I constantly hear the statement that nothing happens between Thanksgiving and New Year’s day. That idea becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that can prevent you from moving forward in the new year.

The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s day is what I referred to as Relationship/Gratitude month.

It is the perfect time to build and solidify relationships by giving thanks to those that have helped you in the past year as well as those that will help you in the new year. This show of gratitude, when done without an agenda and with great sincerity, will strengthen business partnerships that can carry you into the new year and beyond.

As you all know, the opposite of gratitude is ingratitude. When you don’t express gratitude and you assume the other person understands your perspective, what you really are expressing and certainly not intending to, is ingratitude.call

Call up those people that have given you so much over the past six months to a year and just say thank you. Use the holiday season to send out cards to those you don’t call. Individualize each card with a note and your own signature. Make your audience feel special. Remember, this is about quality not quantity.

If done correctly, these efforts in December will pay rich dividends in the first quarter of 2016.
Here’s to a prosperous new year!

Jim

Author: Jim WiederholdJim believes his 39 years of experience--particularly his more than 26 years in healthcare--has prepared him well for what he does. His wealth of experience spans key areas, including finance, operations, management, leadership, sales and sales management, corporate, contingency, contractual and retained recruiting, outplacement and transition work and executive coaching.