Somewhere in the middle of a weekly call with fellow entrepreneurs, the conversation unexpectedly turned to Valentine’s Day. Instead of the usual talk about scaling, strategy, and execution, we found ourselves reflecting on love, relationships, and why so many of us don’t really celebrate the Hallmark version of Valentine’s Day.  That sparked a memory for me. Years ago, my daughter asked why our family didn’t go all-in on Valentine’s Day. Yes, my wife does something sweet for the kids—a little basket of goodies—but when it comes to the roses, chocolates, and candlelit dinners, we don’t do it.  I told her: I don’t need to Hallmark Moments.  I don’t need a card company to tell me when to celebrate the people I love. I don’t need a calendar to dictate when to tell my wife she’s special, or when to tell my daughter I’m proud of her, or when to acknowledge the people who matter to me.    Beyond Hallmark: The Principle  Here’s what I told my daughter that day: there’s no limit on the number of times I can tell her mother how much I value her, how much I love her, how much I appreciate everything she does for our family. Why would I wait until one day in February when I can do it every single day?  This idea—No Hallmark Moments—isn’t just about love and family. It’s about leadership.  Too often as leaders, we “Hallmark” our appreciation. We save it up for the big moments: the company offsite, the annual review, the holiday bonus. But what about all the days in between? What about the ordinary Tuesdays when someone on your team shows up big, solves a problem, or just keeps pushing forward?  When we wait for the calendar, we miss the chance to celebrate people in real time.    What Came Up on the Call  On that entrepreneur call, we challenged each other to lean into this idea: don’t Hallmark your moments. Don’t wait until a special occasion to say thank you, to express gratitude, to acknowledge love.  Be attentive right now. With the people in front of you now. In your family, your friendships, your leadership, your teams.  That’s what creates trust. That’s what deepens connection. That’s what fuels momentum.    5 Key Takeaways  Stop Waiting for Permission Love and gratitude aren’t tied to a date. Don’t wait for February 14th, or December 25th, or an annual review. The right time to appreciate someone is right now. Take Action: Tell someone today what they mean to you—don’t put it off.  Celebrate the Everyday Big celebrations matter, but real connection is built in the small, daily moments of presence and recognition. Take Action: Build a habit of noticing and celebrating small wins—in your home and your business.  Lead Without Hallmarking Don’t save your recognition for year-end bonuses or company retreats. Acknowledge effort in the moment. Take Action: End every meeting with at least one piece of recognition for your team.  Presence is the Gift More than flowers or chocolates, what your loved ones need is your full attention, right now. Take Action: Put the phone down and look someone in the eye when you tell them they matter.  Focus–Align–Act  This is the FAA loop in real life:  Focus on where you’re waiting for the calendar.  Align by reframing: I don’t need Hallmark Moments.  Act by saying it now. Take Action: Write “Say it now” on a sticky note where you’ll see it daily.    Closing Thought  The napkin sketch for this episode says it best: a calendar full of X’s and a speech bubble that reads, I love you. Underneath: “No Hallmark Moments.”  Don’t wait. Don’t save it. Say it now.  So here’s my challenge to you: before today ends, pick someone—your spouse, your child, a teammate, a friend—and give them their flowers now. Don’t Hallmark it. Don’t wait for the perfect occasion. Do it today.  And when you do, share your own napkin thought. Post it, tag me, and use the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom. Because the smallest sketches carry the biggest wisdom—small enough to fit on a napkin, big enough to change your life.   

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