Is There Any Good News?

As we near the end of 2008 I think we need to consider all the things that we can be grateful for. There are many horrible bosses, horrible workers, and horrible places to work BUT there are a lot of good things happening in the world.

It’s not all gloom and doom although the news media would have us believe that the end is near.

Given that the holiday season is a time for giving thanks for what we have I was curious to see if there was any GOOD NEWS on the workplace front.

At the same time I found myself reading The Power of Serving Others  by Gary Morsch and Dean Nelson. Gary Morsch is a physician and founder of HEART TO HEART an international relief organization. Dean is a journalist.

The premise of the book is that we ALL have something to contribute to making the world a better place to live in:

Everyone has something to give!

Most people are willing to give if they see the need and the opportunity!

Everyone can do something for someone right now!

Many of the examples that they give in the book are about helping people in war-torn countries or in places like Calcutta where there is overwhelming poverty.

BUT, one of the examples relates to the workplace. It was around Christmas, 1995 when the local textile manufacturing plant in Lawrence, Massachusetts burned to the ground. This textile plant was the main employer in the town and when it burned down 3000 people were out of work.

Everyone believed that the owner would close the plant or move it offshore where labor was cheaper.

What happened, in fact, was pretty amazing. The plant’s owner, Aaron Feuerstein, grandson of the company’s founder, decided to rebuild the plant in Lawrence.

Not only did he rebuild the plant but he paid the 3000 employees their full wages while the plant was under construction.

 So, there are lots of good news stories and there are things that each one of us can do to make the world a better place.

Wishing you a healthy and prosperous 2009!

Lesley