November in the United States is famous for the Thanksgiving holiday. The holiday was named, as I understand it, for the gratitude the early European settlers felt for simply surviving in the new world. They were grateful for the assistance that was provided to them by those who had come before, they were grateful for the food they had, and I imagine they were grateful for their families being together.

Currently, I am also reflecting on some very similar concepts. I am grateful for surviving in this new world we live in together with the coronavirus and all its variants. I am grateful to physically be able to type this article to share what I am grateful for. I am grateful for those giants in the business valuation community who took time out of their schedule to help train me, to write courses, to present their ideas, and to be the early pioneers in this industry!

Some of their names will always hold special places in my heart and mind, and I feel I need to share some of them with you all. Here, in no particular order, are the names of some of the best appraisers I have known personally; not all of them are still with us: Ray Miles, David Bishop, Chris Treharne, Gary Trugman, Chris Mercer, Paul Hyde, Ron Rudich, Bob Cimasi, Chris Best, Steve Schroder, Warren Burkholder, and so many others whose names I simply cannot remember right now.

This Thanksgiving, I am very grateful for the mistakes they and their contemporaries have made, which led to the various techniques and training that I have been able to receive. I am very grateful for the stories they shared with me about when things went really well, and when things did not go quite as well. I have been able to improve not only my own practice, but many of their lessons have applied for the better in my personal life as well.

I am grateful for the data their studies engendered! I am grateful for their analyses, their conduct, and most of all their willingness to share! I have benefitted by simply being in their orbits, reading their articles, books, and watching the webinars they have presented.

I do believe we should be thankful and grateful for our many blessings throughout the year not just on Thanksgiving, but I also believe that it is appropriate to be more open about what we are thankful for at this time of the year, as well.

I am thankful for my wife and children and the support they continue to give me. I am thankful for all of those individuals who constantly put others first in all those other areas we are familiar with; soldiers, police officers, firefighters, doctors, teachers, construction workers, and most especially those people who keep my internet working!

Thank you all! I will continue to keep the lessons you have taught me in my heart and to share what I have been able to learn with others. Your examples inspire me!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody!