In honor of Labor Day, I write this column as a salute to the working Americans who fuel our country’s economic engine.

I salute the working Americans who take pride and satisfaction in a full day’s work and recognize that it’s good to feel tired at the end of the day.

I salute the working Americans who understand the company’s customers are the real bosses, and they treat them like royalty.

I salute the working Americans who realize that work is not about bean bags and ping pong tables but about sweat and determination.

I salute the working Americans who know that 20% of any job is not going to be fun, regardless of where they are working, but they focus and work through the bad times along with the good.

I salute the working Americans who spend their hard-earned money locally on American products whenever they can.

I salute the working Americans who understand that mastering any task truly takes 10,000 hours and are willing to put the time in to become experts.

I salute the working Americans who show up every day and avoid using the sniffles or a headache as an excuse to miss work.

I salute the working Americans who respect being on time, arriving to work early but never sneaking out early unless they have the OK from their bosses.

I salute the working Americans who appreciate an adult beverage once the work is done but never before.

I salute the working Americans who take their vacations to recharge but plan ahead as much as possible so others don’t have to do their work for them.

And finally, I salute the now-retired Americans who spent their lifetimes doing all the things listed above while working to better themselves, their families, their co-workers, the companies they worked for and America.

Have a magnificent Monday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

View Shane Goodman's archived columns from past issues here.

CITYVIEW announced its 2023 Best Of Des Moines® readers' choices Jan. 31. You can find all the results from the poll in the February issue of CITYVIEW magazine!

Best Local Pharmacy

1. Hy-Vee

2. Medicap

3. Walgreens

SEE BEST OF DES MOINES® EVENT PHOTOS HERE...

Put me in, coach

Gymnastics coach gave confidence
By Jackie Wilson

Elena Davis says her gymnastics coaches have helped shape her — and not only when she was 4 years old. Their words still ring true in her life today, she says.

Davis participated in gymnastics for 20 years at Corner House in Urbandale. When she started, she says the coaches were good at encouraging her.

“They pushed you, but not to the point of tears. They’d give me a hug and tell me not to waste time stressing if something didn't work out the way I wanted,” she explains.

Davis then coached gymnastics and taught preschool. She says the coaches taught her routine, structure and a passion for teaching.
“I carry that into the classroom. Kids want to hear expectations and limits. We have routines, as we did in gymnastics,” she says.

Read more in the August issue of  West Des Moines/Jordan Creek Living magazine 

These celebrities were born on this date: Beyonce Knowles, Carter Jenkins, Damon Wayans Sr., Dr. Jan Pol, Granger Smith, Ian Grushka, Ione Skye, James Bay, James Monroe Iglehart, Judith Ivey, Khandi Alexander, Kim Thayil, Kyle Mooney, Mark Ronson, Max Greenfield

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to yesterday's riddle:
What do the Eiffel Tower and a tick have in common? THEY ARE BOTH PARIS SITES (Parasites)! - Lori Bluml, Rex Post, Judy Anderson, Kris Laurson, Gail Tomlinson

Today's riddle

What blood type are newspaper editors?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in this daily newsletter, contact Jolene Goodman at jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com, or call 515-953-4822 ext. 319.

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