In 2000 we had a new millennium — an event that only happens every 1,000 years. A time for celebration, almost. Do you remember Y2K? Because of a possible computer glitch, we were told our power could go off. Airplanes could fall from the sky, and other terrible things would happen to worry about. Companies had teams working for months to make sure bad things didn’t happen. It took some of the fun out of the celebration and replaced it with worry. Lynnda and I stayed home on New Year’s Eve just in case. Two of our three children and their spouses came home for New Years. Our kids and some of their friends from our church played board games. A young lady from Norway who was an exchange student when they were all in high school came back to visit. It was a quiet fun evening. Our power did not go off. Nothing bad happened. We celebrated.

In my corporate life, I had one boss who was never satisfied. When we had a record month he said, “Great job, but … .” He always found ways to kill a celebration. One particularly challenging year, I handled some of our largest accounts. The account manager with other large accounts quit. My boss added his accounts to my workload. The year was brutally stressful with long hours and travel. My high school soccer coaching and playing in the adult soccer league on Sunday afternoon were welcome distractions getting work out of my thoughts.

In the end, it was a record year. Our customers were happy. I expected a little praise, celebration with our sales team and a relaxing Christmas week. What I got was, “It was a good year. But your I-Learning isn’t done.” I completed my I-Learning during Christmas week. My boss was surprised a month later when he got my retirement letter. A few weeks later, a job as a regional sales manager with a higher salary and better benefits was offered to me. My new company appreciated me. The CEO celebrated the organization’s successes. They were more profitable with less stress than the company I left.

One of the most important characteristics of a successful team is celebration of successes. In the 1990s my company was part of a five-company alliance. There were quarterly celebrations with all five companies when goals were exceeded. People were praised and appreciated. The VP (now our largest customer) came to our monthly safety meeting. He thanked our people for doing an excellent job AND brought a large bonus check for everyone. The customer’s costs went down for all four years of the alliance. There were no accidents or injuries. All goals were met or exceeded. Work was completed on time and under budget. All five companies worked together seamlessly. The celebrations were important.

As a high school coach, we celebrate each win, even when we as coaches are disappointed with some of their play. After a win we don’t talk about what we did wrong as a team or any of the negatives. We celebrate success! Fixing mistakes can wait until the next practice.

The USA is 250 years old this week. This is a big deal. The success of the American Experiment, a democratic republic where the president, our leader, is not someone with royal blood. They are one of us, elected by us. A new idea in 1776 when nations were ruled by kings and queens or conquerors. A person with royal blood was better than others. “All men created equal” was a new concept.

The American Experiment has gone global. There are still monarchies, dictators and conquerors. Most countries have some form of a democratic republic. In the United States our form of government and economic system created the largest economy in the world. During WWII we supplied the allies with weapons, food, and fuel. When there is a disaster anywhere in the world the United States shows up with relief. When there is a famine, the United States shows up with food not just from the government but from individuals and private organizations like churches. Our Navy allows global trade by protecting shipping. There are still pirates. They look different than in the 1800s.

We should celebrate our nation’s birthday this weekend. Like my former boss there are always angry, unhappy, negative people who want to drag you down. Misery loves company. They will tell you why you should not celebrate and be unhappy and dissatisfied like they are. The America 250 celebration is about what we have accomplished as a nation creating freedom and opportunity making a global difference. It does not mean we don’t have problems or are perfect. America is still a work in progress. Like my high school soccer team, when we win, we celebrate. Then on Monday we go back to work to get better. Celebrations create the motivation to work and get better.

America is still the land of opportunity. We can dream and know dreams come true. The USA has a thriving economy. If someone has an idea for a product or service they can make it happen here. If someone wants to grow a business; this is the place to do it. We have abundant economical energy. We are living in the cleanest environment of my life. My neighborhood, a dozen miles from the state capitol, is like a zoo and an aviary with all the birds and wild animals. Lynnda is not happy when the deer eat her plants. People care about each other. When there was a major flood in 2016, people came from all over the country to help. When there are special collections at church for disasters no matter where in the world, people reach deep in their pockets to donate. That is the American way.

Never allow negative, angry, unhappy people to destroy your celebration. You cannot change them. Celebrate! Have a positive attitude. Believe in your future. America’s best is ahead of us.

Happy 250 America!

Greg Kozera, gkozera@shalecrescentusa.com is the director of marketing for Shale Crescent USA. He is a professional engineer with a masters in environmental engineering and over 40 years of experience in the energy industry. Greg is a leadership expert, high school soccer coach, professional speaker, author of four books and many published articles.