It was our company's Christmas party last night, and it was a fantastic evening, especially considering that the weather was horrible. There was an extremely heavy downpour of rain, and a fairly large storm rolling through the city for the duration of the evening. However, this didn't dampen the mood. The drinks were flowing, the entertainment was great, and everyone was having a great time.

Our company lacks in terms of culture, and social events like this are almost exclusively reserved for the annual Christmas party. But I feel like social events are what build connections, rapport, develop culture, and provide a great opportunity for the company to show appreciation for its employees.

Over the years, and throughout a vast array of teams, groups, and memberships that I have been a part of, one common denominator that I have observed when it comes to a successful team is the culture, the connection, and in particular, the extracurricular activities for its members. If a team is strong outside of its specific field, if the members are personally connected and feel a sense of community together, the team is far stronger, and in most cases, I believe more successful. At least more successful than themselves without the deeper-rooted connection.

Being, learning, and developing a deeper, more personal connection with members of our communities or teams can produce blossoming results for the objective, as well as create profound bonds and, subsequently, a happier outlook and feeling for all of us. Being part of anything is an important requirement for us all as humans, but succeeding in creating a deeper connection through the conscious pursuit of developing a more personal connection with one another, especially in a team, has the capacity to bring incredible happiness into our lives. Through the conscious approach to developing these relationships, and then subsequently improving a team, group or community, we can build, grow and succeed in our search for happiness.

Thanks,

Dean