Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

This week I was reminded of the power and the value of relationships. I created the opportunity to meet with several long-term relationships for a variety of reasons, as detailed below:

•First meeting-There are a number of ways to deal with stress but I’ve never learned how to avoid it. I found a deep tissue massage helps alleviate much of what gets under my skin. It’s also important for me to work with a professional who knows what needs work and how to resolve it quickly. While traveling to this week’s destination, I was able to schedule with my preferred massage therapist to work out the kinks. Awesome!

•Second meeting-I have 28 sweet “tooths” so all but 4 have crowns. After a relocation to the Twin Cities, I finally met with a new dentist who tried to suggest I needed…a lot of work…so in seeking a second opinion I met with my original dentist (who I trust). He sorted through what needed to be done and compared what was unnecessary. The difference is about $10,000. Thanks Doc!

•Third meeting-I met up with a long-time friend, going all the way back to childhood, for burgers, beers and BS. We talked through work, motorcycles, kids, spouses, aspirations, frustrations and just caught up on life. Good food for the soul.

•Fourth meeting-While in a particular town for a potential career changing meeting, I scheduled coffee with a colleague who knows my industry, knows my background and seeks my personal and professional opinion, and I hers. We covered some work issues, people issues, concerns, aspirations, and Father’s Day plans. A confidence builder on top of just maintaining a cherished friendship.

It is important to be aware, more important to maintain but even more important to acknowledge how much the people in your lives mean to you.

•What’s it worth to be able to reduce your stress?
•How often do you wish you could get a second opinion on critical, high value concerns?
•Do you spend much time reflecting with decades old friends on glory days when you used to dream about what you’d do when you grew up, just to check in, stay humble and recalibrate?
•When is the last time you needed to know you were good enough for whatever comes next? Who do you seek counsel from?

Perhaps most important, how are you balancing the scales?  Reciprocating?  Actively listening?
Who is looking to you for help, stress reduction, a second opinion, soul food or a confidence boost?
Are you making yourself available?
What will you do TODAY to follow through?

This weekend is Father’s Day celebration.  My dad was a lot of things to me.

-A disciplinarian

-A living example of hard work

-An entrepreneur

-A mentor

-A moral compass

If your Father is still alive, give him a long hug, even if he’s not a hugger, and tell him exactly what he means to you.

if he’s not, spend a few minutes in prayer and talk to him.  I’ll think you’ll find there is more than one Father listening.

Have a blessed weekend!