Mojo 725 - I'm Thankful

On this Monday of Thanksgiving week, we continue a cherished tradition: Phil shares his own version of the late Furman Bisher’s classic “I’m Thankful.” In this episode, Phil takes a moment to pause and reflect on the people, experiences, and blessings that matter most to him.

As you begin this week, we invite you to do the same—take time to think about what you’re truly thankful for this Thanksgiving. Gratitude has a way of grounding us and reminding us of what’s important, especially in a busy season.

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Transcript

Top performers in every field surround themselves with those who inspire them, who seek to build them up, and who push them to reach beyond their current limits. I am Phil Buchanan, executive chairman of Cannon Financial Institute. I designed Monday Morning Mojo to provide you with a weekly spark, a push and motivational insight to live your best life.

Thanks for joining. Good Monday morning, Cannon Nation. It is Phil here with episode 725 of Monday Morning Mojo. How in the world did we get to the Monday before Thanksgiving 2025? It seems as if we were just celebrating Valentine's Day, but here we are with about a month left in 2025. We take time this week.

To reflect on those things in life of which we are truly thankful. In 1950, a young reporter by the name of Furman Bishop went to work with the Atlanta Constitution in Atlanta, Georgia. Five years later in 1955, he began writing a column that was published every Thanksgiving day entitled, I'm Thankful.

That column ran from Thanksgiving Day of 1955 until the final edition on Thanksgiving Day of 2011. For just a few short months later, Furman Bishop passed away in 2012 at the final age of 93. As a kid being raised in Georgia, I was very influenced by the columnists that wrote for the newspapers, and in particular by Furman Bishop later in life.

He was a top sports reporter and some of his columns were absolutely historic. As a nod to Mr. Bishop 10 years ago on the Monday before Thanksgiving. We began dedicating that to, I'm thankful following in the footsteps of Mr. Bishop. And so today for the 10th year, I give you my insights on the things for which I'm most thankful.

I will begin with the 511 couples or 1022 individuals who from the nine generations above me and my family. Fell in love, or at least reproduced to make the path for me to enjoy the life that I do. I'm thankful for the industry leaders within the wealth management services, many of whom are my close friends, all of whom are dedicated to making this industry better on a daily basis.

I'm incredibly thankful for the hint of first light below the horizon early in the morning as I watch the day come alive. But I'm equally thankful to witness that last inch of sun setting below the horizon, only to know that tomorrow it will rise again. I am thankful for a good cup of coffee in the morning, usually before daylight.

I am equally thankful for a good bourbon in the evening to close out the day. I'm thankful to have the opportunity to listen to thought provoking conversations and presentations that are done without rank or, or without feeling condescending. I'm incredibly thankful for good health and the health of those around me.

I am thankful for a round of golf that includes a birdie, a two, but more importantly, that includes no double bogies. I'm thankful to have two daughters who are launched and successful in their careers, but who still take the time to pick up the phone and call and ask my advice. Ice. I am thankful for a wife whose patience and forgiveness knows few bounds.

I am thankful for an outdoor fire on a cool evening and an indoor fire on a cold one. I'm thankful for snow covered mountains in winter. I'm equally thankful for uncrowded beaches in summer. I'm thankful to be in the Abacos in The Bahamas at any time of year. I'm thankful to witness the flush of a covey of quail.

It was immediately proceeded by a beautiful point by the hunting dogs. I am incredibly thankful to live in Athens, Georgia and to be able to witness Saturday nights during football season. I'm thankful to be a certificated pilot and to have the ability to fly and to observe God's creations from the sky.

I am thankful for men like Dow and Robert Wirth. And Sam and Chuck. These are men who set the standards of what men should be and how good friends should engage. I'm thankful when there is a friendly human voice on the phone when I make a service call rather than a digital AI bot. I am thankful for the mentors who helped shape me and the mentees who've taken my advice, run with it, and made it better.

I'm thankful for any song by Merle or Waylon, the Highway Men or Conway. And for those of you that those names make no sense, I suggest that you do a Google search. And while we're on Google, I'm thankful for Google, for Apple, open ai, Nvidia, et cetera. Not for the stocks themselves, but for the incredible men and women who work in these companies and are taking us on the leading edge of how technology can improve lives.

I'm also incredibly thankful to the men and women of our armed services, our police forces, our firefighters, our EMTs, and our first responders. These are men and women who put service above self each and every day. We all should be eternally grateful. I am very thankful that I was born in America. Yes, we do have challenges as a country, but we also have unlimited opportunity.

And finally, I am thankful for each of you, our listeners, your ideas, your suggestions, and your feedback inspire me and it fuels my drive to continually elevate our work. I'm also thankful for the men and women of Cannon Financial Institute. For the work that you do on a daily basis and how you impact the industry, you make me and all the rest of us look a lot better than we really are to each of you.

I wish you and your families a very, very happy Thanksgiving. Look forward to talking to you soon. 

Monday morning Mojo is a production of Cannon Financial Institute, executive producer of Monday Morning. Mojo is Sarah Jones. Editing and mixing is done by Danny Brunner. Until next time, I'm Phil Buchanan reminding you to be a force for good. Have a great week and thanks for being part of the Mojo community.