Here’s food for thought . . . Disneyland is no “Mickey Mouse operation.”

This week, I have the opportunity to take my wife and two young daughters to Disneyland; the happiest place on earth; the house that Mickey built.

Yes, I am actually looking forward to it.

Primarily, I don’t mind enduring the crowds in the park or the congestion driving from San José to L.A., because it’s quality time with our eight-year old Jessica and four-year old Siena.

I also look forward to it because – as a CEO – I remain incredibly impressed with the customer service of “Team Disney.” from the folks at the hotel, the restaurants in the park, the people who run the rides and those who provide the entertainment, the overarching theme is an ownership culture.  These are employees who believe in their company, because they own it.

The best Silicon Valley companies contain this culture.  It is what I call a “Culture of us,” rather than “Us versus them.”

It is a corporate culture based on each individual player knowing the importance of their specific contribution, yet also never losing sight about how their role fits into the bigger picture of success.

I see this culture permeate Silicon Valley’s best high-tech, med-tech and green-tech companies. I also see it outside of tech, in great airlines like Virgin America, ANA and Southwest.  I see it in construction companies like Webcor Builders, Suffolk Construction and Turner Construction. I see it in my own team at the Silicon Valley leadership group.

It’s the essential element that separates a good company from a great company.  It is like the pride of ownership we each feel when we purchase a home. It’s ours. It’s not a rental. It’s not temporary.  We own it.  And with pride, we invest in its success.

As you start each work day, do you wake up inspired or tired?

We work hard in Silicon Valley, with many of us starting our days at “o-dark-thirty” and ending each day back in the dark again.

A word of inspiration certainly helps to kick-start our work day.

That’s why in 2013 the Silicon Valley Leadership Group has launched our “CEO Inspirational Quote” calendar.  Each work day – 253 in all – we will post an inspiring, original quote from a different senior officer working right here in Silicon Valley:

* Like eSilicon CEO Jack Harding, who says ” ‘Brilliant strategy’ is often just the folklore ascribed after being lucky.”

* Tropos CEO Tom Ayers who says “The real job of an entrepreneur doesn’t begin until someone says ‘no’.”

* Or Luxim CEO Tony McGettigan who says, “Better to build the future than bandaid the past.”

The voices we hear are choices we make; we can be lifted up or torn down. Follow us on facebook, tune in on twitter or simply go to our events calendar at svlg.org for a daily dose of inspiration.

Here’s food for thought…The best gifts are the ones you give.

San Jose is a great city. But great cities consist of great communities.

As long as I can remember, San Jose has built community each winter with “Downtown for the Holidays,” six weeks of festivities in front of the Fairmont Hotel featuring “Christmas in the Park” and “Holiday on Ice.”

Together, Downtown for the Holidays brings more than 500,000 people to downtown San Jose. To underwrite Downtown for the Holidays, our Silicon Valley Leadership Group Foundation – in partnership with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and downtown city councilman Sam Liccardo – are launching the inaugural “Santa Run Silicon Valley” Sunday afternoon, December 16.

Nearly sold out, Santa Run Silicon Valley is a 5-K Run or Walk, with all profits supporting Downtown for the Holidays.  In our inaugural year, we expect 2,500 participants, each dressed up like Santa Claus, running and walking the race.

We are also asking each Santa Run Silicon Valley Participant to bring an unwrapped children’s book to support needy children throughout Silicon Valley. Our goal – 1,000 books suitable for kids K –through- 6.

The best gifts this holiday season are the ones we give. Join us – support Downtown for the Holidays, our inaugural Santa Run, and children throughout the region with the gift a great book can provide – joy.