As I make the end-of-year rounds this weekend for several organizations I belong to with kids and family, I am again struck by how at the heart of every functioning organization are a small core of incredibly dedicated people. My heartfelt thanks go out to these people that power the various important parts of my life and my kids’ lives.

At the bottom of it all, you find someone that gives a damn. That’s true leadership. Seeing things that are to be done, and doing them. Seeing gaps and persuading someone else to do their part. Seeing disorder and providing a process. Having an idea and taking it to action.

Sometimes these things seem so fragile and hinge on so few, yet I don’t seem to see many catastrophic failures. Somehow people step forward (sometimes me, sometimes you) to be that catalyst for completion.