Today, August 16th has been a poignant date on my calendar for a while but now it is not quite so contemplative. I am specifically not saying sad. Elvis Presley died on this date in 1977. Shocking. Too young. Too messed up. But it was Elvis! Damn! So every August 16th has been a day to watch an Elvis movie, oddly enough to remember my Dad, who was a bigger Elvis fan than I, sing some great songs and try to overcome the general moroseness of the day.

Recently, however a new significance has changed the meaning of day for me when I found out that one of my favorite people, best employee and trusted friend was born today! Happy Birthday Chelsea Dawn Homola Sennett and may God bless you and may your family celebrate joyously. For 38 years I have been sad on the 16th and now I can celebrate, at least in my reverie over a joyous occasion for a friend, thank you for changing this day for me.

So what is the point Bill…here is the point, there are days ahead that we dread but and there are joyful days as well. As adults and managers of people and a spouse and a parent, it would be good to balance the emotions of the day, right? Find something to balance the hard. Truly, I make a bigger deal out of Elvis’ death than necessary but it is still awesome to balance it with joy and friendship and love. So That is what I’m telling you. Don’t let emotions over a happenstance overwhelm your rational thinking. Find the positive in something else to balance your emotions and performance. Play an Elvis song, buy a birthday card, be your best you.

And in this day and age does a rock star ever really leave us? I can play every song Elvis ever did and watch every movie in just seconds. However, you can lose friends and employees though right? We all move, we all take other opportunities, burn out, take promotions…just fade and with that goes the preciousness of relationships. Do your best not to lose those. You can lose an Elvis, but you shouldn’t lose a friend.

Good luck out there today and Make it a Great ONE!!!