In the spirit of lifelong learning, I am taking on this reading stack in 2012:
Each of these books in one way or the other should impact my life plan in a positive way, whether it be parenting, speaking, leading, or being a better husband.
What’s on your list to read in 2012?
Another year has FLOWN by. What a year it has been. I was looking through some of my photos from the year and, of course, realize I don’t take enough of them!! But, it has been an eventful year and one that compels me to be grateful for so many things:
1) Medical advances – It seemed like the year of surgeries for the Gallagher’s and close friends. Mom had knee replacement. Our friend, Stan Buck had major brain surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. My brother had major heart surgery to basically rebuild his heart, and we finished out the year with Brendan having wisdom teeth pulled. All of them are recovering well. 25 years ago, these stories likely would have been quite different.
2) People who inspire me – There are many who do inspire me. This year, the ‘top’ inspirer would be Adam Ward, a friend and co-worker who inspired me to run my first 5K and subsequently, 3 more after that!
3) Work that I love - I really do enjoy the work that I do. Too often in today’s economy folks may be doing things that they just don’t love.
4) Safe air travel – I had to log over 160 flight segments in 2011 and each of them landed the same way they took off!
5) Family – Saving the best for last…Frankly, my wife, Chris and boys sacrificed this year as a result of #3 above. They have been very gracious in affording my the opportunity to fulfill my purpose.
There are many more things like time spent with friends (see photo above from WVU homecoming game! – Let’s Go Mountaineers!!) that I need to be grateful for all the time.
So, what are you grateful for in 2011? Take some time to reflect on this. You will find it rewarding.
Just recently completed The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews. This was given to me as a gift…twice. I must say that I enjoyed this book.
There are so many books out there with “numbers”. 21 ways to do this, 5 ways to become a millionaire in 3 minutes a day. So, when I read the subtitle, “Seven decisions that determine personal success”, I will admit that I was a little skeptical at first. But, when 2 people give you a book, it is kind of like when someone offers you a stick of gum or a mint…there is a reason!!
This was the first Andy Andrews book I read. I was intrigued by his writing. His vivid imagery made it easy for me to follow the story of a man visiting several (seven!) leaders of the past, including Abraham Lincoln, Joshua Chamberlain, among a few others. So, not only did I get 7 choices that may help me to determine success, I got a history lesson! Now, one can skip to the end of the book to get the answers, but the author’s method of getting you to each decision was engaging. It won’t ruin the book if I give you the 7 decisions:
1) The buck stops here. I am responsible for my past and my future
2) I will seek wisdom.
3) I am a person of action
4) I have a decided heart
5) Today, I will choose to be happy
6) I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit
7) I will persist without exception
Several memorable quotes from this book as well. “The only sure way to avoid criticism is to do nothing and be nothing!”
I think this was a great book. Want a copy? Comment on this post and tweet the link to this post. Let me know which of the 7 decisions you struggle with the most. How are you going to overcome that struggle? I will choose one winner from the responses and send a copy to you via mail.
I am a frequent traveler. I don’t necessarily like to be, but it is needed considering my regular work is 700 miles away from home! As a result, there are many opportunities for me to encounter pet peeves while traveling. Some of these things I shrug off, but others really test my patience. Here are 3 pet peeves of mine that will guarantee you are off my Christmas card list this year:
1) Put both of your bags in the overhead bin – When you put both of your bags in the bin, you ensure a slower boarding process. Just because you have a right to do it, doesn’t make it right. Use the space below your feet!
2) Let your backpack swing wildly as you walk up the aisle – I like an aisle seat. But, when you are boarding with your backpacks, must you allow it to bang off of my shoulder when you walk by?
3) Block the moving sidewalk so that walkers cannot pass – 8 words people — Walk to the left and stand to the RIGHT!
What travel pet peeves do you encounter?
On September 24, I completed my 3rd 5K. I ran another personal best: 29:11. I almost didn’t run in this race. I originally had it on my schedule, but had come down with a cold, so my prep was ‘off’. I didn’t think I would be able to do it…too hard…
Then, I got a call from a great friend whose wife was going in for surgery due to the onset of breast cancer. Her life was changed forever due to this daggum ‘c’-word. I wondered what I could do. Certainly, I could pray…and I did. Then, I was reminded of the upcoming race just days away…”Fired Up for a Cure”…a cure for breast cancer that is! Suddenly, my cold didn’t seem so limiting anymore.
In the past 6 months, the ‘c’ word has popped up with no fewer than 4 close family friends.
Each time I find myself complaining while training/exercising by running (which I hate!), I am reminded of the pain these friends are enduring in their race to beat cancer. 30 minutes of heavy breathing is NOTHING. I should be honoring them.
A personal best is not about me…it’s about me honoring those friends. Thank you for being an inspiration to me.
So, what is that small item that you want to regularly complain about that, if you really think about, you could honor someone by completing that task with excellence?!
Last Sunday I completed my second 5K. While I am still not ready to run a marathon, I DID improve my time to under 30:00 (29:37 to be exact!). I have learned personal leadership ‘tips’ as a result of this new journey I have been on. After my first 5K, I wrote to “Never Say Never”
For this 5K, my lesson learned is that sometimes you have to “go slower to go faster”. My ‘running coach’, Adam Ward, said this to me one day when I was telling him about my training. He said I was running too fast during my training runs and had to go slower so that I could go faster. I was skeptical, but he is training for an Ironman, so who better to listen to. Sure enough, I was able to reduce my time by nearly 7% in just a 5-week span by…you guessed it…running slower!
Often as leaders, we get impatient. We want to get to the answer/solution FASTER, and we sometimes forget that the learning process of getting there is even more valuable. When we go too fast, we often get somewhere fast, but find that we are unable to sustain the results we achieved.
As leaders, we need to be aware of when this is happening and slow down…so that we can go faster…and, as a result, be more ‘fit’ as a leader.
Do you remember a time you went too fast to a solution…only to find out that your results were not sustainable? Share it with me below.
I am not sure how I came across this video on YouTube. It was another of the motivations/eye openers for me when I was considering my first 5K:
If you can’t see the embedded video in your reader, click here.
Did you catch all 56 of the excuses? In case you missed one:
I’m Too weak…Too slow…too big…ate too much for breakfast…I got a headache…It’s raining…My dog is sick…I can’t right now…I’m not inspired…It makes me smell bad…I’m allergic to stuff…I’m fat…I’m thin…It’s too hot…I’m not right…I’ve got shin splints…Headache…I’m distracted…I’m exerting myself too much…I’d love to really, but I can’t, I just can’t…my favorite show is on…I got a case of the Mondays…the Tuesdays…the Wednesday…I don’t want to do this…I want to do something else…After New Year’s…Next week…I might make a mistake…I got homework…I feel bloated…I’ve got gas…I’ve got a hot date…My coach hates me…Mom won’t let me…I bruise easily…It’s too dark…It’s too cold…My blister hurts…This is dangerous…Uhhhh…Sorry, I don’t have a bike…I didn’t get enough sleep…My tummy hurts…It’s not in my genes…I don’t want to look all tired out…I need a better coach…I don’t like getting tackled…I’m not the athletic type…I don’t want to get sweaty…I have better things to do…I don’t want to slow you down…Do I have to do this?…As soon as I get a promotion…I think I’ll sit this one out…and my feet hurt…
So, have you used a few of these excuses? I know I have. Maybe after seeing this video, you will reduce that usage significantly.