# The greatest wealth that 2019 has given us
Canonical source: [https://www.braver.net/en/blog/the-greatest-wealth-that-2019-has-given-us/]()
The Braver journal
As the year comes to an end, I like to sit down and have a look at the year in retrospect. 2019 has been a busy year for Braver, and you've heard a lot of our thoughts and experiences. But today, I don't want to look back on the good and not-so-good things we've done this year, but instead I'd like to highlight all the people we've met, for whom I'm very thankful. I am truly fascinated when I think of all these wonderful people who have offered us their time wholeheartedly and sincerely.
![Marie-Lou Gagnon]()
Marie-Lou Gagnon December 31, 2019
![The greatest wealth that 2019 has given us]()
The first group that I have already spoken to you about on numerous occasions is that of **health professionals in the field**: kinesiologists, psychologists, physicians, physiotherapists, podiatrists, nutritionists, pharmacists, etc. I would like to thank all of them for their dedication and their commitment. Most importantly, they are hard-working people who have the best interests of our health care system at heart. They have been very generous with their time and have contributed to making Braver's vision more just. They have provided us with an education about their work reality and helped us develop a deeper and more appropriate sense of empathy. They made me realize how blessed our healthcare system is to have such people to care for our society. I would like to thank each and every one of you: thank you for your daily work, thank you for believing in us and supporting us day after day, thank you for your open-mindedness, thank you for being the pioneers of the Braver community.
The second group of people for whom we have a lot of gratitude is the **other entrepreneurs**. Whether they are in the same market as us or in a completely different world, meeting them typically creates a sense of mutual admiration and understanding. In other words, we live the same business and it feels good to recognize each other. Whether it's with the women's business unit I participate in, or with a successful entrepreneur in healthcare, or even someone who is reluctant to go into business, there is a strong sense of belonging and mutual support that connects us. All of the people we met quickly understood us, listened to us and supported us. This support often translates into a real desire to help the other entrepreneur: to introduce them to each other, to provide them with contacts, resources and tools, or to open their door to future collaboration. Thank you to you entrepreneurial community, thank you for making me feel human and "normal" in the face of the many challenges I have to face. Thank you for reflecting a reality so similar to mine and for inspiring me. Thank you for your comforting open doors.
The third group of people who have made 2019 beautiful and inspiring is the group of **innovators**. They are of all ages and from all walks of business, but one thing really sets them apart: the stars in their eyes and the hope in their voices. Being around these people, I feel the current flowing and I feel more alive than ever before. Together with them, I can set aside my pragmatism and speak from the heart, dreaming of a better healthcare system, while at the same time feeling my words reason in the eyes of the person I am speaking to. Whenever I meet such a person, I leave with a powerful feeling that nothing is impossible and that, together, we can change our world. These people do their work with their heart, their head and their whole body. They seem to have 30 hours in a day because they are involved everywhere and know everyone. Thank you for continuing to move forward even though it is sometimes difficult to want to change the world, thank you for believing in yourself and in us, thank you for listening to the visions of greatness without judgment, thank you for being so generous with your precious time and for being a catalyst for change.
The fourth group that is around us and making a huge difference is the group of **experts**. From finance, design thinking, law, entrepreneurship and consulting, they all make our business stronger in their respective ways. They do more than just offer us a service we pay for or are entitled to. They show us that customer service goes further than just paying for expertise and that this relationship of exchange and support can make a big difference in an entrepreneur's path. Thank you for offering us your support and sharing your knowledge with passion. Thank you for showing us that the time you give us has a human value much greater than its monetary value. Thank you for having faith in entrepreneurship.
One cannot talk about Braver without talking about its team: its **employees and consultants**. If it weren't for them, Braver would be virtually nothing, or at the very least, it would just be a great idea. They amaze us on a daily basis by investing in a project where the biggest payoff is not necessarily financial. They work hard by our side and adhere to our vision as if it were their own. They force us to care about the culture of the company, to establish better communication, to better structure the work process, to review our daily actions and to be better leaders. Thank you for all the heart you put into Braver. Thank you for your belief that a project with a strong social impact enriches your daily work. Thank you for taking risks and putting your faith in us. Thank you for being accommodating in our new role as entrepreneurs. Thank you simply for being there day after day.
Last but not least, the last group is a critical group for a start-up business: **family and friends**. These are all the people who saw our project evolve before Braver even came into existence (does this remind you of a knowledge exchange platform? 😂) and who listened to us with interest. They may have doubted our project at times, but they never made us feel it. Maybe they didn't always understand what we were doing. They didn't always understand why we were working on "something" that hadn't made any money for a year and a half, but they were always there to learn and take an interest in our progress. They believed in us from the start and continue to do so. Thank you for your attention, your curious eyes and your words of encouragement. Thank you for all these words filled with love and unconditional respect. Thank you for giving us a solid foundation that makes any fall a little softer.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!