Don’t cut corners… you have to see beyond just your action, and also understand it’s impact.  Whether it’s accidentally short-changing a kid or making a unintentionally crappy product you have to see beyond the direct impact of your actions beforehand.

My sister was born on Christmas Day.  At that time in my life almost my entire extended family lived in the same area we did, because of this we were all able to celebrate Christmas together each year.  That year was obviously a bit different, spending the day in the hospital waiting room rather than opening gifts.  My sister was born and the doctor delivered the news to all of us in the waiting room.  This is where my great-grandmother comes in.  My great-grandmother, the oldest member of our family at the time, stood up and looked at all of us and in a very stern voice delivered her edict.  ”Don’t any one of you ever try to give this little girl just one gift.”  She explained that no member of our family was every going to short-change my sister from the attention and love she deserved.  This included her always receiving a separate Christmas and birthday gift.  She was very clear that even the cards had to be theme appropriate as well as each gift had to have properly wrapped in the correct paper.  To this day, not a member of my family has tried to pull off the combo Christmas and birthday gift.

Don’t cut corners.  But more importantly, don’t let anyone in your company cut them.  Thanks Grandma.

Thanks for listening,

Zach West