Report on Business Legacies and Anniversaries Launch with the Missing Column

The latest issue of Report on Business is here, and the theme is Legacies and Anniversaries. We are proud to feature content from Alerus, SRT, Dickinson Ready Mix, Bartlett & West, United Printing, Nexus Innovations, Great States Construction, Meadowlark Aircraft Company, and the North Dakota Magazine.

As usual, we announce with the missing column of our VP of Strategic Engagement, Amanda Remynse's column.

MISSING COLUMN: Play BALL!!!
Fun fact about Amanda—summer is baseball season. I love a good baseball game and as my son (my middle child) continues to hone his skills, I enjoy it even more.
 
Now full disclosure, my husband created a Cubs fan in me. The idea of my perfect day is 77 and sunny with a day game, an Old Style Beer, behind home plate in the stadium. I haven’t been to many professional stadiums, but Wrigley may have ruined them for me. The crowd, the history, the community, the energy. It doesn’t hurt that I always go with my favorite person.
 
While I'll always root for players like Rizzo, Báez, Hoerner, and PCA, none of them is my favorite baseball player (sorry, Javy). My favorite is going to be 9 years old in August and loves playing catcher. I’ve watched his development from the mess of t-ball, where his teammates had to be coaxed to run to the correct base and I had to remind him constantly that we aren’t there to kick dirt on our cleats. They don’t start off playing catch; they start off playing "throw and go get," which is agony for someone who was never sporty growing up.
 
At this age, three outs is an idea and now even the pitching machine will give them 5 balls before saying, “good job – we’ll try again next round.” I typically only see 4 innings to each game before they call it on time. I bring my chair (too old for bleachers these days) and my seeds and settle in.
 
Now as I watch, I learn my son’s teammates who we talk about at bedtime and are helping build up his technical skills but also his interpersonal skills. We talk about support and strength – how we help those that just haven’t figured out how to own that dang pitching machine as well as those that serve as examples and can ‘really bomb it out there’. I’m quick to cheer on these boys too – when they do well, so does my son. But I also am quick to appreciate the efforts of the other team – commenting on a good hit or a well-timed catch. At a recent game, a fellow spectator—roughly pre-kindergarten age—asked me which team I was rooting for. My response was the blue team, my son plays on it. He asked why then was I cheering when the other team hit it well.
 
It was a fair question, and the answer was more complex than a preschooler probably cared about, so I kept it simple: "They did a good job, and it's nice to hear that when you do a good job."
 
He didn’t love my answer but got distracted by a foul ball.
 
Here’s the thing – the business community operates in a similar way, I’ve seen it firsthand. When one business is doing well, there is a rally to congratulate, to engage, and celebrate. I’ve seen it across businesses that are symbiotic in nature and among competitors. Someone else’s success doesn’t dimmish our own journey. When one of us does well – the trickle down to the community, other businesses, the economy, the state is undeniable. When one business succeeds, it rarely does so alone. I’ve seen leaders coach others directly, provide advice, provide support, and the handshakes and appreciation are evident everywhere. From LinkedIn to in-person conversations, the handshakes and appreciation or accolades are everywhere. How amazing is that?
 
This isn’t about rooting for only yourself but ensuring that everyone playing the game gains something. Lessons in life come from two places – failure or winning. One has deep impact, but the other should be shouted and celebrated because victories don't always come easy.
 
In the meantime, don’t mind me…. I’ll be watching the tall lefty with the red cleats give me the nod whenever he gets on base, living my best mom life.


SUMMER ISSUE OF REPORT ON BUSINESS:LEGACIES AND ANNIVERSARIES