Instead of the proverbial NRF re-cap for today’s “My Take” – I decided if you want a recap, you should have been there. Hah. I’d rather write about something on my mind because it’s big news. It starts with a little backstory…for my 40th birthday my incredible husband took me on a European vacay. We started in Barcelona where I discovered one of the most beautiful places on earth: the Sagrada Família. Yes, it’s a church but not like any church you’ve ever seen (virtual tour here). It was visualized by Antoni Gaudí – who was the most incredible architect way before his time. Sagrada Família is translated “Holy Family” but people around the world call it the “unfinished church” – travel tip: don’t say that locally, they think it’s rude. And if you know the history, it is rude. You’re welcome.
The church picked up this nickname because the first cornerstone was laid in 1882. So, yeah. It’s been under construction for 144 years. Gaudí designed it knowing he would never be able to see it finished but he reportedly didn’t mind, saying his client (God) was in no hurry.
Ok, you’re caught up. Big news this week for this architectural marvel. Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at the Sagrada Família this week, blessing the newly completed Tower of Jesus Christ exactly 100 years after Gaudí’s death. The finished construction of the “Tower of Jesus Christ” makes it the world’s tallest church and is a big milestone as the final tower reaches completion. Although it’s still not fully completed. There are other big milestones to tackle so some estimates are around 2035, if we’re lucky.
After attending NRF Protect this week, hearing this news got me thinking about what I heard at NRF and how it relates to the Sagrada Família. Your work as a loss prevention executive is just simply never finished. In Dallas we heard many sessions on new ways criminals are causing crime, fraud, and shrink. Plus, we talked with solution providers constantly innovating to prevent these acts. It’s never finished. I feel like that’s a tough reality to deal with sometimes. (This coming from a woman that writes things on her list simply for the fun of crossing them off, who’s with me?)
But the work that matters most in your career might be the unfinished kind. The ORC network you’ve been building intel on for two years or the tech roadmap that keeps shifting under your feet (thanks AI). The bench of talent you’re developing who won’t be ready for the big chair until long after you’ve moved on. None of that wraps up neatly by Q4, and if you’re only measuring yourself by what you can close out, you’re undervaluing the most important things you do.
I’ll be honest, this topic has been on my mind for a selfish reason. We’ve been quietly building something here at TalkLPnews for a while now, and you’ll see the first piece of it very soon. I won’t say more than that, except that I’ve felt a little like Gaudí lately, working on something where the vision is bigger than what’s visible right now.
So that’s it. Leaving you with a genuine TalkLPnews teaser, but more importantly, a big phat Waterboy, “YOU CAN DO IT!” Not because our industry is neat, tidy and finished in a box with a bow – but because you’re here for the unfinished nature of constantly innovating.
And trust me. You (and we) got this.