400 Years Ago This Week…
…the first Thanksgiving was celebrated.
It turns out the folks on the Mayflower had the honor of starting the inaugural celebration in North America, which of course, is disputed by the citizens of Virginia, but we’ll go with the Pilgrim version for now. They landed on what is now Cape Code in November, 1620. While it is documented that they attempted to continue to Virginia, I suspect the captain had enough of people saying “Are we there yet?” and just dropped the anchor in the closest bay he could find.
A year later (one hour of going down the Wikipedia hole summed up in two sentences), only 53 of the original 103 remained, having lost most to a nasty combination of scurvy, pneumonia and tuberculosis. They were able to plant crops in the spring of 1621 and with the help of the local Wampanoag Indians, managed to survive, and it is with the Wampanoags that they celebrated Thanksgiving in 1621, 400 years ago this week. Fun Fact: The Wampanoags helped the Pilgrims get their act together in exchange for protection from the competing Narragansett tribe.
So what is the connection between Thanksgiving and business? Well, most folks get a four-day weekend (except bankers and federal workers), and the retail sector is depending on the season to determine the success of their year. Aside from that, I have found that the most successful business owners and managers also show their thanks to their employees. As much as many of us dread the actual getting together with the entire office, complete with spouses, the company holiday party really does foster team building and camaraderie, particularly if there is a gift exchange and an ugly sweater competition. One owner I know holds a huge raffle for his staff of 100+ workers where everyone walks away with something, ranging from TVs to tools, to bakeware to baskets of goodies and gift cards. Now that is a thanks giving. Oh, and don’t forget your customers.
If there is any year to show your employees your appreciation, this is the one. For some of us, it’s been very difficult, particularly in food and hospitality and for some of us, it has been very good. Next year will be a challenge, but it always is, so let’s carve a little time out to thank the folks that helped make you or your department successful, or helped take your company to the finish line this year. Whether you have 1 employee or hundreds, show them you care. It will pay dividends, I promise you that.
Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for being a reader.
