My heart is full on this Thanksgiving Eve, and as both a human and a business person, I would like to share a couple of quotes that come to mind, both courtesy of Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Albert Schweitzer…
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."
"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."
For me, those two sentiments are inextricably intertwined. This is due, in great part, to this:
First, there’s the fact that this collage image was created collaboratively: the idea was discussed among us, then it was compiled and edited and recompiled…all so I would have something cute to present for this Thanksgiving Day blog post. It’s a pretty ideal symbol of how we do all sorts of things at Alara.
Next, there’s what I feel when I look at this. Each of these people makes my heart full. We do great work together. We travel to trade shows, meeting the designers that are part of our extended family. We care for and support each other. We forgive each other’s trespasses. We go out together. We have a lot of fun and laughter. We’re goofy individually and collectively. We find joy in the joy we bring to our community. We collaboratively cook up new ideas. We love celebrating the beauty of the art we design, create, and curate.
Then, there’s what the power of all that does for people who are not in this picture. There’s a tangible feeling when folks come to Alara…we’re told about it frequently. “It seems like everyone’s having so much fun here!”
Yep, that’s true. Not that there aren’t downright shitty business or personal moments. But, that’s the thing about having a work family: there’s enough joy and strength to go around, so that terrible moments are smoothed over in a wonderful way. Lemons become lemonade. And then someone gets the brilliant idea to add raspberries.
By being part and parcel of my happiness, my work family brings me and the business success, just as Albert Schweitzer defines. Because in the name of “things rolling downhill,” a happy captain steers a happy ship. And a happy ship attracts happy passengers.
And, there is no doubt that more than one of us in the “Alara Bunch” has found a spark in one of the others, helping to reignite a light that has dimmed. I know I sure have.
So, all this is to say…thanks, Alara Bunch. From the bottom of my heart. We have somehow managed to build a family business together, despite being not at all related by blood.
With gratitude, I wish everyone reading this a Happy Thanksgiving! Now, go do your part to put the “fun” back into “dysfunction,” because every family has it!
Lots of love,
Babs
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