What does it mean to be proud?

It is difficult to define without using the word “pride,” but when I feel pride in something I feel extremely happy and excited. It’s a feeling that makes me want to tell everyone I see about what it is that is making me proud. I recently spent much of a day with such an immense level of pride that I was happily exhausted by the end of the day, and I want to share.

I had spent time touring four area businesses with State Sen. Jim Stamas and one of his staff members. We spent an hour at each location and although I already knew the business owners, much of what they do at their businesses, and had been to each of the establishments before, I still felt an outstanding sense of pride and happiness as I watched the senator interact with the business owners, managers and employees.

It seemed strange to me that I was so proud of businesses that I didn’t own, and that weren’t owned by my family or even my closest friends so at first I thought my pride stemmed from my job at the Chamber of Commerce and my relationship with these businesses. The more I thought about it I began to realize that was just a small part of the reason for my pride. The bigger reason for my pride in the work of those businesses and my desire to share that with others was because these are some very cool businesses, doing some very cool things, and they exist right here in the community in which I live. It is like I wanted to shout to the world about the awesome things businesses right here in our community are doing.

One business was celebrating 150 years. Another makes products that ship all over the world. Two of the four are physically expanding and one of the four offers unique services that fill a very important gap.

I was also proud because the employees who were there while we were touring were clearly so proud of where they work. They were more than willing to talk about the products they make and services they offer. The employees were excited to share the duties they perform to make the business successful. They had a clear sense of ownership in their responsibilities and obviously felt they mattered to the bigger picture. It was refreshing to see the happiness the employees and owners exuded when they shared their business that day.

Running a successful business that employs others, providing for them so they can live happy, healthy and comfortable lives is no easy feat. To see these people in our town who have risked much to own and grow a business is really quite humbling to me but to see the employees who have their own pride in what they do and where they work is even more humbling.

Pride isn’t always what I see when I go into businesses, and that is the first of two messages I hope to convey. If you are working — or volunteering — and don’t have pride in where you work, then you’re doing it wrong. You either need to adjust your attitude — look within first, before placing blame elsewhere — and appreciate what you are doing or find a career that you can take more pride in.

If you have never been happy with any job, then I encourage you to look at what the common factor was in all those jobs. If the common factor is you, that is a good indicator that it is your attitude that needs adjusting. But if you are working in a place where you truly cannot take pride in what you do, because you aren’t treated well, or because you don’t believe in the mission or goals of the organization, then find a place where you can sincerely be proud of your contributions to the whole.

My second message is a reminder to take a moment and explore what gives you pride. Is it your children, your spouse, an accomplishment you have achieved, your place of employment, or something else? Whatever it is, celebrate it and share it. That’s how we build our increasingly positive attitude, and that’s how we increase our own sense of pride within our community.

Jackie Krawczak is president/CEO of the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce. Her column runs bi-weekly on Thursdays. Follow Jackie on Twitter @jkrawczak.