 Thirty years ago, I met a stunning woman, Nesrin, who became my wife and the mother of our kids. Since the beginning, I have called her gorgeous (among other, less flattering names LOL). A few years later, Daniela, our oldest, and lsabela, our youngest inherited their mother’s pet name, and all three, became gorgeous 1, 2, and 3. Today as grown-ups, the girls have learned from a great teacher. All three have similar mannerisms, the same lively and bold personality, and -funny- they look exactly alike. They have become so similar that plenty of times, I have to do a double-take to see which one I’m talking to as I walk into a room. When I use the word gorgeous, all three know that I’m calling them or talking about them. Now it has even become a game in my head: when I see them all sitting around the kitchen table, I call out gorgeous, and all three in unison turn around. At that moment, I smile with joy in my head, say “nothing, nothing” and walk away. Well, little do they know, I use the word gorgeous because in my eyes all three are beautiful, but most importantly, all three are kind and strong women that I admire; I use it as an acronym for:
To all my gorgeous girls, never change, you all three are amazing women. Never forget that your smile is what makes life beautiful :) I love you all!
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 A young man that has been working with us for the past few years approached me and said, "Mauchy (my nickname), during Thanksgiving dinner my father asked me, 'What are you grateful for?' I'm thankful for having two families, my blood one and my work one." Then, looking at me, he said, "I am grateful to Nesrin and you! Thank you."
Twenty five years ago I started a restaurant company which became a management company. During those years of growth we built a prosperous company with 13 different operations. However, 10 years ago, for health reasons, we decided to step back and passed control of the company to a young gentleman. In our absence we saw the soul of the company disappear, the core value of nurturing was gone and they were just focused on the bottom line. Since we took back our company 2 years ago, Nesrin and I have brought back our original values to it. Which is to encourage growth. _This kid began at the bottom of the food chain as a dishwasher with no experience in this industry; he was young and lost, without an aim. Yet, through pure tenacity and honesty, he was able to focus and quickly climb to a managerial position. Today, at the age of 24, he has managed to buy a home, provide for his family, and unite them under one roof. His words at Thanksgiving made me think about his beginnings and our company's original values: "to encourage and promote." We understand treating others kindly and fairly along our path to success is of utmost importance. Everyone that has climbed to the top has benefited from an opportunity; as we climb we must give others an opportunity as well. And once we reach the summit, plenty of times we will find that rocks might crumble. The people we foster are the ones that will stop the landslide. So, my friend, Nesrin and I are the ones thankful to you for being in our lives; you keep a good eye on our business, and you have become a good friend and a great mentor for our kids. Thank you!  On January 1st we all have a chance to begin writing a new book. I have been planning mine, the 2020 saga: full of ventures, plenty of drama but with a happy ending :)
Errors will be made, and chapters might have to be rewritten, but I'm inspired, motivated to pen down a bestseller. January 1st is blank page, free from all writing or marking; it is a fresh opportunity to do it right. Cheers to a gratifying year, cheers to a great decade! |
Who I am today as a person is largely due to my failures! Archives
January 2024
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