My husband will confirm this: I often have trouble remembering the date of our wedding anniversary. It’s either Feb. 2 or 3. Never mind the year, it’s hard for me to even guess at it. I have had to check our marriage license hanging on the back of our bedroom door several times to be sure. I guess we post it there, similar to the way we keep Springfield Business Journal’s business license on the office bulletin board, to answer legal inquiries that may arise at either address.
But July 22, 1980, is a date that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. I don’t have to check the masthead of the first issue of TOP’s Executive Journal to confirm the day and the year. It’s etched in my brain forever, because its printing changed every day of my life since. I hope it has made a difference in many other lives as well. I am certain that time spent and experience gained on the staff of SBJ has launched numerous varied and successful careers. And I am extremely proud of this when I see former staff members around town or hear news of their accomplishments in other states or countries.
For those of you who were in prekindergarten in 1980 or, like some on SBJ’s staff, weren’t even born yet, TOP’s was an acronym for The Ozarks’ Pulse. Nobody really understood that, so we changed our name before we became yet another defunct newspaper in publishing’s history. Just in time, I might add. A name for a business often makes its fortune or misfortune.
The last couple of years have been challenging for almost all businesses, and the pages and financial statements of SBJ are a reflection of this marketplace. I’m proud of this fact, too. We practice open-book management, Jack Stack’s Great Game of Business style, in this office. Some weeks this year have been painful to report, but recently we’re seeing a positive trend in what I am calling “new booked business.” Keeping track of this number during the last 15 weeks is encouraging for me and the staff. New sales in advertising and event sponsorships are showing us that we will see improvements by the end of the year. You can take that to the bank and quote me on it, too.
My favorite recent quote comes from an interview last week with the Dalai Lama on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” He was asked for his advice about the nation’s budget crisis. He said, in essence, that Americans should work together to solve their problems and that we should never lose our confidence. Good advice, I say.
The May 22 tornado that tore through Joplin left its indelible mark on the land, as well as the hearts and minds of people in the much wider area. This shocking event has affected our lives and businesses. We see now that the spirit of Joplin is not a victim of the tragedy. It is a survivor. I contend that Joplin’s heroic recovery and the national response will help to lead the entire region out of the recession that has plagued us all. Please read the pages of our sister publication, Joplin Tri-State Business Journal, and regular reports at
www.joplintristate.biz for detailed news of rebuilding efforts.
On the editorial side, I am continually aware of the conscientiousness with which our newsroom staff members strive for balance and accuracy in every line of every issue. Even if you don’t applaud every story we print, I urge you to appreciate the importance that editors place on ethics in their conduct and practice of journalism. Furthermore, Springfield Editor Eric Olson and Joplin Tri-State Editor Chris Roberts, and all of the team, welcome your comments and suggestions for further professional development. We want you to know that there is no cell-phone hacking going on around here. We don’t know how to do it, have no interest in it and we couldn’t afford to even if we did.
Finally, what has been keeping me going this year is the gradual realization that SBJ Publishing readers are either pleased with us or angry at us about what we have either written or failed to write. In any case, it matters. It matters a lot! We’ve come a long way in the last 31 years. Thank you, SBJ staff, for producing publications that readers will read, trust and want to participate in.
Peace and Love,
Dianne Elizabeth Osis
Dianne Elizabeth Osis is president and chairwoman of SBJ Publishing Inc. She can be reached at delizabeth@sbj.net.[[In-content Ad]]
