This time last week, Erin and I were in the warm buzz of Miami—or, more accurately, in a chilly conference room—surrounded by Chief Learning Officers from across the country and the learning partners who power their work. Across keynotes, panels, and boardroom breakouts, we immersed ourselves in the ideas, challenges, and aspirations shaping the future of workplace learning. It was an inspiring couple of days, to say the least.

One afternoon at lunch, I sat beside an attendee who was relatively new to the workplace learning space and had recently stepped into a role as Senior Director of Learning for a 10,000-person CGP company. Curious about her journey, I asked, "Why do you do this work?"

She responded with unflinching enthusiasm: "To unlock people's potential."

Such a simple, powerful answer—and what a way to spend a life.

Her words lingered with me. They sparked a wave of gratitude for the chance to spend my own days doing similar work—work that unearths potential and creates possibilities.

How about you? Where do you find gratitude in how you invest your time?

As we at Ei reflect on what we're thankful for, one person who comes to mind is Victor, our Founder and Chairman. Victor has a gift for creating meaningful moments, and several years ago, he wrote a toast that has become our annual reminder to slow down, breathe, and cherish the people gathered around our tables.

As the season of gathering approaches, we wanted to share Victor’s toast with you. Below, you’ll find his words (and here's a printable download) for your upcoming celebrations. We hope they bring as much meaning to your moments as they have to ours.

With appreciation,
Sara and the Ei team