Note: I’m writing a note of gratitude on the blog each day in November leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday. My hope is that these posts will inspire you to do the same. Write an email, Facebook post, or a text to tell people they have made an impact on you. Gratitude is contagious.
I met Linda Jonas at a small HR event probably five or six years ago.
When you meet Linda, you immediately feel like her friend. She approaches everyone she meets with a friendly sparkle in her eye and a truly genuine smile.
Once I had a chance to talk with her, I realized that she was as passionate about making work better as I was. She was also wicked smart and clever. This was someone who I wanted in my network for future collaborations.
Following that first meeting, Linda and I began chatting over video from time to time about what we were each trying to accomplish professionally. It seemed that every time I had a chat with Linda, she was somewhere else on the planet–Sydney, Berlin, San Francisco. And, she had traveled far beyond that in between the chats.
Linda describes herself as a “global nomad.” Each time we met, she has great stories to share about her travels and experience all over the globe. With apologies to Dos Equis, Linda is my real life version of “the most interesting person in the world.”
When we found ourselves in the same place at a conference or event, we’d carve out some time to catch up and talk shop.
Over time, we became friends.
Then, a little over two years ago when I decided it was time to go self-employed for good, Linda was the first one to say “We need your help.” The company where Linda works, Small Improvements, became my first HR tech client. It was an incredibly important moment for me on this journey.
She had always been a champion of my work and she was the reason that Small Improvements decided to bet on a partnership with me. Over the past two years, we’ve collaborated on two ebooks, a podcast series, video content and a variety of blog posts.
Small Improvements has been a great client to work with because we have so much overlap in our philosophy about work and employee engagement. But also because I get to work with someone who I enjoy and respect so much in Linda.
There are few things I love more than doing meaningful work with a good friend. And few things are more valuable than a good friend.
Linda, thank you for your friendship and for believing in me. You are a good friend. Few people have had shown me the kind of support and belief that you have over the past two years. I’m so grateful for our friendship and for the opportunity to know you.