Team, Today weāre celebrating Thanksgiving Day. Have you ever wondered why we celebrate this holiday? Because youāre all intellectually curious types, I know you haveā¦but Iāll offer my version below because you know I love this stuff :) Seeking religious tolerance in 1620, the Pilgrims departed England in search of a new life. The Mayflower ā a ship small enough to fit inside an Olympic swimming pool - arrived in Plymouth, MA in the midst of a harsh winter. They didnāt know how to hunt the local wildlife, how to fish or which crops would grow on that New England soil. Because of the difficult conditions, and because they hadnāt been to Navy Survival School, only half of the original Mayflower crew survived through their first spring in New England. Surely all would have perished had the Wampanoag Indians not taught the new settlers how to survive. So upon the first harvest, the Pilgrims invited the Wampanoag to a feast lasting three days, and thereby began the tradition of Thanksgiving (although it was not an official US holiday until President Abraham Lincoln decreed it as such in 1863). And while the basis of this particular holiday is steeped in US history, the day gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the many things for which weāre thankful. My takeaway from the heritage of the Pilgrims and Wampanoag is that teamwork is essential to survival. And one thing for which I am very grateful is the great team weāve assembled at Wasabi Rabbit. Together, this year, weāve celebrated many achievements, and realized many advancements in both what we do and how we do it. Weāve risen above the clutter as leaders in an incredibly competitive industry. Weāve accomplished these things because we work together and strive for success as a team. Today Iām thankful for each of you, and all you do. But most of all Iām thankful to be part of an amazing team that is growing, advancing, and innovating daily. Some serve in client-facing roles and have more āvisibilityā, but I know and appreciate the many key players who operate behind the scenes, but are nonetheless critically important to our long-term success. Enjoy today ā Thanksgiving ā and tomorrow as days to reflect on what weāre doing, how youāre contributing, and what we want to accomplish as we steam into 2015. And finally, keep doing great things. Thank you for your contribution to making us an exceptional team. Happy Thanksgiving. John
