THE LAST CHRISTMAS
by: Cary Christian

I want to tell you a brief story that has very little to do with
business and much to do with life.

I spent the first eleven years of my career working 60- to 80-hour weeks clawing my way up the ladder of a "Big 5" firm. I never had a lot of time to spend with my family but they seemed to understand.

Then I decided to go out on my own with a couple of my peers and spent the next eleven years building my own businesses. Again, I never seemed to have much time to spend with my family and they still seemed to understand. For the most part.

Christmas of 1998 was quickly approaching and, in many ways, it was much like every Christmas before it. But there was one large difference: my father was gravely ill. For the first time in my life I realized he was not going to be around forever. This weighed on my mind every day. I thought of all the holidays past where I had spent virtually no time with my Dad. Twenty-two years of them. I determined that this one would be different.

Because of Dad's illness, my parents decided not to put up a tree for Christmas. They just weren't in the mood. So my wife and I decided to put one up for them. We arrived at my parents house with a six-foot tree, all the trimmings and an assortment of good foods to nibble on as we enjoyed the evening.

My wife made me, my parents, our daughter and her boyfriend all wear Santa's hats, Christmas t-shirts and comfortable flannel Christmas pants (kind of like pajama bottoms) to get us in a more festive mood. I thought that was a little much, but it worked. It was a wonderful evening. The gleam in my Father's eyes told me how wonderful it was for him.

I ended up spending more time during the Christmas holidays of 1998 with my parents that I had spent with them in many years combined. It was good for me and I found myself wishing I hadn't missed out on being with them more during my career- and business-building years.

A little over four months later my Father lost his battle with
cancer. The world lost a truly kind and gentle man. I lost my hero, though I'm not sure I ever adequately let him know that that is just what he was to me.

I'll always have regrets over the often misplaced and one-sided emphasis of my early life. But I'll always have the memories of that Christmas of 1998.

Now I know you can see the moral of this story a mile away. But if your approach to business and career is like mine has always been, please take a moment to reconsider. There are hundreds of days available in the year to nurture your career and build your business. Take time to enjoy the holidays with your family. Put business aside for a few days. It will still be there waiting for you when you get back.

Life is short. None of us know when we or a loved one may enjoy our last Christmas. Be there for it. Immerse yourself in it. Bask in the love of your family. You'll be stronger for it and so will they.

I wish you all the very best of the holidays!


Copyright (c) 2002