MESSAGE FROM THE OWNER:
A Successful Year
As 2013 closes and 2014 begins, I find it’s
natural for me to reflect on my blessings
of the past year and my hopes and
dreams for the new year ahead. I’m sure
many of you do the same thing.
This past year has had some highs that
have made my life richer. I have traveled
extensively, visiting China, Iceland and
Africa, with the best trip being the one
to Africa with special family members.
I’m sure having time to spend with
family is what made it so great. During
that trip, I found myself enjoying the beauties of nature and the
similarities in the terrain between the Serengeti desert and the
Utah landscape. The animals were amazing. At one point, beautiful
zebras surrounded us as far as we could see. The graceful giraffes
were a treat to watch in their natural habitat as they plucked the
leaves from the tops of the trees with their long tongues. Other
fascinating animals were the elephants with their babies close by
their side learning the lessons needed to stay alive and safe, lions
stalking their prey, eating what they wanted and leaving the rest
for the scavengers who would take over when they left, leopards
lazily napping in the trees and white rhinos charging to the edge
of the water to find relief from the hot sun. The hippos were a
special treat to watch as they tried to find room in the crowded
ponds where they were so closely packed in that they could
hardly move.
We met the native tribesmen and learned about their lives and
the hardships of living with so few of the comforts that I take
for granted: like water from the tap and comfortable housing to
protect them from the elements. The schoolchildren had limited
school supplies and limited food and water, but their eyes were
bright, and they had an unmistakable zest for life and learning.
Our accommodations ranged from a nyumba (a tent) to a five-star
hotel in the middle of the Serengeti desert with nothing around
it but animals and native vegetation, to everything in-between,
including a tree house.
Preparations for this trip included getting the necessary shots and
medications to treating our clothes with mosquito repellent to
avoid malaria. Once our passports and reservations were in order,
we had to take care of the little details: stop the mail, arrange
for someone to water the plants, feed the fish, take care of the
dog and watch over the house. It is no small task to prepare to
travel, but once the trip was over and we returned home with our
memories and our photos, I reflected on how truly blessed I am. I
am reminded of a saying goes like this:
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It
makes what we have enough and more.”
No matter where we find ourselves in this big, beautiful world, I
believe one key to happiness is to appreciate what we have no
matter how big or how small. We can be happy by realizing our
blessings and living up to our potential. Expressing
gratitude magnifies our blessings and makes us feel
better about what we have and who we are. We may
live in a land of plenty, but what really counts is not
what we have but who we are in our hearts and how we
express it.
I am grateful for every one of you—employee, spouse,
family member and associate. Thank you for what you
do to make the world a better place. Thank you for
making our company a better company. Thank you for
enriching my life and the lives of my family members.
You are the face of our company. I appreciate how you
treat our customers with the utmost respect, courtesy
and professionalism. It happens across the whole
spectrum of the Larry H. Miller Group. You are the best!
I am grateful for each one of you. May the new year be
your best one yet.
Happy New Year!
Vol. 6, Issue 1
Founders
Editor/Creative Director
CEO & Publisher
COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR
Executive Editor
Photo Editor
Larry & Gail Miller
Greg Miller
Jay Francis
Jack Sanford
Linda Luchetti
Carisa Miller
Content Contributors
Aron Simkins
Dana Reid
Karol Elkington
Madeline Crandall
Hannah Lee
Frank Zang
Julie Evans
John Gardner
Sara Landaal
Brent Asay
Editorial Office: 9350 So. 150 E., Ste. 1000
Sandy, Utah 84070
Winning Spirit Magazine is published by the Larry
H. Miller Group of Companies and distributed to
employees of the Larry H. Miller organizations.
Please address your comments, questions and
article suggestions to Winning Spirit Magazine, c/o
Miller Management Corporation, 9350 South 150
East, Suite 1000, Sandy, Utah 84070. You may also
contact us via email at [email protected]. We
welcome submissions, photographs, and stories that
capture the essence and fun of working for the Larry
H. Miller Group of Companies.
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