Sometimes we feel overcome with excitement, anticipation, and preparation. Sometimes we feel almost overwhelmed by the scope of our mission, the size of our dreams, and the hours it will take to see this expansion through. Then we remember the
strengths we have, the friendships we depend on, and the trust that this team has the trust we have for one another.
These grounding principles of strength, friendship, and trust lead us back to the table, to a place where we can settle down to the basics that empowered our growth in the first place.
If grief has taught me anything, it’s that the basics matter. They are what you reach for in times of crisis, when you have to rebuild your world from the ground up. In my life and at CASY & MSCCN, I’ve relied on trusting my gut, asking for help, not doing everything on my own, and trusting my leaders. These are the basics that will last me and these nonprofits through times of loss, growth, and change, no matter the ebb and flow of life.
While I am gratefully looking forward to all that 2019 has to offer, I’m still proud to see what 2018 has taught our organization. Building a culture that attracts goodness, transparency, bold honesty, and a fierce desire to remain the preeminent program we were from the beginning— these are things that matter. These are the values that allow for expansion and longevity.
All you have to do is look at the number of team members we now have in our employ to truly understand what this kind of culture means and how we’re going to be able to realize our dreams in 2019. As we finish out this year, we have 61 paid team members representing 50 states and all National Guard territories. These are 61 people working out of cafes, kitchen tables, hotel rooms, and home offices around the globe.
CASY & MSCCN didn’t just happen upon success. We earned it every step of the way for fifteen years, through good people, a commitment to our mission, and a
dedication to serve our military and spouse community. As we close out this difficult year, we know that our hard work and committed team will empower the growth that is to come. We are prepared. We are humbled. We are fierce. We are ready. Thank you for your confidence, and for bringing us to this place.