Some of you may know that I suffered a stroke in April. Ever since then, I have been sidelined with extensive recuperation and excruciating rehabilitation.
In the United States this week we celebrate Thanksgiving. So I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude for many who have wished me well as I recover.
Today I would like to give a very special mention to the following people:
- Edgar Gum, regional vice president for Marriott Vacations and his team, along with my fellow colleagues in Hawaii at the time, David Wong and Amy Shiroma
- Gustavo Salazar, Marriott Vacation Club Pulse
- Femy, Naty, Rebecca, Tammy, Tracy, Haas, Jackie, and Mike of The Henry Dearborn
- Genovev, Janice, Joyce. Kathy, and Marsha, associates who were in hotels I managed
During my time at the properties, these individuals personified customer care over customer service. They not only served their guests to take care of them, they really cared for each guest and every associate. They cared for anyone who was feeling confused, angry, sad, or alone. They cared for everyone on or off the clock. And, as I recuperated, they expressed their genuine concern and well-wishes more than once.
I also want to thank customer service speakers Steve Curtin, Shep Hyken, and Adam Toporek and leadership speaker Rick Olson who wished me well beyond a simple “Get well soon” card. I very much appreciated their genuine concern and well wishes.
To those who were not aware I had a stroke, thank you very much for sticking with me for months without my blog, Facebook and Instagram posts, LinkedIn articles and posts, and tweets. I certainly have appreciated you following me now after I had a long hiatus of publishing and posting while I recovered.
Since this is Thanksgiving, let me share with you quotes about Thanksgiving and gratitude that I have found to be more meaningful given my personal hardship and now, a most bountiful response from so many of you:
“Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life. Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have.” Catherine Pulsifer
“The struggle ends when gratitude begins.” Neale Donald Walsh
“We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” John F Kennedy
“No one has ever become poor by giving.” Anne Frank
“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” Randy Pausch
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” Voltaire
“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” James Allen
“Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return.” Ralph Marston
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” William Arthur Ward
“Appreciation can change a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.” Margaret Cousins
“An attitude of gratitude brings great things.” Yogi Bhajan
“Thanksgiving is a joyous invitation to shower the world with love and gratitude.” Amy Leigh McCree
BILL QUISENG | Deliver the World's Best Customer Experience 
Happy Thanksgiving, Bill.
Thank you. And Happy Holidays to you, your family, and team.