100 Business Days Out: Day 83 - New Faces

Fig and Sue brought friends up from Columbus for the weekend. Bryan, Harrah, Scott and Shelly. They got in late last night (later than they expected because of mechanical plane problems) and we met them this morning for a run and walk. We than added them into our routine of the day: the workout, some piddling time, off to beach around noon, hang out there until 3 or 4, back to the house for shower and happy hour, and then dinner, and then time in the fire pit talking, and then off to bed. What I now take for granted as a routine was for them, (and others who come visit), a great vacation day. Oh the things we take for granted if we are not careful. Fig and Sue's friends are great. That should not be surprising when you think about it. Leaves don't fall far from the tree, birds of a feather, etc. They all apply. It does make me stop and think on why when we work we aren't surrounded with our best friends and family. The family stuff is an easy answer. We have spent the last 50 years trying to get rid of families in business with anti-nepotism policies. I have to come to think that this is actually antiquated thinking. Family-oriented businesses have for a long time thrived and grown (and might even last longer than other businesses) and they are built on the foundation of people who want to be with each other and have a true vested interest in the continued success of the business. I think we should be trying to return to the family model and make work again a place where it would not be out of the ordinary to be in a meeting with your brother or daughter. And as to friends, we need to figure out how to work with the best of our friends if we are to make work the enjoyable experience it should be. After today hanging with Fig's friends (two of them work with him), I could see myself wanting to work with them and I can imagine how they get along at the office. That's the way it is supposed to work. I am just glad I get a few days with them to enjoy the new company and make friends of the new faces.