Over the weekend, the Mid-Atlantic states and areas along the Northeastern coast of the United States were hit with an intense snow storm. In Virginia, where my family and I live, we experienced a good dose of snow and wind on Friday night and into Saturday.

When there is a new blanket of snow, the acoustics of the surrounding area seem to change, intensifying sounds, especially in the calm of a morning snow fall.

Early Saturday morning, just after daybreak, I heard the rumble of a snow-blower and the booming voice of my retired neighbor Ray. I was not surprised to see Ray clearing his driveway with what looked to be a heavy duty machine. Ray has a great truck, an impressive recreational vehicle and a nice looking John Deere tractor that he uses in the summer. This was our first significant snow fall since our family moved into the area, so I had never before witnessed Ray in action in dealing with the realities of winter.

I was soon out shoveling my own driveway the old fashioned way. Just as I was gaining some traction, Ray came around the corner with his Toro and a smile. He was gearing up to help me finish the job in short order. There was no stopping him, and it was as though he was waiting for the opportunity to unleash his readiness on the elements. He is a great neighbor, and he was busy all weekend helping many dig out of trouble as they cleared a path toward where they wanted to go.

Ray was prepared. He had the tools needed to excel in dealing with the challenge at hand. His eagerness and enthusiasm were products of his preparation, and he was able to make a difference for many.

Ray caused me to think about our team and our business as I watched him go to work.

As we gear up for 2010, the Radiant team is like Ray in many ways. We have the tools and the know-how. We are eager to enthusiastically share with customers and partners where we can deliver value and how the math adds up in the customer’s favor. We offer the kind of value that removes obstacles, clears a path and helps a customer progress to where they want to be.

Ray modeled an important principle – When we know what we are doing and we have the tools and the team to do it, we are eager to attack the challenge. Those with only a shovel were hesitant and late to the task. A Second truth – Ray’s neighbors know who they can count on in a crunch, just as our customers know they can count on our team to drive value and provide support.

At the end of the day, preparation, enthusiasm and old fashioned accountability will write the next chapter in our story.

WE believe. WE are ready.

We wish you and your family a memorable Holiday Season!

This entry was posted by John T. Kirk, Vice President of North American Distribution on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 at 9:03 am and is filed under Executive, Hospitality. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.