Time is a scarce commodity and business leaders place a premium on it. That’s why I’m always grateful to the CEOs, their assistants and staff who are so gracious in accommodating me for interviews.
One of the best parts of my job is getting to meet new people, see inside their businesses, and pick their brains to understand the why and how behind all they’ve managed to build.
It’s astonishing what many in the Akron/Canton region have accomplished. We see it everyday, so it seems commonplace. But it’s a significant accomplishment to pull together hundreds, sometimes thousands of people and get them moving in the same direction.
Some organizations have offices across the U.S., some across the globe. Their collective ideas, innovations, services and products are the means that help many people provide for themselves and their families. And in some cases, these organizations provide the knowledge foundation from which new ideas, new ventures and new organizations spring.
I’m very thankful for the business leaders from the nonprofit, business, startup and academic worlds who write columns for the magazine each quarter, taking the time to pen their insights and offer advice to those who read Smart Business, in some shape or form, each month. I’ve enjoyed talking with each of them, getting to know their perspectives and helping them share their knowledge with their peers.
In publishing, everything moves fast. At the time this publishes in December, I’ll be finishing the February magazine, writing for March and thinking about April and May. Sometimes I work with the luxury of time to plan and pace, other times I’m up against a deadline. In both cases, companies’ staff and leadership have been incredibly accommodating to help me get their stories out.
I’m also thankful for our photographers, the great staff here and the others whose work helps make the magazine possible.
So, thank you to everyone who I’ve worked with this year, in years past and all those who I will work with in the future. Thank you for your generosity, your insight and your patience. And most of all, thank you for your time.
Adam Burroughs is interested in the people and businesses making a difference in Akron/Canton.
