Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

I’m spending time reflecting and projecting this week.
•I was invited to our 10th annual awards celebration last weekend in Manhattan. My first response was to decline the RSVP. I opened it and couldn’t find a way to say no thank you so I ignored it. Oops. Then I received a plea from my division president’s administrative assistant to which I said no thank you (again). Double oops. Finally, I was invited out to NY for two modestly significant meetings the day before the awards celebration to which I finally said OK, I get it now. No subtlety here…
The event was GREAT! Taking the time to celebrate what my colleagues do both at and outside of work, the event had an “Oscar” flavor without the Hollywood celebs. Excellent setting, food, drink, ambiance at the Harvard club but the real treat was the value the people brought to our industry. I got goosebumps more than once and just about popped buttons on my new shirt when my chest was swelling…and I’m still getting to know this group.

Then,

•I joined my executive group in Duluth for a quick retreat where we discussed a variety of topics including faith, operational excellence and future financial considerations for retirement.
•Will you have enough money to retire? •What should you be thinking about?
•How do you prepare?
•What will you do?
•How much does that cost?
•How long will you live?
•Will there be any social security?

By the time I got home and ready for the next work week, I was pooped. I just finished looking backwards in a grand manner surrounded by significant national and international company executives. I also just finished looking forward with anticipation and anxiety joined by a dozen local executive colleagues imparting wisdom to be a better version of myself. Then I had to look to tomorrow, literally, and decide what am I going to wear, what am I going to do and will it be significant enough to celebrate next year or will it even be enough to contribute to our retirement fund.

Was it going to be worth my time to get out of bed?

I did … but I won’t know right away. True worth cannot always be measured on the day we expend the effort. Not all projects begin and end in the same day. Most efforts require vision, commitment, strategy, tenacity (there’s that word again), patience and faith that you are doing things approximately right and will have impact, whether now or eventually.

Have a blessed weekend!