I don’t feel accomplished after launching the Omaha IMPACT Awards, and I finally figured out why.

The Omaha IMPACT Awards celebrate the frontline, blue-collar, and operational professionals across Douglas and Sarpy Counties whose work keeps our businesses and communities running, often without ever being thanked.

I recognize that the unwritten protocol is to share one’s thoughts on an event soon after it is complete, but this one was very different for me, so it took a little longer to process. And I didn’t have the words until recently. But first, allow me to share how I got there. 

During the event itself, I found myself feeling like I wasn’t there, almost floating. It felt very surreal as people walked through the doors. In hindsight, I think my brain simply hadn’t caught up with what was happening.. The fact was, I couldn’t believe this was happening. Well before the doors opened at 10am, attendees were lining up. It was happening, and as I type that out, there’s a huge smile on my face.

Throughout the event, I tried really hard to just enjoy the moment, but every moment (all self-inflicted) was filled with concerns of what was next. What is the next challenge? What will fail? What did I miss? What will go wrong? Why are we running out of bacon?! How is that possible when I ordered extra? I know. I know. It’s not healthy to think of such things…but there I was, thinking of it all.

But do you know what broke me out of that spiral every single time? The stories. The reason we were there was what brought me back to sanity.

From Matt keeping the room engaged, to Gina’s poetry almost bringing me to tears, to Candi bringing a peace that raised the level of love in that room, to Jus. B. touching every single heart, the people on that stage reminded me what this was all about.

And then there were the finalists. I lost it. Whenever I thought of them or saw them, I held it together as much as I could, but the tears eventually made their way. In every category, as summaries of their work were read, I looked around and saw the faces of people inspired and proud to know them. And when each winner was announced, wow, those speeches! Unplanned, but so powerful. Before, during, and after the event, it got me every time, and in those moments, however brief they were, it calmed me.

Who’da thunk it: the purpose and reason can ground you.

I mentioned earlier that it took some time for me to find the words for what I was feeling. A part of me wondered if maybe I was detached. If you know me, you know that wouldn’t be a far stretch.

But then I came across a post by Don Lee about a Chinese mentality, it gave me the words from something I am experiencing even now and one I didn’t realize I had adopted: “Man zhao sun, qian shou yi.” It can be interpreted as “Complacency triggers decline, and humility invites progress.” This saying is about avoiding excess, because once anything reaches its peak, it declines. The Chinese culture captures this in one word: Xiaoman, meaning “small fullness.” It is the time right before plants are fully ripe. The cup of tea right before it’s full. It is something the culture pursues, and it is what I am in pursuit of.

Year one of the event is done, yes, but more than anything, I hope that the celebration continues. This event was the launch of the movement. Everything that preceded it and everything that comes after is to change the way we see all employees. For every role to not just feel like they matter, but to be shown how they do. For more voices in the workplace to not just be heard, but consulted and sought out.

I do not feel accomplished, because I am not done. In the vision I see, we are working on phase one of many. The cup is not yet full. We are still in our small fullness.

To our sponsors, partners, volunteers, and everyone who believed in year one before it existed: thank you. None of this happens without you.

——————-

If this vision speaks to you, I would love for you to be part of what comes next. Year two is already taking shape, and we’re looking for sponsors, partners, volunteers, and companies who believe frontline and operational employees deserve to be seen, valued, and recognized.

Learn more at omahaimpactawards.com or reach out to me directly.