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Speeches:
Holiday
Toast
Good
evening...it's great to see you...and thanks for coming.
The
Holiday season is a time for joy, and I hope that you and your
families have much to be joyous about.
We
certainly do at our company. It's never been in better shape,
thanks to you and many others like you.
You've
done a superb job in 1997 -- but we've only just begun, as the
song says...and 1998 will be even better.
For
businesspeople like us, the Holiday season has, I think, a special
meaning that goes much deeper than the obvious -- the crowded
shopping malls, the gifts piled high under the tree, and so on.
I'm thinking of how the spiritual qualities we celebrate at this
time of year are universal -- and fundamental to every business
activity.
Think
about it: economic activity is about the adding of value.
And value is essentially spiritual: it's the material result of
important qualities like self-discipline, honesty, order, purity,
and love and respect for oneself and others.
Without
honesty and integrity, markets collapse into anarchy and distrust.
Without self-discipline, greed destroys companies, products, markets,
and even whole nations. Without a sense of respect and consideration
for others, we have shabby work and second-rate products.
But
societies with strong spiritual values are much more likely
to hold together and to generate economic value.
So
let's raise our glasses and drink a toast...
...to
the spiritual values of the Holiday season...
...to
the strength and health of our great company and its priceless
brands...
...and
to all the terrific people in our company.
Skol!
Salud! Cheers! and L'chaim!
And
now let's raise our glasses once more and look ahead to 1998 with
the words of the writer Franklin Adams:
Christmas
is over. Uncork your ambition!
Back
to the battle! Come on, competition!
Cheers!
Thank you again for coming...and Happy Holidays!
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