View from the Summit

Clarity can be very misleading at times. Do you have a good understanding as to which path you are on and why?

Have you taken the time to thoughtfully explore all possibilities for you and your family? Among the choices that present themselves, how do you know your selection is the best? What metrics are used to decipher between good and great? Have you eliminated the obstacles in your life that would allow you to choose wisely rather than out of desperation? 

Thinking back over my business career, I have tried to evaluate the vital few activities that have proven successful and dismiss the trivial many that paid little return.

Preparing for 2015 I have been evaluating my personal and business activities and trying to eliminate all things that don’t fit into my overall goals.

Early in life, I just lived life as it came. Hoping to have more cash at the end of the month and praying that no disasters appeared.  As I grew older and somewhat wiser, I realized that life will happen regardless of my preparedness.

Eastern Airline Flight #401 crashed on December 29, 1972. The problem was the landing gear green light failed to activate in spite of a locked in place landing gear. Focusing on the light instead of the altimeter the pilots and 100 passengers crashed to their deaths.

What "green light", or other insignificant matters are you focusing on that is going to crash your plane?

I was talking to another guy a couple days ago discussing difficult topics. Many times as a dad I wanted to dismiss myself from certain conversations. 

On a trip to Destin, Florida, several years ago with my wife and two daughters I found myself confronted with real life teenage questions. As my oldest daughter and I walked the beach late one afternoon, the inevitable boy conversation rolled around.

Wow, I was not prepared nor interested in going down this path. Thankfully, most of the topics were easy and non threatening. However, the timing was right to go down a road that is a dad's worst nightmare: dating.