Message from the CEO - Grateful
Hello FinGym Community:
This week, we’re all about to experience a Thanksgiving like no other. A Thanksgiving that only 2020 could produce, one with limited to no travel, limited to no family and friends and the opportunity to spend more time on Zoom as if we haven’t spent enough time Zooming with people this year. Despite what lays ahead, as I sat down to write this, the only word that came to me is “Grateful.”
2020 has been the absolute most challenging year of my life. There have been many times where I didn’t know if the Financial Gym would make it through, we had to lay off more employees than I wanted to, we had a number of employees leave, someone I care about got Covid and had a stroke because of it, many Financial Gym employees and I have been living on reduced pay to help the company survive, my son has struggled with remote learning, I’ve watched cities burn, neighbors fight; and I’ve honestly cried more than I’ve ever cried in my life. And despite all of this, I’m feeling grateful.
I’m grateful for survival skills. With every challenge 2020 has brought our way, we’ve had to learn a new type of survival skill whether it’s physically, mentally, emotionally, financially or professionally. At this point in the year, I feel I have an Olympian athlete’s level of conditioning in survival skills, I am in peak shape for surviving. I know exactly how I can manage my way through whatever the next six to twelve months throws at me whether it’s limited toilet paper or home schooling.
I’m grateful for the science and medical communities. The virus is continuing to spread, but thankfully, the medical community knows how to treat it better than in the early days. I have yet to contract Covid, but if I do, fighting it seems less scary than seven months ago when my loved one had a stroke because of it. Also, as I’m writing this, there are not one, but two vaccines with extremely high success rates that are close to being available on a wider basis. I know that it will take time for these to reach the masses, but the fact that we can be here, just a year from the discovery of this virus is something to truly be grateful for.
I’m grateful for the quiet time. I’ve spent a good amount of the last eight months home by myself and I’ve developed a love for these quiet times. Before March 2020, I traveled frequently for work and rarely found myself home for any long stretch of time. I’ve cleaned and organized like never before. I’ve developed cooking skills and a love of air frying. I’ve read books, I’ve done puzzles, I’ve colored, I’ve meditated, I’ve gotten my money’s worth from my Peloton bike; and I’ve consumed more streaming content than I ever thought possible.
I’m grateful for laughter. I’ve certainly shed quite a bit of tears in 2020, but through the challenges and pain, I’ve been able to find laughter with my team, with my son, with my friends and from an endless supply of 2020 related memes. Challenging times are like storms, they’ll eventually end and finding the humor in the middle of these times has been a gift. I’m truly thankful for laughing through the pain.
I’m grateful for the Financial Gym team. They have not only had to adjust to this new normal in their own homes, but they’ve never worked harder in their lives. The pandemic has shined the spotlight on the financial health crisis we’ve known about for years; and our team has worked tirelessly to help and be present for our clients, to develop amazing technologies, to operate a team remotely with efficiency, compassion and empathy. I use the boat analogy with the team frequently, and let me tell you, there’s no group I’d rather be trapped on a boat with than the 47 people I am blessed to not only call team but family to me. If you work with any of them, I hope you’ll send them a note of thanks for the hard work and commitment they’ve shown through the most challenging of times.
Finally, I’m grateful for this community. Despite the craziness going on around us, Financial Gym clients are accomplishing some amazing goals like debt freedom, home ownership, new jobs, new marriages, new babies, new businesses and so much more. Your successes feel like mine. I watch all of them happen from the sidelines and I’m cheering you on more than anyone. You motivate me to keep pushing forward and pushing this business to accomplish big things like you’re doing. You’re not letting a pandemic stop you from achieving life goals and living your lives to the fullest extent possible and I’m so grateful for your drive and determination. It’s such a beautiful thing to witness.
I hope this Thanksgiving you find the things to be grateful for in 2020. I’m wishing you the happiest and healthiest holiday season filled with lots of moments of gratitude.