Welcome back to The Sunstone Way.
Happy Thanksgiving!
It is the season for giving, and giving thanks. Many families start the big holiday feast by asking everyone to mention something they are thankful for. (Yes, we do that at the Keisler household.)
These days, I’m most thankful for the ability to give back. I’ve been blessed by many people helping me in my life – family, friends, strangers – and I find it exciting to be able to return the giving. Some people call it paying it forward.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
One of the many Thanksgiving traditions in the Keisler home is the annual screening of the Steve Martin/John Candy classic movie “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” If you haven’t seen it recently, it is a hilarious comedy of missteps with a serious underlying message – it takes the kindness of others to help us reach our destination.
Steve Martin’s character frequently expresses frustration with both the situations he finds himself in and the relentless optimism of John Candy’s traveling salesman. But his good heart has him return to help time and again.
There are plenty of strangers along the way, too. It’s interesting to see how often strangers become friends, or at least members of a shared community, when the need becomes apparent.
Attitude Of Gratitude
I am thankful for so many things – my family, my health, my education, my freedom. I am thankful for living in this land of opportunity, and for the many mentors, partners and friends I’ve worked with along the way.
John Shen is one of those mentors, partners and friends – he is all three. He founded Sunstone, along with the American Lending Center and other companies. He talks a lot about his sense of gratitude for the opportunity to come from China and pursue the American Dream. He also talks a lot about all those who have helped him along the way, and how thankful he is for how they came into his life.
John walks the walk when it comes to giving back, whether it’s to his alma mater, Duke University, or the entrepreneurial community he is a part of in Irvine, Long Beach and elsewhere. He and wife Stella Zhang (who gives back to her own alma mater, University of California, Irvine) launched the Sunstone Community Fund to help young Founders learn how to turn their ideas into successful businesses.
They both give of their time, as well. They mentor, serve on boards and more.
John has imbued that attitude of gratitude into our company, and I’m proud to say that the entire Sunstone team is focused on helping to enhance our many communities. We want to give back.
Thankful For You
Yes, I’m talking about you. I’m so very thankful for those who share the passion for making our world, our community a better place. The journey is long and full of twists and turns (like the movie “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles”), but if we work together, we all have something to give.
I am thankful for the walk we get to share together in this life, and the chance to make a difference in this world. That’s a precious gift we can give each other.
Give Thanks. That really is The Sunstone Way.
And remember, always be a Sunstone!
John Keisler
CEO & Managing Partner
Sunstone Management, Inc.
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©Sunstone Management, Inc. 2024