The Lost Gift...

Good Morning...

This week has been interesting for me...

I found myself in situations in which the "right attitude and right behavior" was simply to focus and accomplish the tasks related to my commitments...

I also found that I had to find ways to be excited about doing those things that I normally find mundane and boring!

If these things were going to get done...the only person that accomplishing these things depended upon was me!

There was no one else I could depend upon for help...or blame it on for failure!

I told myself..."If you want it...go and get it...if you don't then stop worrying about it!

We'll come back to this...

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This week...I stood, helplessly watching, on the sidelines, as many undeserving people were put into situations that they didn't deserve to be put in..."the unemployment ranks"

Poor company performance created a situation in which there was a huge lay-off...

I have never been able to come to grips on how lay-off decisions are made...

I see many of the most dedicated and hardest working people lose their employment,,,while "dishonest, shirkers" keep their jobs and paychecks...

I have been there! I have been a victim too...early in my career...I was also one that breathed a sign of relief when I was on the other list!

This situation solidified my understanding of the randomness of life...as much as "you get what you deserve" holds true...the "flip-side" is equally true...many people "didn't get what they deserve..."

With that in mind...What do we actions and expectations do we hold true to?

What becomes our guiding principals?

If life can be expected to be fair and the impact seems random...what path to success do we choose?

Doesn't there need to be someone that we need to blame it on?

I told myself..."If you want it...go and get it...if you don't then stop worrying about it!

We'll come back to this...

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The holiday season emphasizes a characteristic of humans that really interests me...

We are constantly on a search to re-live the feelings of our "firsts..."

We vividly can recall the feelings of our first holiday experience...such as our "first Christmas."

The awe, wonder and excitement is unmatched in any of our subsequent celebrations...yet we try!

As the event passes...we are reminded how hollow the last experience was compared to the one we remember and romanticize...then we vow to make the next one like our first...

AND...we spend more money and drive ourselves crazy trying to re-create that first...

Our first kiss...

Our first Christmas...

Our first love...

We waste our lives...trying to go back in time...rather than enjoying the present...

As of the writing of this article...time travel is still considered impossible by the scientific community...

I wonder why we try so hard and waste so much money...

The fact of the matter is...no matter how disappointing, mundane or boring it is...that is the way it is!

The feelings of the past can not be recaptured...

A person can only learn to makes the most what they have and find a way to enjoy it!

A person must find excitement in what they have at hand...

The real problem that people are attempting to address is the level of excitement that they want...

Life tends to numb us to excitement!

Much the same way that a person taking narcotics has to increase the dosage to get the same "high!"

If these things were going to be exciting...the only person that can obtain and experience that excitement was me!


There was no one else or anything that I could depend upon for excitement...or blame my boredom on for lack thereof!

I told myself..."If you want it...go and get it...if you don't then stop worrying about it!

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Question:  What is a critical aspect of real leadership?

Answer:  The strict adherence to support of his people in good or bad!

When a person shows avoidance behaviors related bad situations...they lack a basic leadership skill...

If a leader is only present for the good...and disappears or has other commitments that takes them away from difficult or uncomfortable situations...they are not a leader...they are a user...or even worse a loser...

Do not allow yourself to be lead by an individual like that AND definitely strive not to be like that!

This is a character flaw that can't ever be trusted...

If you are a leader or manager of people and you avoid...then get out or change immediately!

Stick by your commitments...when the bad things happen...by all means...be there for them...no matter what arrangements need to be changed!

If you are going to be a leader...the only person that do it is you!


There was no one else you can depend upon for leadership...or blame your lack of leadership ability!

Tell yourself..."If you want it...go and get it...if you don't then stop avoiding it!

Leadership is a..."for better or worse" proposition...avoiding "the worse" is avoiding more than half of the leadership equation...

It is like a marathon running stopping halfway through the race because the second half hurts!

You'll never finish a race with that behavior!

As a leader...you'll never finish the race...

Enough Said!

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If something is important or precious to you...you will guard it with everything you have...

The only person to blame for that thing being gone is the person who was given the gift...

We have lost the gift of excitement....despite of how precious it was to us...we neglected to guard it...

It is gone and no matter how hard we look or how much money we spend...it will never again be found!

We have lost our loves...and the same holds true...it can not be found again!

We have lost people important to us...

Many have lost the ability to lead...

and guess what?

The only person that we have to blame is ourselves!

The best that we can do is to find what we are looking for it what remains...and to be happy with it!

Have a great weekend...

Pura Vida!



 

A Realistic View of Loyalty

Good Morning...

How was your week?

What is your standing in the race?

How about those around you?

Especially your team mates?

I have written of the many similarities between life and races...

This week...I have been thinking about the Tour de France...

There are so many parallels between it and organizational behaviors...

The race starts with teams of riders...each team having a team leader...

Initially, the teams work together with a focus on the leader...

The leader is the individual rider who has the best chance of winning the overall race...

The team also has "domestiques" who are riders who carry the load for the team.  These riders get water and food...and they buffet the wind...helping the leader conserve energy.  It is seemingly a thankless job...yet the winners owe their victory to them and often show extreme loyalty to them.

Other members of the team include those who are significantly better at time trials or mountain climbing or sprinting...

They are there to win individual honors within the 2000 mile journey...

Whenever their chance to shine arises...the team rises to the occasion...that is if the team leader's position is not compromised by their success...

The team's support is guided by an overriding focus upon and loyalty to the team leader...

That is until that leader has no hope of winning the overall race...(general classification)

...then the team literally breaks down and it becomes a race of "every rider for them self"...

Loyalty to the leader erodes...loyalty to the team erodes...

It makes one wonder whether there is such a thing as loyalty...or if it ever existed in the first place...

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I got into an interesting discussion with a friend about unconditional love...

I do not believe that it exists within the human portion of society...

We tend to romanticize that it exists...but I can cite conditions in which even the strongest love in this world would fail!

"But what about forgiveness?" you may ask...

Forgiving a significant breach in loyalty is just plain foolishness...

Breaches of disloyalty are intentional...a matter of decision...generally (as I think about it...always) driven from a self-serving motive...it unveils the true character of an individual!

Why forgive someone like that!

I believe in forgive and forget...

But I believe that these are options...not a process!

One either is a fool and forgives...or they simply forget that this individual exists!

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Interesting perspectives?

I have always been intrigued by an organization's demand of loyalty from its employees....

I have yet to find an organization who has been loyal to its employees...

An organization is loyal to its employees as long as it is profitable...

STOP for a minute!  This is actually a contradiction!

Loyalty is earned and never bought...it is unconditional...right?

In actuality organizational loyalty is a facade created to reduce employee turn-over and reduce risk...

It is only meant to make (save) money and reduce risk!

It is business pure and simple...

Let me say it again...I have yet to see an organization (especially a publicly traded one) that lived up to the standard that it demanded of its individual members (employees)...

Bar-none...at the first threat of not meeting its financial goals...it turns its back on their loyal employees...it eliminates the "perks" and downsizes...lays people off...in numbers usually large enough that the quarterly objectives are met and bonuses are paid to a meager few!

The bottom-line of organizational loyalty is that it is out the window, when the revenue flow decreases!

So let's think about this a little deeper...loyalty is earned and it is a "two-way street"

It can not be bought or demanded...

And it can not rightfully be one-sided...

One has to ask...is there really such thing as organizational loyalty...

WAIT...let's define loyalty before we go any deeper...

Loyalty is an absolutely consistent and non-compromising behavior where the best interests of one is afforded priority over the interests of another individual (the one in control).

More simply stated loyalty is the trust between individuals (or parties) such that their interests will be given priority over the others interests with absolute consistency.

Now, let's return to our thoughts!

Given that definition...an organization never has loyalty...it has to look out for its own well-being...

The question that haunts me..."Why should employees be loyal to something that will never be loyal in return?"

That is insane!

Let's carry this insanity a bit further!

Why do we give two-week notices?

Have you ever seen someone fired with a two-week notice?

They can walk you out on a moment's notice...

Many will respond...It is the professional and courteous thing to do...WHY?

They won't do it for you!

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I have yet to see an instance where the problems that caused an organization's need to downsize...be that of the "low-level" employees...

Without fail...the collapse of an organization is the result of poor and irresponsible leadership, incompetent and selfish management...

This is what intrigues me...

Who suffers for the incompetence?

Not the ones who are to blame for the downsizing...

They keep their jobs and their paychecks and more often than not...get a bonus!

They are the ones who continue to draw a salary until someone needs to turn off the lights...

The ones who are laid off and hurt are the innocent ones...

It makes sense to me that the ones who should be sitting in the unemployment lines are the ones who messed up the company...

The ones who should continue to receive their paychecks are the ones who did their jobs...

Doesn't that make sense to you?

I ran this thought past a friend who said that retention of leadership has nothing to do with who is to blame for the problems...but is rooted in the old tradition of the captain going down with his ship!

He said that the captains of these organizational ships should go down with them...it is only right!

During our discussion...it came to me that the demand that a "captain go down with his ship" had nothing to do with longevity...and holding the position until  the bitter end...

It was a death sentence to the leader for the failure!

Every passenger could get off the boat safely...but if the ship is sinking...it is the captain's responsibility and he pays the price!

Since there is no death sentence for organizational failure...

Downsizing the staff should be based on performance...

Fire the incompetent individuals who got the organization in that position in the first place...

The organization's situation is either the result of incompetent leadership or intentional (narrow sighted and self-serving) decisions...either case is cause for termination!

If a "low-level" employee was guilty of that...they would be met at the door!  Why does leadership get to sit in their offices and continue to live at their means...while the innocent has to worry about paying for their holiday gifts?

Any leader that refuses to do that...should themselves be fired!

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The 21st century leader runs an organization under these terms...

If an individual performs they have a job and pay...if they do not...they seek other opportunities!

One must act ethically, morally and legally...above all reproof...contributing value above their cost...

This is the most honest that a 21st century organization can be...and if that is done with consistency and integrity...

Turn-over will occur only with incompetent people (terminations) and the rest will be able to trust they will have a job as long as they are working!

No more need for the facade!

AND no more need for lay-offs and downsizing...

It is all about customer focus and "the genius of the and"...

If the customer's needs are truly at the forefront of leadership's priorities...and the leadership acts consistently with its employees...the revenue will flow...

Focus on revenue flow will always compromise the customer and the employee!

It is "step two" in the organizational death spiral!

At this point there is no chance of return!

This ship is sinking!

If we are truly holding to the spirit of the captain's responsibility...

It is time for him to go down with that ship!

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Where are we going with all of this?

Loyalty is an outdated concept...

It is not part of the 21st century...

Loyalty is a behavior that is to shared between individuals...it is a "one relationship at a time" thing...

There is no such thing as mass loyalty!

In fact...I have learned from my experience...that there is no such thing as loyalty...

I once thought that there were people that I could depend upon...

In all but a few cases...I was disappointed...actually my loyalty was betrayed by their lack of loyalty...

I discovered that I was lied to...to get my loyalty...and never repaid for my sacrifice!

The sad thing is that there will come a time...that these individuals will again try to play their loyalty card with me...

The sad thing is that they will find that it expired long ago...because of their own actions...

Forgive or forget?

I am not a fool and either should you be!

My advice...Just simply forget about them!

They do not deserve the time...

Where were they when you needed them?

I can answer that!

Simply looking out for their own self-serving needs...rather than living up to their hollow commitments of loyalty which were...

To look out for your best interests...at the risk of their own!  Knowing that you were looking out for theirs...better than they ever could!

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It is time to rethink the outdated concept of loyalty!

For a few lucky individuals...there are those who still deserve loyalty...but these individuals are rare!

They need to be cherished...

All others are simply a commodity...pay what you have to...to get what you need...and then throw them away!

They are going to do the same to you!

Just do not compromise your integrity and honesty...like they do...to get what you need...

Be straight-forward and forthright!  Open and honest...

Don't stoop to treachery and deception and compromise like they do...

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One of the blessings bestowed upon the truly successful is the ability to peacefully sleep...

Never compromise that blessing...keep your heart and intent pure!

You'll never have anxiety or fear for what the morning will bring!

Sleep peacefully...

Pura Vida...my dear friends...

Sleep tonight in peace!

or

Change what needs to be changed so that you can do so!

Another Road "Less Traveled"

Good Morning!

For many people is the US...this was a short week, with a really long weekend!

An extra few days for people to celebrate their thankfulness with a feast of excess...and then a marathon day of spending...

"Black Friday" is a brilliantly positioned marketing ploy that not only takes advantage of people being away from work...but also of the residual feelings of thankfulness to push sales...

Although I philosophically oppose it...there is a time to plant and a time to harvest...and that day is the perfect day for harvest!  People's attitudes are ripe for sales...and a retail organization that does not jump on the bandwagon is missing a great opportunity!

I wish I knew if the "Black Friday" conception and birth was unintentional and a simple evolution over time, or...if it was an intentional an systematic marketing and sales tactic built upon a brilliant observation and insight of an astute individual.

If it were the latter...I want to meet that person...

Yet I tend to believe the simpler explanation...more people were shopping on the Friday following Thanksgiving and stores took notice and responded accordingly..."forced evolution"

What exists now is that the retail world has leveraged our celebration of Thanksgiving...which we do with unbridled excess...into a day of increased sales...

Do you think that "Black Friday" would be different if we celebrated our thankfulness with a day of fasting?

Would we have a "Black Friday" at all?

This is an interesting aspect to ponder...because it can be telling about us!

This aspect points to the fact that there are actually two paths to success and happiness...

One is brought about by astute observation, insight and execution...(Black Friday was actually someone's idea)...

The other by following the ebbs and flow of life and by adjusting accordingly...(Black Friday just happened)

Many will argue that one takes time and the other takes less...

Others contend that the probability of success is higher with one over the other...

I do not believe that either of these contentions are true...

Success happens despite our efforts...or lack thereof!

The path of (note the preposition change) success and happiness is more like a tailored suit...

It is specific to the individual and not worn well by any other...

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I have been observing people at various levels (for some time) and became aware of an interesting pattern...

Many people believe that with position comes the license to talk more freely...saying what they want...

I am seeing more and more old people saying what is on their minds with total disregard for others' feelings...

I see teens "trash-talking" each other and their parents because they think it is a "right of adulthood!"

I see leaders exercising their authority and hurting others, ruining careers and wasting valuable organizational resources...

These deluded people have confused "right and responsibility!"

I fear that it is no loner a minority that acts like that and actually the behavior of all but a wise few!

Wisdom should lead a person to the correct behaviors more frequently...but is this happening?

Seeing young people misguided in their thinking and behavior is somewhat forgivable...they are stretching their wings...

Seeing adults allowing that behavior...is unforgivable...in that they are allowing this kind of behavior to continue...

Abusive talk is a very subtle and destructive form of "Bullying."

Disguised and many wrongly believe that it is protected by the 1sr Amendment...

What I know is that "Trash-talk is not by definition a right of "free speech."

It is actually a crime!

It is assault and battery...and should be recognized and punished appropriately...

I would love to see some of these abusive old men and ladies...teens and adults...serving 5 to 10 years for their nasty mouth!

For many of them (especially the old ones)...it would be a life (death) sentence...and although it sounds cruel...the world would be much better off for them being out of the picture!

Even the air wasted on their formation of words is wasted...and the oxygen they consume to continue to live...a waste!

Do you get my point?

I am really serious about this!
There is a path that many people wrongly believe..."that position has it privilege"...

In a way...they are right...but where they are wrong is when they believe that they can say and do things, to others, that is potentially hurtful...

Position does have its privileges and responsibility...but only when it does not infringe on others in ANY way!

First...simply being a human being requires us to treat others with respect and dignity...

Second...it requires us to build others up rather than destroy...

Third...it requires us to confront those who are abusive and diligently ensure that it never happens again...

Fourth...it requires us to keep our words brideled if we have nothing to say...

Our Founding Fathers created the standard for "right to freedom" as that which we can do without interfering with the rights of others or hurting others in ANY way...

You do not have a right to say what you want to say...if it infringes upon or hurts anyone else...

That my friend is against the law...

It is against the constitution...

Making it a felony!

By definition it is treason and a cause for revocation of the rights of US membership (citizenship)...

The problem is that we have grown complacent and allowed these people to get away with it!

My advice...If you have an aggressive nature...don't waste it...seek out these nasty people...young or old and take a stand in the defense of the abused...have fun!  Show them what damage they are doing!

Then go quiet!

If you are non-aggressive and more passive...step out of character and do the same...you have license to do what is right...stand up for the abused!

Enough said...

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The Disney movie "Bambi" has one good line in it...

Credit for it actually is given to a character who is never seen in the movie...

Thumper's dad...(a rabbit)

Thumper's mother references his dad and reminds him through an admonition...

"...Thumper?  What did your father tell you?"

...Thumper replies, "If you can't saying something nice...don't say anything at all!"

Think of how quiet and wonderful this world would be...if we followed that admonition!

It does however need to get a bit louder before it gets quieter...

We need to take that road less traveled and make noise and confront EVERY instance of verbal "bullying!"

Disrespect and "Trash-talk" has no value...it is total waste!

In terms of trash...there is nothing that can be recycled in it!

Creating those words...is totally destructive...

Apologizing does not take abusive and hurtful words said back!

Our stand, as a true leader, is to make this world...OUR WORLD...better for our having been here!

We need to do this with absolute consistency...and dedication...

We can no longer allow anyone to get away with abusive "Trash Talk"...and more important...we can not be guilty of it!

To be truly successful in this world...we have to make the world a better place...

Not only just physically...but psychologically...and intellectually...

There are few sojourners following this path...it is one of the roads...less traveled...

Courtesy...respect...or quiet!

The world would be so much more peaceful if we eliminated this environmental waste!

Stop "waste"-ing your speech...

Stop others when you see them wasting your air!  They are suffocating you very subtly!
If you can't say nothing nice...

PURA VIDA!

SPECIAL EDITION - What is there to be thankful for?

I know that it is not the weekend...but it feels like it!

It's Thanksgiving!

The Internet and all of the social networks are buzzing with HAPPY THANKSGIVING wishes...

It is heart-warming...but the superficiality of it also causes me to step back and think...

I don't believe that there is any other holiday that we celebrate that possesses the philosophical depth of Thanksgiving!

As I ponder the great wisdom writings...an interesting commonality arises...the futility of effort...and ultimately life itself...

As we look out at the world around us...good people suffer and bad people prosper...

It appears random...

Whether you pursue a life of purity and selflessness or one of pure selfishness and hoarding...it all ends in death...and both leave with exactly the same...

Life...is like chasing the wind...simply enjoy it!

If he were pressed, Maslow, would have to admit that whether a person is simply surviving or self-actualizing, they leave the world absolutely equal...

An interesting scorecard!

What then do we have to be thankful for?

I do not think that the answer lies in complexity...but in simplicity...

Life at its lowest level...

Thankfulness should spring from the basics and grow...recognizing the temporality of everything after the very basics of life...

Are you eating?

Do you have something to drink?

Can you go to sleep and do so peacefully and securely?

Do you have someone to carry on your name (and your legacy) after you have died?

Any Thanksgiving after that is simply recognizing the superficial gifts that we have fallen upon by chance...

We need to be thankful for the immediate fruits of our work...and the hope that what we stand for will continue into future generations...

EAT...DRINK...SLEEP...CHILDREN

These are things that we need to be truly thankful for...

All of the rest is no more meaningful than make-up on a Manichean!

Do not get me wrong...it is not bad to show appreciation and share our bounty...

It is wrong to think that we had anything to do with it!

These things are gifts...to an undeserving hoard...

In the end...the scorecard is erased and the game is tied!

I am simply thankful for today and the fact that I awoke from a peaceful rest...as I retire each night, my heart and mind has no anxiety for what tomorrow could hold for my actions of the past...

I am blessed with a bounty of food...and drink...especially fresh water!

and finally...

My children have the seeds of my thoughts, hopes and aspirations...deeply embedded in their soul...and I trust that they will use them in the ways that they see best fit!

I am truly blessed not because of my past or present...but one one gift and one gift alone...

HOPE!

We are directed by the "wise who came before us" to seek knowledge, understanding and wisdom...

Let me add to that another great gift...hope!

I am thankful for those things that I have that keep me in this life...food, drink and children...

I am thankful for the opportunity to seek wisdom, knowledge and understanding and it is this greatest gift...hope that carries me into tomorrow!

Have a happy thanksgiving!

Share this with everyone you know...

Focus our world on those things we need to be thankful for!

If it is Important Enough for You to have to Say Something About it...

Good Morning...

You have crossed this week's finish line...and found yourself a winner!

What a glorious feeling!

You may not have taken "the Gold," but you know that you have done everything possible to achieve what you achieved!!!

NO?

There are lingering thoughts?

Regrets?

Excuses?

You wish "someone would step up and fix"...?

I watch the vast majority of people complaining...or worse yet...

...Thinking that they are consultants....Thinking that their opinion is of significant value and that people should jump and do their bidding!

Not realizing that it is every one's place in life to do something about those things that bother them!

"Words" have lost their value...Everyone is talking...very few people do anything about it!

A while back there was a popular book entitled "The Purpose Driven Life"

And another that followed it (not by the same author) "The Secret"

And a more secular book called "The Dream Manager"

It is interesting that these books really appealed to the same market segment...

...And that by looking at that segment of society...we can learn a weakness in our thought processes!

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People seek an understanding of their purpose in life...

I have heard many times "What is my REAL purpose in life?

How do I find it?

They know intuitively that if they find their purpose...they will find meaning in their activity and ultimately be successful! 

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY...

HAPPY!

In actuality...finding your purpose is the path to success!

Yet finding that purpose seems to be illusive!

People throughout the ages have searched their entire life and have not found it!

The fact of the matter is...is it staring you in the face!

In pursuit of purpose...people miss the simplicity of it.

It is often hiding in plain sight!

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How do I find my purpose?

What will put meaning into my activity?

...and...

What will drive me to being successful?

What will get rid of that hollow feeling and make me happy?

I know what you are thinking and I will cut to the chase!

Purpose is not found in some deep soul searching activity!

It is found in your everyday activity!

It takes the shape in what stands out to you...

It is what is programmed into your DNA!

It is in your nature...

Believe it or not...

IT IS WHAT BOTHERS YOU!

What?!!!? 

Please allow me to "say" it again...Your purpose can be found in what bothers you!

Better said...your purpose should be found in what bothers you!

I know that you are now asking...

EVERYTHING bothers me at one time or another...How do I find purpose in what bothers me?

Your purpose can easily be found in those things which you see that many other people do not!

It is those things that elicit a reaction!

You are programmed to see these things...

Those things that most people do not do is...

Do something about the things that bother them!

They are most often happy to simply sit back and complain and hope that some other person will stand up and do something about it...A CONSULTANT!  Ultimately it shows how lazy that person really is!

I once was standing in a hallway and listening to someone complaining about a few scraps of paper on the floor...and how unprofessional it was for people to leave trash laying around...

In frustration...I responded with..."if it bothers you to the point that you need to complain about it...why don't go one step further...stop talking about it and go and pick it up?"

She looked at me as if I had accurately predicted the next winning lottery numbers...and walked over and picked up the paper and threw it away!

Her response made me think about my own life...

If something bothers me enough that I have to talk about it...

Why shouldn't I be doing something about it?

If I do not want to do anything about it...

Why am I talking about it?

Talk is cheap!

Activity is costly! 

Invest something of value in making a difference!

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The vast majority of "consultants" in this world want to identify issues and then wash their hands of responsibility! 

Tell someone about it...get paid...and walk away!

It is a rare few that can find issues (things that bother them) and then takes the steps to rectify them...

Great leaders find issues and then (if they can not do it themselves) find people who can make a difference...and while the talented are working...the great leaders make rectification possible...

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Perhaps your body, mind and spirit are telling you something and you are missing the message...

You have been created uniquely...and with a purpose...

You are unique among everything that has ever lived, is living or ever will live...just check your DNA against all other living things...it is yours and yours alone!

Add to that your experience and your uniqueness is unfathomable! 

In that uniqueness you will find your purpose...in the "programming" is what you are meant to do!

Let me say it another way...

You have purpose...and the interesting thing is that your role (purpose) is in that uniqueness!

No one sees the world like you do...from your perspective...your physical and experiential programming...

Use that perspective and listen to what it is telling you!

If it bothers you enough...that you have to complain about it...do something about it...or find and lead people who can!

This is your purpose...Plain and simple!

You will make a difference in this world if you do that and it will be a better place for you having been here!

AND guess what...you will ultimately find meaning and fulfillment in that endeavor!

Most important...It is where your happiness is hiding...IN PLAIN SIGHT!

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Have a great and wonderful weekend!

Listen to yourself!

Identify your purpose and doing something about it!

If it is important enough for you to say something about it...go that extra step and do something about it!

Pura Vida!

It's all about the Landing!

Good Morning!

What do you have planned for your weekend?

If your answer is "REST!"  you may want to step back and think about the energy and effort that you expended last week!

A while back I wrote about my sail plane experience. 

As I wrote...it brought back feelings that I have not been able to ignore!

This morning those feelings were again brought to the forefront and strengthened as I watched a "flock" of migrating raptors soaring from North to South...

They were circling and ever so slightly dropping in altitude...

...Then suddenly and without any warning...one would rise!

The others would veer to that area and follow the first up...

It was a magnificent display...

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I have a good friend that runs marathons...

REAL marathons...the almost 25 mile ones...

This person is not one of those people who run quarter or half marathons and lay claim to the real title...

She has no desire to impress anyone but herself...by overcoming her own personal challenge!

No facade...just results!

She is one of the few people that I have met that has grasped the real meaning of a race...

She recognizes that no matter how many people are competing against you...the race remains within yourself...

Jogging to victory over the others is hollow...

Crossing the finish line in second place is a victory...if you have given everything...

Combine the two...and you have fulfillment and real victory...

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What does sail planing and Marathons have to do with each other?

A lot...

The most awesome plane ride is of little value...unless you are keenly aware of where you are at any moment and know with absolute certainty that you can make it back to the airport and land safely...

No matter how much fun you are having along the flight...the important part is the landing!

In running a Marathon...at any given moment you have to balance energy and effort expended and amount remaining...

You need that "kick" at the finish line...but even before that...you need to get within sight of the finish line!

As with sail planing...it is about being keenly aware of your relationship to your real goal...and maximizing the enjoyment along the way...

Think of how you would feel if you crossed the finish line after a race and realize that you ran way too conservatively and could run another 15 miles!  You wasted your race!

Think about heading towards the runway and realizing that you miscalculated and are at too low an altitude to make it...and you are going to crash into a subdivision!

Think about being so burnt out at the end of a week that all you can do is rest!

They are all the same...

It is all about the finish line...

It is all about the landing!

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Success does not happen...it is made...

I admit that there are a few (VERY FEW) instances where success is handed to undeserving people...

This is a rare situation...

but for the vast majority...success is the end result of proper planning and adjustment...

It is about constantly optimizing one's effort expended and reserved...

It is the balance that ensure a safe landing...or the ability to cross the finish line...

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There are 3 important aspects related to this observation...

Each aspect must be balanced relative to the overall effort...

Focusing too much on any one or two will destroy the overall experience...

Let's systematically look at each...

The first one is about energy expended...

The value is answered by...Have I made the right decisions up to now?

"Have I circled too much over this area looking for the next thermal?"

...or...

"I have taken 12,381 steps...have I run too fast knowing I have about 17,000 left to take?"

In any case...the next question is...

Knowing what you know..."What are you going to do next?"

This leads us to the next important aspect...

How will I adjust?

I am too low and immediately need to plot a route back to the airport over an area with the highest probability of thermals...I need to gain 500 feet of altitude to make a safe landing...

...or...

I need to slow my pace by 3 per minute and lengthen my stride by 5 inches to finish at my target time...

Then finally...

The final aspect...is answered by the question, "What do I need to do to make this happen?"

"Turn West and fly a zig-zag course and watch for vultures!"

"Reset my pace timer and count until the rhythm is habitual!"

What is important at this point is committing to the next check...

Successful people recognize that all of those decisions are closer to the right ones...yet...probably wrong too!

So...reevaluating the progress at another point is important...

Constant assessment and adjustment...

Then...

THE FINISH LINE...

THE "WHEW!"  "Safe landing!"

and then...

How much did I have left over...

Did I actually have altitude that I wasted?  Was it a sufficient buffer?

Could I have sprinted faster at the end?  Would it have mattered?

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If you weekend leaves you no room for anything but rest...you may want to look back at your week...

If all that I focused on during that extraordinary flight...was getting back to the airport...I would have missed the experience of the flight...

If all you focus on is the finish line...you miss the race!

Learn to PACE yourself...

Practice And Concerted Effort...P.A.C.E.

That is my acronym for success...and my advice for this week...

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Have a great weekend...

Rest...

Assess...

Adjust...

Succeed...

Pura Vida!

Life is not measured in the number of heartbeats...

Good Morning!

How did your week go?

Do you feel invigorated by last week's successes and achievements or are you simply relieved that it is over?

Here is an interesting trivia question...What do you think is the most frequent phrase on the Internet on Fridays?

If you answered TGIF or one of the many variants...you were correct!

My thought today is...

If the majority of the population (and you are among them) is relieved that the week is over...

...How can you set yourself apart from the masses?

If you felt relief...then why do you think that you are not part of the masses?

Why are you allowing yourself to be like the rest?

Why are you expecting to be differentiated and yet acting like all of the rest?

What comes first?  The attitude or the success?  The chicken or egg?

Many people say they need the success, in order to catalyze the attitude...

Other proponents say that you need the attitude to attract the success...

I say it doesn't matter!

You need both!

If you have the success...then you need to have the attitude...

If you lack the success...then you need the attitude!

Success is both!

It is much like life itself!

Life is about heartbeats!

You can't have life without a heartbeat!

Heartbeats happen without a conscious effort...

If your heart races...you do not have more life!

It is simply dependent upon the beat!

Not the count...or the rate...it is the presence!

Success is the same!

It is not about how much...

Attitude is a conscious (perhaps sub-conscious) effort...

It is truly there...whether or not you think about it!

You simply need to recognize that it is there...

Feel the heartbeat...

Feel the Attitude!

You are successful!

Recognize that you are alive...and make the most of it!

Stop looking for relief...stop saying and writing TGIF...

Set yourself apart from the masses...

Differentiate yourself with attitude...

The TGIF people are the same people that ultimately welcome death!

I am glad this is over!

That's right!

Are you a person who will be glad to die?

or are you ready to meet life head on!

Are you happy that you woke up today?

You can not lay claim to success until you differentiate yourself from the masses!

In the BIG things and the LITTLE things...

Take stock of your life...

Not in the successes...or your heart rate...

Its entirety!

No more TGIF!

It may sound like a LITTLE thing...but it is what really matters!

PURA VIDA!