Day 1: New Beginning

Do you remember when it was exciting to do something brand new?  Discovering unchartered territory?

The “new” is why I have enjoyed being part of the consulting engineering industry, the variety and opportunity to solve problems, whether technical, financial or governance oriented. The real treat for me is connecting with people and making a positive difference.

On day one of my new start, I had an 8 o’clock appointment across town so it started out similar to any other day I would have driven to work.  Then I stopped at a Starbucks location I’ve never been to before to use a gift sent by my daughter for Christmas.  It came in an email which was cool but I didn’t want to forget it, so I used it right away.

Lunch was the story.  Old friend, fellow leader of a similar organization to one I led, building a sustainable organization while fighting off an auto immune disease… detects a lump and goes to the doc only to hear the C word.  Biopsy incision turns to staph infection, best docs in the world tell him he’s got something even the strongest drugs won’t kill off at current dosages.  Imagine seven doctors representing different parts of the patient pow wowing in the infectious disease ward deciding what to do next to kill the bug and not the patient.

My friend “Joe” was the walking testament of gratitude.  He’s still intimately familiar with the Mayo Clinic and frequents every four months or so but he appreciates every breath he’s able to take.  The cancer in the throat removed, some taste gone for good, lots of lymph nodes removed, he bragged about the recent daughter’s wedding he was able to witness, participate in and bankroll.

I was happy just to get the time to see an old friend and break bread together.  We’ve reminisced over food and booze in the past at industry gatherings how the business and roles we aspired to serve in were the best and worst; hard on the person, hard on the family, rewarding when things go well and absolutely crushing when they don’t.

“As Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

We agreed that encouraging the heart was one of the most critical roles any leader plays.  To build a sustainable culture, we must influence those inclined to serve at a higher level to sacrifice their discretionary time to add value, willingly.  Leaders invest in future leaders.  Future leaders invest in themselves and their organization and when done correctly, the organization rewards future leaders with responsibility, opportunity, ownership and more hard work.  The circle of business life.

Whether C stands for cancer, culture, colleague or comrade,  I think I spent my day of Change in a highly Constructive way.

Have a blessed weekend!