Happy Holidays:

No, I’m not talking politics, AI or climate change, rather how important “beginnings” and “endings” are …

Consider these personal examples, observations or oft-cited tropes. My bet is most will resonate.

• It is true - You never get a second chance to make a first impression.  It might not apply 100% of the time, yet isn’t it remarkable how quickly we draw conclusions about someone or an organization in an instant?  Think about it.
• The “welcome” greeting upon arrival at a hotel or restaurant or maybe a theme park?  The emotion or sentiment usually sets the “tone” for the duration.
• I find it really annoying (I mean really) when I have to wait to pay at the end of a meal.  No matter how extraordinary (or not) the experience was, when a patron is ready to depart, there should be no delay.
• I promise this is a very long story shortened tremendously …

I was an RA (Resident Advisor) in college.  An upperclassman living in a freshman dorm.  At Stanford, this role was more of a counselor or university resource and never a disciplinarian.  Here’s the cool “beginning” – my fellow RAs and I did our homework, so when the Frosh arrived, we greeted them by sight and knew a little bit about them (from where, sports or drama interest, High School name, etc.).  This was our way of making sure they began their college days with a “welcome” on a day that can be very traumatic.  In visiting with many of them recently, I was constantly reminded how meaningful that “welcome” was.

• My Rabbi originally shared this, but other clergy have offered the same sentiment – I’ll paraphrase, but the words were essentially: “My most important duties are welcoming newborns into this life or helping families grieve the death of a loved one.”
• Bet you hate this as much as I do – your delayed flight pulls up to the jet ramp, and the captain informs you they are waiting for the ramp crew to connect the plane to the bridge.  Grrrrr.  You are SO close!

(True recent story – we were an hour late arriving in Chicago O’Hare not long ago, and, yes, a late ramp crew made us wait to deplane.  BUT once we began disembarking, one of the team repeatedly welcomed us “home” or to the Windy City.  This was a FIRST!)

• I’ve touched on funerals, but weddings, as a beginning, are equally important milestones, right?

All this is to HIGHLIGHT how important first encounters and last recollections are.  Ask yourself, “Are you – personally and professionally – making the MOST of beginnings and endings?  What can be improved upon?  Are you doing everything possible to MAXIMIZE (whatever that might mean) these brief moments that have an oversized impact?

Good.  Tell me about ‘em!