At least in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands the uncertainty surrounding the budget bills is done and our politicians have had their say, and their releases have been sent to media organizations.
In the islands it’s time to move on. And here we go with the holiday season.
As I write, the list of events planned for Halloween gets longer and my email and Whats App is full.
Also ahead of us is Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza and the New Year. And if you haven’t planned your Employee Appreciation Party, you are already behind the curve.
And then there is the gift-giving. Home Depot thoughtfully shared its take on gifts. In fact, it commissioned a survey from Morning Consult.
“More than three-quarters of Millennials want practical gifts for their homes,” according to the survey. And probably for work too, I’m guessing.
Either way, from Oct. 28, Home Depot has tools, appliances and smart home devices to meet Millennial needs.
There’s more. Nearly twice as many Millennials and Gen Z create holiday wish lists for friends and family compared to Gen X and Boomers. And while they're shopping for loved ones, more than half of Millennials say they'll pick up a little something for themselves, Home Depot shared.
What about the rest of us? Boomers want “Christmas gifts focused on experiences, practicality, health, and connection,” according to the Telhio Credit Union, and a bunch of other list gurus. And Generation X is likely to appreciate gifts focusing on comfort, nostalgia, wellness, and practical items. Pickleball paddles and Bluetooth speakers and other items for travel are on various lists.
Glimpses Media is definitely here to help with those all-important “experiences.”
Guam Business Magazine is planning a major event in November (more on that soon), AND for your 2026 diary, the Guam Business Magazine Executive of the Year gala is on Saturday, Jan. 24. Also, the nomination form is on the magazine’s website.
During COVID, I began what is known in our house as “Clearing the Back Room.” The back room is big. The construction accessories are my husband’s; most of the files and most of the books are mine.
Dumpster-diving into one of the closets during COVID, I found a file that said, “Lists,” and it was thick.
I was pretty sure I could shred that, but no. Most of the lists and the people on them were still relevant, busy and active.
I doubted I’d ever make time to add everybody in the Lists file (or in my business card indexes for that matter) to my Outlook, so I put the file back.
Five years later, I should probably check the Lists file again.
What prompted that thought is that a few people in our business community have stepped back, retired or sold their businesses and moved on.
Among them is Chita Blaise, CEO of the Guam Chapter of the American Red Cross, who announced her retirement just before the Red Ball. At the ball on Sept. 27, Chita would have preferred that the evening remained about the Red Cross. But since she’d announced her retirement, an impromptu tribute was led by first gentleman Jeff Cook and applauded by everybody in the room.
Many of us have worked with Chita, and we wish her nothing but the best in the future. mbj
— Maureen N. Maratita is the publisher at Glimpses Media. Glimpses Media includes the Marianas Business Journal, Guam Business Magazine, The Guam Guide, Wave 105.1 FM, Power98
and Route99.
