How does one really put into words a meaningful and heartfelt Thanksgiving message? Do you start by making a list of what we have to be thankful for? Or making a list of people you would like to thank? Both of those lists would be very long for me, and probably for you too.  As I was pondering  all of this to compose this post, an email was forwarded to me, written by a young man who is the general manager of our very first franchisee, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins and Associates. His name is Dominick Sacci, and he leads a team of managers and salespeople. It’s tough being a leader right now. It’s a job most people would say no to. Dominick, thank you for having the courage to lead, and thank you for sharing your heart with us…

Everyone,

While I typically reflect on the happenings in our offices on a day-to-day basis, I am inspired to review and share with all of you what I am thankful for this specific time of year.

Unquestionably, we are in very challenging times, both personally and professionally, and yet I am inspired by the gifts that I am thankful for. This year, I came as close to seeing God as I believe one man can by Sylwia and I experiencing the miracle of life and being blessed with our son Sebastian. I am thankful for a baby that reminds me every day of what actually is important, because floor schedules, capture rates, and cancelled deals can NOT compete with that toothless little smile. I am also thankful for a wife that understands what kind of day it was in real estate when I return home each night. I have been reunited with my biological father for 7 years now, after not speaking to him for 20, I am thankful for that as well.

I genuinely and sincerely enjoy working with each and every one of you, if I didn’t, I would be in trouble. I don’t think that I could ever simply go to a job day-in and day-out and it just feel like work. I go back to being a young man with many of you, I have grown up right before your eyes. I have learned a lot from all of you and do feel that I have been made a better manager, friend, and person because of many of you, I am thankful for that. I can only hope that I have returned this favor on some compensatory level. I also enjoy those of you who have only been working with me for a short time, I look forward to what we will achieve together.

If I have learned one thing in my young life, thus far, it is that just when you think you have it bad, we are tragically reminded that many others have it far worse. We all have roofs over our head, heat, food, and family to remind us of why we are here in the first place. We could be those parents that will have their only child go to Iraq and never return home, we could be fighting incurable medical issues right now, have had a loved one lost on Sept. 11th, etc…

We are strong and resilient as people and those examples set for us in the past prove that others have successfully addressed and moved on from challenge, tragedy, depressions, economic difficulty, war, and loss of loved ones. We should be thankful for those examples set for us and learn from them. We should honor them by acknowledging the successes, the love, the victory over life’s challenges, and not dwell on how we can NOT get through these challenging times, but what we can do TO get through this.

In closing, I am convinced that cycles are necessary life lessons. The downs come around to remind every generation to enjoy the ups. I am sure that you would agree, we all get lazy and complacent. The downs remind us to live within our means, get back on track, and make sure we take the time to stop and enjoy what we are working so hard for, (What is your toothless little smile?). Make sure you enjoy the next swing up AND save for the next rainy day because one thing is guaranteed, they will BOTH come around again.

Take a moment to acknowledge your gifts and give thanks, more importantly stay focused on what you have yet to be thankful for. I am thankful for all of you and what we have yet to achieve as family, friends, coworkers, and real estate professionals.

I’ll see you when we get there. Happy Thanksgiving.

Dominick J. Sacci
General Manager/Vice President
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates

On behalf of our team and our families, we wish all of our colleagues and their families a happy and restful Thanksgiving holiday.