Tag: jenny ton

Posted on


Bonuses Totaling 10 Million Given to All Employees!

I have to give a huge shout out to St. John Properties in Maryland. This real estate company is modeling how a for-profit company should operate—showing deep gratitude for their greatest asset—by giving every employee a bonus, totaling 10 million dollars. From maintenance workers to receptionists, the average bonus was $50K and the highest was $270K, which were based on how long they had been working for the company.

At their holiday party, employees were given an envelope. Next, at the same time, everyone opened their envelopes revealing the big surprise. Shock and then tears of incredible joy fill the room. Long, heartfelt hugs followed, concluding the joyous night with employees individually giving thanks to their CEO.

When I first heard about this company’s magnanimous generosity, I was stunned. The fact that myself and so many were flabbergasted by this action speaks to its rarity in our profit driven culture. I hope one day this will be the norm and not a surprise. Bravo to St. John Properties for defying our current norm—to equally valuing its workforce to its profitability. It does not have to be mutually exclusive.

Congratulations to all the staff. What an unforgettable ending to their successful 2019.

Posted on


Mr. Rogers

I recently watched A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, the recent movie based on America’s beloved treasure, Mr. Rogers. It is a brilliant social commentary on the human condition. I am beautifully reminded of his unique mastery of emotional intelligence. Many decades later, this uniting gift seems to be more elusive than ever. This rings true with my work with youth, students, and families.

Mr. Rogers teaches not only children but everyone that honest introspection is the thread that sows the emotional holes we all face. If we each aspire to Mr. Roger’s unwavering active, empathetic listening (especially during this unprecedented time in U.S. history), we will more clearly see each other and ourselves realizing our fears are not reality after all.

This deeply moving film is inspired by journalist Tom Junod’s unexpected emotional journey profiling Mr. Rogers for Esquire magazine. Immediately after the film, I had to find the Esquire cover feature originally published in their November 1998 issue. Mr. Junod, thank you for capturing the depth of Mr. Rogers and for inspiring the film.

If it’s not too much to ask, please let me know your thoughts of the movie and the Esquire article. Enjoy!