Sunset Alert. It started out so simply 30 years ago or so. One early evening while working in a skyscraper in Philadelphia, I walked to the western side of the building and noticed how spectacular the sunset was. Feeling that our team needed a break from the tedium of the audit I returned to our workroom and proclaimed “Sunset Alert” whereupon we filed down the hall, sat on some desks in an empty office, soft drinks in hand, and watched the sun set beyond the city while chatting for a few moments. It was a most welcomed and enjoyable mini-respite and became a daily ritual. A tradition was born. A few years later while working for a company in Southern California I introduced that tradition to our employees there as well. (PLEASE CLICK ON THE TITLE ABOVE TO CONTINUE READING.)
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OK. So roll the clock forward say about 25 years. Sitting at home one evening a few months ago, I received a call from a gentleman whom I had the pleasure to work with at that company. He opened by saying that his wife had just called him from her cell phone and while observing the beauty of another phenomenal Southern California sunset simply said “Sunset Alert” when he answered the phone. He chuckled and said “I wonder how ol’ Ed is doing these days”. So, he called me and relayed the story. After catching up on the important aspects of our respective lives, we arranged an impromptu dinner a few weeks hence when I planned to be out in Southern California for the Natural Products Expo West Show. We each agreed to call a few people with whom we worked to see if others might be interested in a little reunion with so little notice. When I walked into the restaurant that evening about 15 people we used to work with all those years ago were there. We reminisced about Sunset Alerts and all the other traditions we came to share. But it’s the next phase of this little story that most affected me. Throughout the evening, listening to the stories I came to realize that all these people who, like in many companies, came together quite randomly, that they genuinely cared for each other. And not only long ago when they shared their daily work routines, but still now 25 years later. Those who weren’t retired mused about how their current coworkers favorably comment on their work ethic, their loyalty to customers, their dedication to the job, their enthusiasm, and things like that. All of them acknowledged that it was just the way we did things at the old company. And then one woman, Rosa, summed it all up saying “we just cared for and about each other”. No it admittedly wasn’t perfect, but it was exceptional, and real, and I am proud to have been a part of it. 25 years later a little band of us came back together, broke some bread, drank a little wine and celebrated, all because we wanted to, and because we cared to. What will you celebrate when you pause your day’s routine and honor your next Sunset Alert? |