Timmy is seen saying, “Thanks Wayne” as he opens his gift.  Wayne sees this through the magic snow globe and finally realizes how important his work is.

How does this connect with work?  I don’t know about you, but I’ve felt like Wayne before.  It’s easy to get lost when you are working in a place that’s so large.  It’s easy to wonder if what you do matters.  It’s easy to wonder if what you do has an impact.  If you ever feel like this I’d challenge you to take a step back to see what you are a part of.  Think about our business for a minute.  In order to turn an idea for a therapy into a drug and then to get that medicine to patients requires thousands of people, steps, and hand-offs along the way.  If any of those things don’t go well we aren’t able to help the people we serve.  For this to work we need everyone using their strengths and doing their thing.  The fact is, whatever piece you are in all of this, you are an important piece.

The challenge: Are you helping other people see how valuable they are and how important the role they play is?  By the way, In case someone hasn’t told you lately, thanks for what you do.

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry