There is a saying that I love to remember this time of year:
It is not happy people who are thankful.
It is thankful people who are happy.
We’ve got a lot of smiling faces at MJ, and I believe it has to do, in no small part, with our dedication to making a difference in our communities and the fact that we’ve truly embraced Our Purpose:
“MJ exists to inspire the success, fulfillment, and wellbeing of each person we serve: our associates and their families, business partners, clients, and our community.”
It’s a seemingly simple sentence, but it was not quickly written nor casually accepted. And here’s the thing about Our Purpose—we believe it, and we’re totally committed to it.
It helps guide how we treat each other, but perhaps more powerfully, how we treat those we don’t even know personally. It’s why we embrace two key “Charities of Choice” each year. This year it has been Food 4 Souls, a homeless ministry in Indianapolis, which serves nearly 100 people each week with meals and distribution of toiletry items, and United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona, which now helps over 3,000 families impacted by a wide range of disabilities, including cerebral palsy, autism, down syndrome, developmental delays and learning disabilities. Yet two causes haven’t been enough to feed our collective souls, so we also support Providence Cristo Rey High School, a private, college-preparatory high school just outside downtown Indianapolis for students from families with limited financial means; Dayspring Center, which provides emergency shelter, clothing, and three nourishing meals a day for homeless families with children in central Indiana; and Phoenix Children’s Hospital, which offers the most comprehensive pediatric care in the state of Arizona. And, if you stop by our offices this month, it may become quickly apparent that we have some employees also taking part in No-Shave November, a unique way to promote men’s cancer awareness.
These are just some of the ways MJ employees have been giving back to the community, and I’m telling you about our efforts, not to brag (although I am incredibly proud), but to share the power of generosity—the notion that you always get back more than you give. I’ve seen it firsthand, and I imagine you have too. And as W. Clement Stone said, “If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.”
May you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving followed by 364 grateful days after.
