“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”
– John Wooden
Although reflection is often the norm as one year ends and the new year begins, this year, we at Arizona Jewish Life are genuinely focused forward, on the future. Why this year in particular?
Over the past 6½ years, we have been so focused on running the business that periodically we have lost sight of our equally important goal of positively impacting individuals and the community at large.
Honestly, most days I feel very grateful to be in the media business. Not a week goes by without someone telling us something positive about what we are doing or the impact we have had on them or a loved one.
But how do we, as a company, positively impact the community in very tangible ways – even during the ups and downs of growing a young, entrepreneurial business? Is being a conduit between the community, sharing ideas and resources, enough?
Sometimes answers come from surprising sources. In my case, it was a weird trifecta of an ice cream mogul, media royalty and a respected basketball coach: Jerry Greenfield (yes, the Jerry of Ben and Jerry’s), Oprah Winfrey and John Wooden (famed UCLA basketball coach). I know – it’s weird.
Jerry Greenfield has often talked about how Ben and Jerry’s consciously explored the opportunities to address both profits and social conditions. As he has stated, “It’s a process of innovation.”
So innovation, here we come. We are in the process of building products to help us innovate and communicate in new and more impactful ways.
But these plans are not done in a vacuum. Growth without significance is somewhat hollow. “The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success, but on significance,” says Oprah. Those words resonate with me and I take them to heart.
So we plan to innovate to make our contributions more significant. Innovation with significance!
And as for John Wooden. Well, in truth, I just like the quote mentioned above. It pretty much says it all and is something to strive for personally and professionally.
I would like to give a special thanks to our core crew: Deb, Mala, Philip and Tamara, the sales team, our writers, distributors, printers and tech people and of course, our advertisers– you are “the how” we do what we do.
And to my children, Tamir, Ganit and McGwire – you are “my why.”
Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy New Year.
May we all go from strength to strength.
Shana Tova U’Metuka.
Cindy Saltzman
Publisher
