Subsequent to Ron Edmonson taking the first step with his leadership blog during this Thanksgiving season to recognize people who have helped him get to where he is today as a person and a professional, I was inspired to do the same.  As such, I have highlighted the people in my life who have made significant investments in me to help me get to where I am today as a person and a professional, and as a result, I am so very thankful to have each of them in my life during this Thanksgiving season:

1)      My wife, Becky Scheurer Borgstede, who has been and continues to be a beautiful vessel of God’s unfailing grace, mercy, and love to me as well as my closest, dearest friend for life.

2)      My parents, Larry and Carol Borgstede, who have always loved me no matter what and gave of themselves sacrificially for my sisters and I to have a caring family and a quality education for life.

3)      My father-in-law and mother-in-law, Paul and Jenny Scheurer, who have received me into their family as a son, despite my shortcomings, and have always supported my hopes and dreams for my family and my life.

4)      My grandparents, Gasper and Georgette Laciura, who believed in me so much that I find it easy to believe that anything is possible with faith in God and real personal commitment in life.

5)      My Pastors, Steve Robinson and Randy Craighead, who have prayed for me, discipled me, and loved me through all of the good, the bad, and even the ugly times of my life.

 6)      My closest friends, Scot Young, Michael Demola, Brian Audler, and Brian Young who have always been the kind of true friends that were willing to walk with me in life for the past 12 to 15 years as brothers I have never had.

 7)      My wonderful colleagues and team mates, make it happen people, who have followed me for so many years and have allowed me the privilege and pleasure of learning and growing as a servant leader with a passionate heart to “make it happen” with a spirit of wisdom and excellence serving others and solving problems that make a difference in life.

8)      My leadership mentors, authors of leadership books, that I have read over many years to learn leadership principles and are listed at www.makeithappenbooks.com, the on-line leadership reference library of The Make It Happen Learning Institute – Reaching People, Unleashing The Extraordinary! ®

Besides these dear people named above, make no mistake about it, there are many, many other people in my life who have made a significant investment in me to help me get to where I am today as a loving husband, a blessed father, a pastor, author, speaker, teacher of faith-based team values, and business executive.  With that said, I am so very thankful to the Lord for everyone He has put in my life over the past 44 years as a true blessing from Him.  It is my sincere prayer this Thanksgiving season that I am also able to be considered a blessing to many others in the same way that so many have been a blessing to me.  To God be the glory for His faithfulness that reaches to the heavens and His mercy that endures forever!

Question: Who are the people in your life who have helped you to get where you are today as a person and a professional and who you are thankful for this Thanksgiving season?