Single Grain of Sand

Today after our weekly status meeting, my boss took me aside and told me that he appreciated all the work I had been doing. He mentioned the initiative I'd taken while he was busy on other projects, the new brand collateral I'd created for our upcoming tradeshows and how I was advancing the efforts we promised during our company-wide kick off last month in Washington DC.

It really made me think about how important it is for employers to take the time to thank their employees and give them a pat on the back. It's a little thing that takes just a minute, but means a world to the people who hear it.

I really believe I could have lasted another 10 years at my old job if I had, just once, been taken aside and told I was doing a good job. Instead I was told I was either too fat, too thin or dressed like a bum. Oh and there was that one time I was told I was a prostitute.