Composer David Foster and songwriter Linda Thompson-Jenner wrote My Grown-up Christmas List in 1990. Since then, it has been recorded by dozens of pop, country and Christian genre singers. With all due respect to their efforts, the lyrics provide a wonderful template for our own grown-up business community Christmas list. You may want to listen to your favorite version and read along.
Remember for a bit with me, when we sat upon his knee
Or wrote to him with wishes and fantasies
Well, we’re grown up now but still need help and how
Not just myself but for this community in need
No more store fronts boarded up
And foreclosures to never return
The recess’n we’ve endured would be enough
This is my business Christmas list
My business Christmas list
Every student would have a mentor
Always buying local would make it better
The entrepreneurs’ spirit would last forever
This is my business Christmas wish
As survivors of the recess’n we believe
The grandest sight we can conceive
Is sustainability
And a steadfast recovery
No more store fronts boarded up
And foreclosures to never return
The time we’ve endured would be enough
This is my business Christmas list
My business Christmas list
Every student would have a mentor
Always buying local would make it better
The entrepreneurs’ spirit would last forever
This is my business Christmas wish
This is our region’s business Christmas list
It is our corporate wish
This is our region’s business Christmas list
The profit that we chase
The jobs we may create
Blind faith was no mistake
Diligence once again will make the region great
This is our region’s business Christmas list
It is our corporate wish
This is our region’s business Christmas list
Songwriting was never my calling and I offer my apologies to Thompson-Jenner. Looking ahead to 2012, the list for business doesn’t need to be long:
• Respectful state and federal policy debate and decision-making
• Local sourcing whenever feasible
• Reasonable financing options
These things combined with the well-established entrepreneurial spirit in the region, we can continue to create our own recovery.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good 2012!
