While writing athlete profiles for the CrossFit Games 2012 site, my days have become jammed. It's really great to talk to these folks, and even better to hear that we're on the right track with our Games programming for the Catalyst team, the Green Army.
I've been studying and learning from Jim Collins' new book, "Great By Choice," which is an updated version of "Good To Great" (which I recommend for every Box owner.) I'll have a LOT of material from that one...soon. For now, some big New Year's Bright Spots:
As I wrote in an essay called, "Billionaires" a few weeks ago, our CrossFit Family sponsored 125 local kids for Christmas. A member-initiated and -coordinated venture, we simply invited people to participate, and they jumped on board. Some took whole families, some simply chose a single kid and spoiled them rotten. While I'm sure they can't resist checking the clothing of every kid they pass on the street to see if "she's the one!," they all contributed knowing that the children would be anonymous.
Within my own family, my own kids were EXTREMELY excited about the idea of buying toys and clothes for "C-1, C-2, and C3," and started piling their OWN toys into the boxes. That's a feeling you can't replicate.
This is a picture of our "water brigade" line, passing presents from our mezzanine through our matted area and out our back door, to waiting vans staffed with folks from Childrens' Aid. There's a 10-foot-tall tree in the background that's pretty hard to make out. I felt a little zip! of electricity with every bag I passed, and I felt lucky to be IN that line, let alone the guy who owns the gym.
We also sat down and had a bite to eat. About 90 people doing a Paleo potlock? Some of the best chefs around? Fantastic!
On a smaller - but still emotionally fulfilling - scale, the story of our new cleaner:
Jane* was referred to us as a replacement from an agency who sources this type of talent. Our last two cleaners were a mess - hilariously so, in retrospect - and Jane was presented to us as one to keep "on call" in case the others failed to show up for work. We immediately brought her in full-time.
Quiet and shy, she was almost terrified of making a mistake. The first few weeks, she would email me several times a day to make sure that things were okay, and would always seem surprised when I told her she was doing a great job. Once, she called to ask if people were allowed to climb the rope; once, to ask if people were allowed to drink beer in the gym.
When I invited her to our Christmas party, I didn't think she'd attend. She takes the bus, and I thought she'd be self-conscious because she wasn't yet in the 'paleo huddle.' But she showed, carrying a six-pack of orange pop, and I introduced her around. When one member gratefully grabbed her hand and said, "YOU'RE the one who takes CARE of us!" she lit up brighter than our tree.
Two nights ago, she left a note thanking me for giving her a job that paid her enough to "buy a warm new winter coat so I don't freeze." She was talking about freezing on her walk from the bus stop to the gym, half a mile away - at 9pm, and back again at 11pm. She figured she could afford one by her next paycheque. Meanwhile, temperatures had dropped to -27C two nights before.
How could we NOT buy her a coat? My wife was excited to pick her up a gift card and leave it for her on the desk. The next morning, I got one of the best notes from staff ever:
"Ever sweet! This is the nicest thing ever! Greatly appreciated and such a smile catcher! Thank-you!" - and a smiley face, to boot. 'Smile catcher' is the new 'awesome' around here.
If you own a Box, these are reasons enough to fight for it; to put up with the bureaucrats, the phone company, the taxation, and the stress. I'm sure you have your own Bright Spots already in 2012. Feel free to share, below in comments. Either way, as my new boss from the Canada East Media Team says, "keep up the awesome!"
Awesome! Very inspiring
Posted by: Nick | 01/06/2012 at 03:16 PM