A lot of what I do has me communicating on a daily basis with people in other parts of the country. From New York and Arizona, to Billings and Missoula. Phone calls, email, text messages, internet, webinars, (and yes, still faxes from time to time).
I needed to get my oil changed this weekend. Actually my wife needed to get the oil changed in her car, but I owed her 40-bucks, so I took her car in and paid to get the oil changed. Now we’re even right? (Actually, we’re even financially, but she owes me an hour and a half of my life back.)
On Saturday the New York Jets were down with only a minute and a half left after the Colts, playing at home, just scored to go up by two. In ninety seconds the Jets' season would be over. However, New York marched down the field and kicked a field goal with no time left on the clock. Final score, J-E-T-S 17, Indy 16. And NY coach Rex Ryan finally had his elusive win over quarterback Peyton Manning.
When I was in 4th grade, I thought 12th graders were adults (full of worldly knowledge and confidence). When I had cancer, I thought doctors had all the answers (having no question about just what to do). When I saw Barbara Streisand in concert, I thought she must love being on stage in front of thousands of people (loving the limelight and attention).
Today we will be interviewing candidates for an opening in our organization. It is always a love/hate process for me. More love than hate. I love meeting new people, learning about them, trying to find out what makes them tick. I guess the "hate" part is just the risk involved. There's a lot at stake. "Bozeman media group desperately seeking perfect person to join our team," is no easy spot to fill.
When it comes to coffee I am pretty picky. I like it hot. Not lukewarm, not room temperature, but hot (although iced is wonderful in the summer). I like it strong. Not too strong of course, and certainly not weak. Coffee shops do a nice job (at $4 a cup). Automatic coffee makers do not (at any price)
There is a push in certain circles to SIMPLIFY. There are simplify t-shirts, simplify bumper stickers, and simplify billboards. For some reason simplifying doesn't seem to be enough for those who seem to enjoy it. They need me to simplify too. I think they mean to encourage us to simplify our lives. To get back to the basics. To focus on what's important. I for one think that simplifying can be a lot of work.
We're busy people, living in a busy world. Jobs, families, hobbies, clubs, civic organizations, second jobs, third jobs, kids' activities, committees. It never seems to end. So much to do. So little time. Around my office, you could apply the same template to most people's daily work to-do lists.
I think all too often great, talented, well-meaning people are derailed from making great, productive, wonderful accomplishments by one little thing. Actually it's lots of little things. And those little things are. Drumroll. Distractions.
I recently read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Good book. You may have seen him on Oprah. He is the professor diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, that gives a "last lecture" on what he had learned in life, and what he thought was worth mentioning to pass along. Lots of meaningful ideas.
Here's one thing I know (and yes, it may be the only thing); nothing is ever gained by waiting to go to the doctor. Whether it's a routine screening or you suspect there might be something wrong; nothing is ever gained by waiting. Do yourself a favor. Get in there.
I'm a Minnesota Vikings fan. They lose a lot of games. And it seems that a lot of those games come down to one close call (and often a bad call) by a referee at the end of the game that costs the purple people eaters the victory. This is not just a Vikings thing. Happens to all teams every now and then. Ref blew the call and cost us the game!
