Greetings.  It's the Friday after Thanksgiving Day here in the U.S. and a chance to "shop until you drop" if you're so inclined.  This day has even become its own holiday of sorts–dubbed "Black Friday"–when stores and consumers conspire to get a jump on the Christmas shopping season by offering and buying an amazing array of bargains.  Bargains that are so enticing that people will literally interrupt a good night's sleep to race to the nearest mall with the hope that they will snag a coveted game system, popular toy, LED TV, new computer, clothing, jewelry, the latest double, triple, or quadruple expresso maker, or some revolutionary kitchen appliance.  All at stores that opened conveniently at 12:01 a.m., 3:00 a.m., 4:00 a.m. and any other odd hour that might lure enthusiastic shoppers and spark the resurgence of our challenged economy.  I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

Not exactly.  

Because real value is something we should offer every hour of every day.  Not for "a limited time only" or "in limited quantities" or "while supplies last."  Sure the folks at Walmart, with all their giant stores and even more gigantic buying power, can choose to outdo themselves on Black Friday.  But you and I simply can't afford to. Because the success of our businesses is tied directly to our ongoing commitment to innovate and build deep and meaningful customer relationships.  Relationships that don't require our customers to wake up at all hours of the night in the hope of getting a better deal.

We win in business and in life when we always provide the most value for those we have the privilege to serve.  And when we're willing to stay up to make sure our customers get a good night's sleep.

Cheers and happy shopping!