Giving Thanks, and Reflecting on Our Times

As I reflect on the happiness of Thanksgiving and the December holidays to come, I am compelled to give thanks and then remember that I have an obligation to be better …
October marked the tenth anniversary of my involvement with Signature Windows (formerly SolarGlass). This puts me half way to my 20-year target. Certainly, running a business is very, very hard, but it is also too often scary. It is so easy to forget about the positives. We have a great team that earlier this year articulated a set of core values that have long guided us, including Accountability, Collaboration, Authenticity, and to Honor the Craft. We have the good fortune to work with amazing architects and contractors who make homeowners’ dreams come to life. Some of these people have even become friends and mentors. We live and work in a state of great beauty and economic promise.
I chose a leadership opportunity – or maybe it chose me! In any case, I want to do a better job of supporting our team. Much is changing at the national level and regardless of one’s perspectives, it is what happens at the local level that impacts families, and I have a special obligation to the families that are part of our journey.

I have a goal to spend 20% of my time in 2017 with customers. That might sound obvious or even much too low. Like all small business owners, I wear many hats and it is easy to use all my time internally, particularly given my introverted nature. Our customers are why we exist and I need and want a direct understanding of how we best provide products and services. I also want to make a connection between our core values and our customer promises.
Lastly, I need to inject a bit more fun into this journey. We work hard and really care about our impact. We are in the middle of a marathon and as one of the team said to me, “really giving a “sh*t + fun = success”!
Enjoy the holidays!