Thanksgiving is just a week away. As you prepare for this holiday and come together for this feast; take a look around and try to glean some practical business advice! Even a turkey can provide inspiration!

Be Prepared

You can’t make a feast or even one dish without preparation. Make your shopping list, get your recipes ready and allow adequate time. In business, proper preparation is also the key to success.

Be Flexible

Thanksgiving to you may not be complete without sweet potatoes, but your spouse’s family prefers wild rice; what do you do? Be willing to try something different. It is fine to make your case on why sweet potatoes are best but hear out the case on wild rice too. You never know when something new can be just what is needed to get you out of a rut.

Stuffing vs. Dressing

The South makes “dressing” and the North cooks “stuffing”. Regardless of the name, it is still the most important side item of a Thanksgiving meal. In the workplace, respect people’s differences and realize that most differences are just based on perspective, not reality.

Family Conflicts

It 's hard to get through a big holiday without some tension. The same is true at work. My best advice for both is to take a deep breath, realize that different opinions exist and then get back to work (or eating!).

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Find a Mentor and Mentee

This holiday, take some time to sit next to your dear Aunt Sally and learn from her wisdom. Ask her to teach you the family “dressing” recipe. Also, take the time to play with your younger cousins and show them the ropes. In business, we also need the wisdom of our mentors and we need to impart our knowledge to a younger generation. This is imperative to the success of a business community.

Most importantly, count your blessings. Look around your table this month and acknowledge the abundant blessings we have been given. And at work, show thankfulness for your vocation, co-workers, and the ability to contribute to our economy.