MESSAGE 13: SANTA CLAUS

NOTE: If you have young children (like the Co-Founders of this series) who are curious why they are suddenly being asked to stay inside, or at least six feet away from others, or to constantly wash their hands, etc., the following message from Santa delivers such information in a child-friendly fashion.

Santa Claus

Founder and CEO, Santa’s Workshop

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: Hello, Justin! It’s me, Santa, coming to you live from The North Pole.

First off, I would like all Americans to do what they can do about the Coronavirus individually. Such as staying in place as much as possible. When you are out social distancing stay at least six feet from each other. Wash your hands with bar soap. When you get back home, don’t touch your face. No sweets or desert so that your immune system stays strong. Get plenty of rest so that your body can fight off whatever this virus might throw your way.

Also, I just want to let everyone know, that this too shall pass. Let not your heart be troubled. Things will get better. You will get back to work and it will be better than before.

Justin, do your part, keep washing those hands brother! And Merry Christmas. Ho! Ho! Ho!

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Santa Claus is the Founder and CEO of Santa’s Workshop, the largest and most successful not-for-profit organization in the world, headquartered at The North Pole.

Widely recognized as one of the greatest leaders in history, Santa and his workshop, year in and year out, deliver on time and with unparalleled customer service.

MESSAGE 5: COREY LEWANDOWSKI

Corey Lewandowski

American political operative and commentator

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: I think every American citizen needs to ask themselves, 'Do you believe in America?', and that sums up my outlook on this entire situation. The President and Vice President have my full confidence in their ability to navigate us out of these very dark waters and I truly believe that America will emerge from this more united, safer and stronger financially than ever before. Our country has been put up against far harsher threats and I know that the leadership we have in place now is doing all they can to make sure that each American is cared for during this crisis. I fully believe in your endeavor here and we will indeed be back.

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Corey Lewandowski is an American political operative and commentator. He was a political commentator for One American News Network, Fox News and CNN, as well as a campaign manager of Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign for President of the United States from January 2015 to June 2016.

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Photo: Courtesy Corey Lewandowski

MESSAGE 2: PATRICK KRECHOWSKI

Patrick Krechowski

Partner, Balch & Bingham LLP

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: Without getting too metaphysical and philosophical, my approach – and the approach I’ve been trying to relay to both my personal family and my work family in this strange and disruptive time – is to focus on the Now.  None of us live in the future.  We cannot control the future or really influence it in any meaningful way.  We can only live in the present moment.  Or, we can “worry” about the future – which is seldom productive.  We can either surrender to certain life situations or do our best to take action to change them.  At home, that means being the most patient and caring parent and husband I can be – while also learning how to be a school teacher.  It means reaching out to friends all over the world to check in on them, to ask them how they are coping and adjusting.  At work, that means staying in contact with my clients and colleagues.  Talking with them about what they are encountering or what they need to gain comfort and confidence in their path forward.  In the past few days, I’ve found that most people just want to talk and interact – even if it has nothing to do with COVID-19 and the curve-ball it has thrown us.  Together we can handle this moment.  And then the next and the next after that.

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Patrick W. Krechowski has over 20 years of experience in real estate, land use, environmental, governmental, administrative litigation, appeals and title insurance law. Patrick is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law. His practice focuses on all aspects of zoning and land use law, real estate due diligence, environmental permitting (including sovereign submerged lands and riparian rights), environmental remediation, water use permitting and planning, beach nourishment projects, coastal construction and due diligence before local governments and federal/state agencies, including associated administrative and civil litigation.

Patrick has represented various state agency boards and local governments, including serving as the City Attorney for Neptune Beach, Florida. This experience not only allows him to assist local governments with virtually any aspect of their operations, it also gives Patrick a unique insight into how best to navigate challenges that his private clients often encounter in seeking local and state approvals for their real estate projects.

Patrick has extensive public speaking and teaching experience and is a published contributing author to a book focused on international climate change.

Patrick is a member of the Florida Bar. He holds a B.S. from Florida State University; and, a J.D. from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center.

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Photo: Courtesy Patrick W. Krechowski

MESSAGE 1: JUSTIN M. HIGGINS

Justin M. Higgins

Founder, JM-Higgins Realty & JM-Higgins Law

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message:  My message would be that America and its people have always been, and will always be, the most resilient Earth has ever known.  While the dark clouds of COVID-19 currently cover our country, and have frightened many, including me, I know, and all Americans should know, that the sun will soon shine through again, it always does.  In trying times like these, it is important, if not essential, for the most courageous among us to open their hearts and extend their hands to those in need.  I am already seeing this in my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, where family members are helping family members, neighbors are helping neighbors, colleagues are helping colleagues, and strangers are helping strangers.  Coronavirus, in all its awfulness, is quickly bringing a divided America together, which to me, is already a sign that things are moving in the right direction.  America will be back again! 

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Justin M. Higgins is the Founder and Managing Member of JM-Higgins Realty (https://www.jm-higginsrealty.com/) and JM-Higgins Law. Prior to founding his own businesses, Mr. Higgins worked for Lendlease, a global real estate development, construction and investment firm, where he held legal, project management and property management roles. Earlier, he was an attorney for Deutsche Bank, a global investment bank, with a focus on servicing the firm’s hedge fund clientele.

In March 2020, he founded a digital questionnaire series called, AMERICA WILL BE BACK!, Messages from leaders to Americans experiencing COVID-19 adversity. The series can be found on Twitter @A_W_B_B.

In 2016, he founded a digital interview series called, The Life Advice Guide, Insights for Young Adults from Stars of Business and Beyond. The series, which can be found at www.justinmhiggins.com, featured: Larry Summers (former Secretary of the Treasury under President Bill Clinton); Robert Herjavec (‘Shark’ on ABC’s Shark Tank); Chris Sacca (billionaire venture capitalist); Anthony Scaramucci (former White House Communications Director under President Donald J. Trump); Arianna Huffington (Founder of The Huffington Post); Robert Wolf (former Chairman and CEO of the American arm of global investment bank UBS); and many more.

In years 2014-2017 and 2019, Mr. Higgins was invited to and attended the invitation-only SkyBridge Alternatives (SALT) Conference (www.salt.org), the leading alternative investment event in the world, as one of its youngest delegates. In 2019, Mr. Higgins participated in the exclusive SALT Young Leaders Circle (SYLC), which was comprised of emerging professionals from around the world, representing the worlds of business, politics, technology and philanthropy.

Mr. Higgins is a former Division I soccer player and holds Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees. He is a licensed Florida real estate broker and attorney.

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Photo: Courtesy Justin M. Higgins