Good morning everyone! I hope you had a fantastic week! Christmas and Hanukkah are swiftly approaching. The first night of Hanukkah is 12/10, so if you celebrate it or have Jewish friends and want to wish them a very happy holiday, get ready to do so!
I wanted to share a story about something that happened to me recently. It resulted in me being embarrassed and a flashback to being a kid. I was walking into Chipotle to pick up dinner for my family when a group of what I perceived to be "cool" High School kids finishing their dinner on the patio hollered at me "Do you have an extra mask?" Big, lumbering me, thought they were making fun of me because I FORGOT my mask in my car. I replied "Thank you" and went back to my car
and grabbed a mask. I then remembered to be polite and yelled "Do you really need a mask?" To which they replied "YES!" so I grabbed a brand new Arizona Cardinals mask, still wrapped up in plastic and brought it over. They said thank you, and one of the boys said "Even better! A Cardinals mask!" Yet I was feeling so insecure, I could barely mumble a "You're Welcome!"
I was all flummoxed. I felt embarrassed because I forgot my mask and was scared they were making fun of me, and that turned the entire event into a bumble for me. It's funny because I tend to be a super confident guy. I speak in front of hundreds of people at conferences, run a business that helps millions of people every month, run an organization with a TON of team members, and yet, at
that moment, I was back in high school. I was completely insecure, feeling like they were making fun of me, and was right back to being that skinny awkward kid Freshman year. Not popular, very few friends, and getting picked on by the "cool" kids.
Of course, these kids weren't even making fun of me. They honestly needed a mask, and I just let my insecurities get the best of me. I'm happy I was mature enough to ask and provide one, I just wish I could have done it smiling, personably, and with joy. They must have wondered "Jeesh, what's wrong with THAT guy?" Of course, it didn't help that I was HUNGRY!!
I shared that story with my beautiful bride, and she had something similar happen to her in the grocery store. A curveball was
thrown her way by someone asking for money, and she helped that young woman, but it sure put her out of her comfort zone for a few moments! Has that ever happened to you?
OK, on to more lawsuit and settlement updates!
That's all for now! Make it a great week and HAPPY HANUKKAH!
Warm Regards,
Scott Hardy
President & CEO