Does anyone remember the long-off-the-air television series, “Early Edition,” about a young man who receives mysterious newspapers at his doorstep, always accompanied by a large, yellow cat?
In each episode, a tragic headline would stretch across the front page of the metropolitan daily – I think it was in Chicago – which, interestingly, would be dated the day before the actual date.
Only the courageous and handsome hero could change the course of events, causing the headline to magically fade and change before viewers’ eyes at the end of the hour-long program. His frantic efforts all took place in the next 24 hours, averting terrifying mayhem. All would be well again in the city – until the next edition.
This is the last issue of Springfield Business Journal for the year, and its publication usually prompts me to think about the year that has passed so mercifully quickly. Like the protagonist of “Early Edition,” events in the life of our small business have not been as dramatic, but nevertheless disconcerting. Recent conversations with friends and colleagues confirm they have had similar experiences, with near train wrecks of their own.
It seems like we were always putting out fires. We’d throw water on one outbreak, and while it was still smoldering another would break out. These episodes did not appear in bold headlines, and they were not magically erased, but they have left us older, wiser and ready for calmer seas in the new year. Do you think we’ll get smoother waters? Or do you believe there is a “fiscal cliff” yet ahead?
In any event, the strongest among us have weathered the storms of the last 12 months (or is it the last two to four years?). We have a lot to be grateful for, and it’s time to count our blessings.
SBJ Publisher Jennifer Jackson has done that for us, encouraged by a full-page Mercy ad in a recent issue. The Mercy campaign also features a website, OurBlessingsCount.com, and she shared SBJ’s blessings there, too. The blessings posted now exceed 5,000, and looking at the site is guaranteed to lift your spirits.
Here are the business journal’s top 10 blessings:
- Our staff makes us great! (Alisa, Brian, Carole, David, Diana, Dianne, Emily, Eric, Geoff, Heather, Jennifer, Karen, Kevin, Kim, Louise, Mar’Ellen, Mary, Valeria, Valerie and Wes)
- The staff is loyal to each other, our customers and vendors.
- SBJ’s staff members are healthy and wise (wealthy, not so much).
- We have sources who trust us.
- We have readers who stand by us.
- We have advertisers who entrust us with their investment.
- We have critical vendor relationships (our printer, accountants, insurers, benefits providers and bankers).
- SBJ has profits to share with employees.
- SBJ events continue to grow.
- Gosh darn it, people like us!
There is so much to be grateful for. Don’t you feel better already? I know I do.
A bit of housekeeping: As has become our custom, we are publishing a double issue this week covering the dates of Dec. 24, 2012–Jan. 6, 2013. Our offices will be open as usual, except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. We’ll catch up with recycling, using vacation days and sending to the printer the 2013 Book of Lists for its mid-January release.
Let’s compare notes next year to see if life and business go a little smoother.
Our very best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous year in 2013 from all the staff of the business journal!
Dianne Elizabeth Osis is president and chairwoman of SBJ Publishing Inc. She can be reached at delizabeth@sbj.net.
