Finishing the year and honoring the future leaders

Aging is a beautiful thing. A bit confusing at times, but beautiful none the less. So much insight, and eventually, patience, comes with maturity. I’m not sure if it is just you are older and calmer, or have more experience and knowledge, but your approach to life does change. I had been left to consider retirement vs. remaining career oriented. I like a quiet life so it was sounding somewhat appealing, but as one who is easily bored, what in the world would I do with myself?

Then I look around at so many people who are a good deal older who remain invested in their careers. One of the top two candidates for mayor of Shreveport is 70. At 70 and starting a new and different career is impressive.

As I continued to consider this and other amazing people who are vital and vibrant, over 70 and still work like Trojans – be it on the job, volunteering or maintaining relationships with widespread families and for many, all of the above. The fact is, there is no retirement from life. From that, I determined I’m not going anywhere. I’ve already invested 26 years in my company and my community and I’m committed to at least 25 more. I’m fortunate enough to have flexibility to do all the extracurricular things I want to do.

Our jobs at The Forum are about keeping things fresh and vibrant. I wondered was I too old for this? I don’t do happy hours, the nightlife and cannot remember the last time I was actually in a nightclub at the midnight hour – or any hour for that matter. It is my good fortune to have a very youthful and engaged editorial and graphics department. I had become very discouraged in the work ethics of young people. It had been very inconsistent among people of a certain age. It was more about what they didn’t “want” to do vs. what they were “interested” in doing. That doesn’t get the job done. With this crew, they continually surprise me with fresh ideas, a great work ethic and a genuine pride in our products and our company. And they are out and about and inject youth into our magazines. But not too young, and this group of working professionals get that.

So it gives me great pride to recognize their youth and talents in this year-end issue featuring the winner of the YPI 40 Under 40, Dr. Melva Williams. Visit us at theforumnews.com to read more on the 40 Under 40 class.

A truly wonderful sign of our team’s success is how fabulously our magazines are moving. Both publications are flying off the rack and empty racks are excellent news. What better way to know you are appreciated than to be so in demand all over Northwest Louisiana? A publication in the rack or on the shelf does not do our advertisers any good. Shelf-life is a silly misnomer: It doesn’t matter how long something stays on display in a rack or on your coffee table if no one looks at your magazine. The faster we can get them in the hands of our readers, the more effective the promotions for our customers. Our content is fresh and urgent and readers respond to us and to our advertisers in the same way: immediately. Our more than 500 locations and 23,000 printed editions, in addition to our electronic platforms, have very broad reach. All of our publications are on our website, just like they are printed – ads and all, a full day before our publish day: Read us early online at theforumnews.com or check in with us on Facebook at facebook.com/ theforumandcitylife. Download our apps at the AppStore or Google Play: search “Wehaa Forum” and “Wehaa CityLife.”

We at The Forum wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and happy new year. Our next edition publishes on Jan. 7. Thank you for your continued readership and support.

Jay Covington, Publisher and all the gang at The Forum and CityLife Magazine