Do You Believe in Miracles?

Do You Believe in Miracles?

These days it is hard to believe that “all things work together for the greater good” isn’t it?

With bad economic news, prices going up, and your buying power going down, the miracle of Christmas might seem a little thin this year, the glow not as bright, the balsam harder to smell.

But with bad news on our doorstep in greater abundance comes easier recognition of miracles as well as a greater appreciation for them.

Therein lays the blessing of the season, a greater appreciation for what and who we have in our lives.  For it is not the money or things that make us truly wealthy it is the abundance of those we care about and those that care about us.

I would be remiss if at this part of the article I did not tell you just how much each of you mean to me and Resources & Development.  Whether you have spent a dime with our company or not, I want you to know just how much your support, attention, well wishes, and dialogue have meant.  This has been a year of transition for business as well as Resources & Development and I have felt your prayers on our behalf and I hope that you have felt ours.

For as much as Resources & Development is a business, it is a mission as well, and in between doing our work we pray that each of you enjoy the miracle of business success and that your bottom line receives as much healing as is needed to meet your needs.

Miracles Do Happen

I am reminded of just how karmic capitalism can be this season when one of our Business Owners began to have health problems.

All year the revenue for the business kept dropping as the economy worsened, the perfect economic storm had descended upon a well-respected Business Owner (as perhaps it has for you as well).  She found herself working twice as hard for half as much but she refused to compromise the quality or level of service she had become known for in her community.

She continued to dedicate herself to her business, her employees, and to her industry, and was willing to make the sacrifices it would take, the longer hours and harder work that would be required, to make sure that everyone was well taken care of.

She had a reputation as an “honest broker” in all her business dealings and was respected by her community, her employee population, and her colleagues, she knew no other way to do business than “put good out, to get good back”, do it because it is the “right thing to do” not because it’s the easy thing to do.

While the year had been difficult, she was willing to make the sacrifices and to put in the extra effort until her health became an issue.  Ordered by doctors, were several medical procedures, hospital stays, medication, and confinement to home.

Would the Business survive?  Would all her hard work be for not?  How could she run the business from her bed when it took such extra effort during this economy?

Just as she thought she might have to close the doors to the business a “White Knight” appeared on the horizon.  It seems that one of her clients got wind that the business may close.  The Client had been loyal for many years, had seen how dedicated the other clients were to the business, recognized the impeccable reputation the business had in the community, saw how professional and well trained the staff was and knew, despite the bad economy, just how great an investment of “good will” this business was and has now negotiated a sale of the business that should take place any day now.

So, who is the winner in this Christmas tale of Karma?  EVERYONE, the employees win because they get to continue to do what they love and are so good at, the community wins because it doesn’t lose a fine business with a solid reputation (and a tax base), the Clients win because they want to come back, the Owner wins because she gets to see her dream continue without closing the doors, and the New Owner wins with a turn-key business that is professionally run and well respected.

That is the lesson, business, I mean real business and real capitalism are nothing like sports nor even like Wall Street, when done properly there should NEVER be losers, everyone must WIN.  And while some of this true tale may seem like luck, luck is a byproduct of hard work and doing things right and for the right reasons.

This is how I believe that we as an American society, and more specifically American business, have lost its way.  When we all want to get rich quick, make it all on one deal, even if others must get hurt in the process something has gone wrong with our purpose.  Instead, we must want to get rich over a life time, from the toil of our hands, and the serving of others, in order to enjoy the fruit of our labor…or so it seems to me.

Happy Holidays to all…and to all a Blessed and Profitable New Year!

Skip Williams