It is a longstanding tradition to give gifts at this time of year to show appreciation, to express thanks, to share kindness, to celebrate love and joy.
We searched this year for something special to show our appreciation for all with whom we have the honor to work. Thanks to Alissa, we located a wonderful company that developed Gifts of Gratitude handcrafted by women who had suffered deeply through being trafficked and were given a new opportunity to be creative, support themselves and share their talents. Yes, it is possible to give forward and give back. It merely takes the curiosity to find solutions.
There are many who practice this admirable philosophy, effortlessly. Our client, Columbia Grain International, worked this past year through challenging weather, economies and pressing demand nationally and internationally for their crops from the PacNW of fresh grains and healthy pulses, while donating to 30 charities in 46 rural communities where their 8,000 farmers live and work, from Washington to Idaho, Montana, Minnesota and North Dakota. These acts of kindness helped senior centers, children’s home, community centers and local food banks. Each thoughtful donation was focused on the specific needs of these communities.
But for many entrepreneurs in multiple sectors, this has been a challenging year, some for personal health concerns, some economic. Within some of the greatest challenges and adversity we’ve seen in a long them, there have also been opportunities. Though it required an ability to pivot quickly and adapt. Food manufacturers whose success depended on serving schools, businesses, and restaurants had to re-invent their deliverables and delivery systems, find new channels and often, quickly find new distribution. The green building sector had to pivot from commercial construction to residential homebuilding for the thousands fleeing the urban jungle. Many in personal care nimbly shifted to developing hand sanitizers and face masks.
It is this indominable spirit of entrepreneurs that has transformed so much of the adversity of this year, seemingly embodying the mantra of cult classic Galaxy Quest, “Never give up. Never surrender.” It is the culture of entrepreneurs to be willing to try new ideas, fail, and try again. It is this spirit to admit when you’re wrong, to ask for help, to share ideas, to look challenges in the eye and say “I got this.” It is this persistence and belief in self that has given us the electric car, new micro-nutrients and supplements that enhance immunity, new low energy nano-technologies to keep us warm, regenerative agriculture to grow coffee in California. This is true resilience.
We give thanks to all of you for your willingness to make this world better, even in challenging times.
Together we Never Give Up. Never Surrender!
Gillian