Thanksgiving is that time of year where we take a moment out of our busy lives to simply be grateful for what we have. For me, the first things that come to mind are family, friends, my health and my wonderful town outside of Philly.  Your list is likely similar. But there’s one thing I rarely hear anyone mention at Thanksgiving – their clients.

Because we place such a personal emphasis on Thanksgiving, it’s easy to overlook the incredible value that our customers bring into our lives. I’m not just talking about money – of course we’re thankful for their business! I’m talking about the added value businesses like yours and mine get from serving our clients. It can be a shared laugh, a referral, the satisfaction of helping someone solve a problem, or even an unexpected friendship. This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to take an extra moment to remember the special gifts each of your clients brings to your life.

How clients truly affect us

Customers have an immeasurable impact on our personal lives. When they’re plentiful, we live in abundance. When they’re scarce, well, you know. Personally, I’m thankful for everything my clients bring into my life and it’s easy to see the direct impact they have. For example, if they didn’t trust me to help them solve productivity and efficiency problems, I wouldn’t have had the means to go to Dallas with my siblings earlier this month to celebrate our father’s 80th birthday. I was there to enjoy the occasion with extended family and friends from around the country. I’m so grateful for the freedom to immerse myself in all the non-monetary wealth I have in my life – the people I love most.

Do you see where I’m going with this? Our lives are built on human connections. For example, we may be grateful for our health, but it’s worthwhile to remember that it came from somewhere. Whether it was good genes passed through the generations, a talented doctor, or a teacher who taught us how to take better care of ourselves, it’s all about people.

So this Thanksgiving while we’re remembering to give thanks for the delicious food we eat, for the family members who are still with us, for the lessons we’ve learned, I ask you to also remember the clients who make so much possible in your life.  There’s so much to be thankful for, and so many people to thank for it.

What matters most.

While I’m at it, I won’t forget the most important message of this month’s newsletter. Thank YOU. Thank you for your business, your trust, your support, your friendship, and for helping me to make my own dreams come true.  May you have the happiest of Happy Thanksgivings, and may your personal and business lives be filled with abundance, laughter and every reason to be thankful.