Awe, the excitement of what would be new yet simultaneously nervous of the unknown. I am referring to a few times when my family relocated to new neighborhoods. We had to be there for each other emotionally and stay encouraged during the process of leaving behind what we loved, became accustomed to and would miss, to embrace a new community, new jobs, schools and people.
One night while unpacking the doorbell rang and on our porch stood two ladies who had two plates. One plate was filled with cold cuts (lunch meat), crackers, cheese and assorted fruits. The other plate had a variety of cookies, donuts and candies.
My mother welcomed them into our home. They said they had noticed a new family moving on the block and they wanted to introduce themselves and welcome us to the neighborhood. While the adults were chatting, I took the liberty of skipping over to the delights the ladies brought and indulged.
I saw and felt the joy on my mother’s face at the kind gesture of these women to make our transition more pleasant and I’m happy to say that these ladies are family friends to this day.
In an age where most people do their congratulatory sentiments online with a thumbs up, or a “Congratulations” auto response from a click of a button, wouldn’t it be nice if a new entrepreneur launching their business received a welcome from another business owner?
Imagine it, a new business owner receiving a care package from an established business owner filled with goodies; candies, popcorn, crackers, cheeses, sausages, dips, and sparkling juice or champagne with a hand written note: We noticed your new business in our neighborhood and wanted to say, Congratulations and Welcome. We hope you enjoy these treats and think of your new friends. WOW!
It speaks to the collective spirit to be there to support those who are making a move and don’t know what to expect, just like you once upon a time. It can also open the opportunity to begin a relationship that lasts a long time or just make a difference in that person’s life.
You may say, “I can’t do that for every new business owner”, and you’re right.
Consider asking a few of your business owner friends to form a Business Welcome Pack to share the task. It can be that a set amount of new businesses within a year will get either a Welcome Card, Phone Call, Personal Visit or Invitation to Lunch, or a Business Care Package spread out between the Pack.
What if the recipient of your kind gesture doesn’t appreciate it? To take an excerpt from a poem Anyway (The Paradoxical Commandments) written by Dr. Kent M. Keith but often credited to the great humanitarian, Mother Teresa …
“The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.”
Why, because you doing something bigger than yourself is a real welcome in this day and age.
Letra Davis