Like many of you, I have so many reasons to be thankful at this time of year. And my feelings of thankfulness are symbolized by the little Lego man you see in this post.
I found this guy at a Muni bus stop in San Francisco at the end of a really bad day. I was newly married and had just learned I’d failed the California Bar exam. I had just caught the bus home from a job that really didn't fulfill me. I was facing some really steep bills, and wondering how I was going to break the news to my wife. I felt so much fear. So much uncertainty.
Then I caught this little Lego guy out of the corner of my eye. He was just sitting there on a seat at the bus stop, as if he were just waiting for the next bus to come along.
I picked him up and studied him. Clearly he’d been around for a long, long time. Battered, chipped paint, and he’d lost his hair. But he still had a smile on his face. Goodness knows all the places he’d been, or how he got there. But whatever he’d done before, he was clearly ready for the next adventure. And he just looked grateful to be where he was.
That’s when it hit me — if he could be grateful and optimistic, I could, too. I had an amazing wife, supportive friends and family, and a gift for rhetoric. Perhaps failing the bar wasn’t the end of the line. Perhaps it was the beginning of a new adventure. And that simple shift in perspective, from fear to gratitude, brought so much clarity, confidence and peace. It’s amazing how Gratitude can be such a powerful antidote to Fear.
So I picked up my new little Lego friend and brought him home with me.
He's been in every office of mine since that day in 1996. For more than 24 years, he's reminded me to be grateful for what I have. And I'm always thankful when I glance at him watching over me as I work.
I'm thankful for the incredible faith and encouragement from my wife and kids as they encouraged me to take a big risk and start my own company four years ago.
I'm thankful for my incredibly talented Rob Roy teammates, who have put their own faith and trust in this venture. I get to work with some of my very best friends, every single day.
I'm thankful for a career that's given such a sense of purpose and connection, as I’ve walked a path so different from the one I started in law school.
And I'm especially thankful for all our clients—an inspiring group of purpose-driven individuals who have continued to adapt and thrive during these difficult times. We’re all so grateful that you continue to put your trust in Rob Roy Consulting and allow us to help with some of your biggest persuasive challenges.
Thank you ... from me and the little guy and our entire Rob Roy Consulting team.
We hope that this Thanksgiving, you find some time to count your own blessings. May our gratefulness outshine our fears, and lead us to share even more of our blessings with those less fortunate than we are.