Valentine’s Day, with its trademark heart-shaped chocolates and flowers, is traditionally reserved for romance. Last year, I shared that I would like to reframe the narrative and challenge us to take the time to show a little extra love to those other people in our lives—our coworkers, suppliers, customers and friends. Our work families! We might start thinking about Valentine’s Day as a day of appreciation, a day we recognize how grateful we are for all the people who make our lives better.
I am grateful for my AME family. As Maya Angelou shared, “Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs. The ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.” AME truly is that family.
The dedication and collaborative spirit our members and volunteers bring to the table enable AME’s work and thought leadership to constantly expand and reach new audiences. We all share a collective love for problem-solving, lean thinking and people-centric leadership. We improve existing processes to make life better for those around us. We show our love and respect for our colleagues by helping make things better, easier, and more collaborative and by listening to and respecting each other. Isn’t that a family?
We’ve already accomplished so much since the start of the new year, and I see so many exciting things happening. It is a transformative year. As we blend the successes of the past with the opportunities of the future, this year thrills me.
We have our AME Back to Basics Virtual Lean Summit 2024 (FREE for members) and our So Cal Lean Tour 2024 in March. In May, we will travel to Tennessee for the AME Nashville 2024 Lean Summit. These are two great training opportunities for your team members. They will benefit from the learning and camaraderie of attendees and presenters. And, of course, your work family Valentines will want to join you at the 40th AME International Conference this October in Atlanta.
I am using Valentine’s Day this year to let every one of you know you’re an important part of AME’s family, and I am always honored to serve you. With much love, happy Valentine’s Day!
As always, please stay safe and keep looking out for one another.
