The Power of Gratitude and Perspective

The earthquake was powerful—so powerful that the young man, his parents, and siblings couldn’t stay in their house.
Where did they live? A tent.
The military went through every neighborhood handing out tents to those displaced from their homes.

Cooking was an ordeal. The family would find a way to cook over a flame, pick something up to go (if a restaurant was open), or open a can of beans—anything that didn’t require heat.

One day, the young man and his father were standing in the street, looking at their house.
He said, “Dad, look at the house. It’s crooked. Literally—the house is leaning to one side!”

His father turned to him and said, “We have the family. We have each other. We have our health. There’s food, and we’re staying dry. We’ll fix all this, and life will be fine.”

A few months later, they moved into their garage, where they found a little more safety.
Eventually, the house was repaired, and life returned to a normal pace.

That young man was Theo Lakkas, who is now EAG EMEA’s Director of Food and Beverage.

He recently told our leadership coach, Brian Sanders:

“When I look back on that time, I can’t help but be thankful for where I am today. I have a beautiful family. We live in Budapest. I get to travel the world, stay in beautiful hotels, dine at the best restaurants, and work with amazing people in the hospitality industry. I love what I get to do. Is there a price to my job? Yes. But there is with every job. I’m grateful to do this—and what a life I’m making for my family!”

Theo has discovered two powerful truths:

First, gratitude breeds passion.
To be around Theo is to be infected by his passion for what he does. He’s thankful for the opportunity to build a life for his family, serve others in the hospitality industry, and advance the mission of the Ellis Adams Group. That gratitude fuels his belief in the mission—and drives him to serve with excellence.

Second, perspective is power.
That earthquake gave Theo something to compare his life against. Instead of living in a tent or garage, surrounded by rubble and uncertainty, he now lives a life he once couldn’t have imagined. And he’s deeply thankful for it.

Let’s be clear—Theo’s gratitude and perspective don’t make him complacent. They fuel his desire to keep growing.
He doesn’t believe he’s reached the peak of his career—and he hasn’t.
He’s grateful for the present, but hungry for the future.

You don’t need an earthquake in your past to find perspective.
Just look at how far you’ve come. Be thankful for the growth.
Push yourself to be better. Believe in the mission. Be your best. Represent your organization well.

Be like Theo—and who knows how far you can go in life.

Intersecting life, luxury, and leadership,
Chris Adams

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