A while back several of us were having a conversation with Bill Stoller, one of the founders of Express Employment Professionals.  The discussion shifted to what books we’ve read recently and Bill shared that he only read business books and biographies.  As someone who used to ferociously consume fictions only I thought that seemed a little odd.  Biographies?  Yuck!  Wasn’t that like a history book?  Those were not on the top of my reading list.

Fast forward to the present.  After reading the autobiographies of Bruce Springsteen and George W. Bush and the biographies of Steve Jobs, George H.W. Bush, and Albert Einstein I’m starting to get hooked!

I’m a little over two thirds through Einstein and I’m totally mesmerized.  It’s been so intriguing on many levels for me to pick up on.

Learning about his schooling was a bit mind blowing to me.  They would develop a hypothesis and then be sent out into the wilderness to find an example that either proved or disproved it and then use that as the learning session.  How awesome is that – using nature as a classroom and leaving kids up to finding meaning in a different way.

I had no idea of the way some society worked back in his time.  Learning about his family life was crazy.  Did you know that he had a contract with his wife relating to when she could and could not speak with him?

Sure, everyone knows he’s a genius, but it has been so cool to see how he envisioned his ideas and tied them to examples that could be better understood in real life.  I really wasn’t sure what the theory of relativity was all about, but his example of people watching a lightning strike on a hill from a moving train really helped me see it.

Learning about his shortcomings have also been very enlightening.  The things that helped him become the genius figure that he is were often tied to his compete disregard for authority and status quo.  Interestingly enough, later in his life he became the authority and status quo that he had rebelled against!

After wondering what Bill was thinking, I now totally get it.  Learning from these historic figures has been a great way to view things from new perspectives, learn from the successes and failures of incredible thinkers, and see them as a little more human…  and that’s something I can really appreciate.

Thanks!!!

Ahh… the scent of chlorine… The smell makes me smile and makes my nostrils burn all at the same time! 🤪. No better time to blog than as the boys are logrolling and before I start have chemical induced visions from the chlorine.

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re was a lot going on today, just like there was yesterday, and like there will be every day until Saturday. That's all good, my mind is in the right place and I thoroughly enjoy this type of crazy. It gets me pumped, makes me stay focused in order to be successful, and can bring out some of my best work. In times like this I have also learned that I need some calm in the storm to keep me going.

Driving home tonight I almost fired up an audio book, but instead I paused. Contemplating music instead I realized what I really needed… some quiet. I turned off the radio, focused on driving and breathing, and could feel my heart rate drop. My shoulders started to drop before I even realized just how tense they were. It was exactly what the doctor ordered.

As I got closer to home my brain reminded me that it was the first night of logrolling! Remembering how much fun it was a bigger smile broke grew my face. In no time my brain was going back through the catalog of memories of past logrolling lessons to get myself mentally set. The most important lesson to date was to stay focused on being present with my mind clear. As I thought about that I smiled and realized that would be another great way for me to take a deep breath and decompress. Ahh… log rolling!

While the boys wrap up their class I can feel myself getting giddy in nervous anticipation. I just hope I am still thankful for this after I get out of the water! 😂

Thanks!!!

Celebrating Christmas at my mom’s was a blast this past weekend.  From Friday night until Sunday morning we were enjoying some good old fashioned family time.  We ate, played games, ate some more, chilled out, did some crafts, ate some more, and played more games.  The entire time I was able to focus on being present with my family, and it was awesome!  I’m so thankful that I was able to relax and have a great time, only once pausing for a few minutes to get a little work done.

As you’ll remember from a few days ago, I’m in the middle of crunch time.  This week is chock full of many work related activities that are quite demanding as well as getting everything ready to head out of town.  My task list is much bigger than usual, but I didn’t stress it while I was with my family.

As soon as I got home it was off to the races (heck, even riding home I was listening to an audiobook that I need to read for work).  In the hours after I got home I was able to put air in the tires, do a couple of loads of laundry, unpack from this weekend, pack for our upcoming trip, replace the broken window in one of our doors as well as fix the jamb, go to a leaders’ meeting for scouts, get a bunch of work done, check off some personal tasks, and plan for next week.  It’s been non-stop, but incredibly productive!

One of the reasons I was able to tune it all out this past weekend was thanks to my second Ink & Volt Planner (of course, it was also because of my superhuman wife, Becky, who has been accomplishing even more than I have today!).  My planner helps me organize what needs to happen and when to not only deal with the chaos that comes up in life, but also to stay focused on my long term goals.  Each year, month, week, and day I go back to my planner to set my goals and to make sure they’re in alignment with where I need to go to reach my goals.

Last year I got used to using it on a fairly regular basis to keep my life organized.  As I’ve had a chance to review what’s worked well and what hasn’t for me last year I’ve discovered more ways to better utilize this tool to help me stay focused on the task at hand.  One of the cool benefits is over the past few weeks I’ve spent the majority of my time focused on what it coming up in the next week when historically I’ve been more likely to wait until the last minute.  I feel so much less stress knowing that I’m ahead of the game!

One other benefit has been how I’m using it to capture more tasks real time and logging them in the day that I need to get them done.  It’s been so nice to not have to worry about what I may be forgetting like I’ve been known to do in the past.

This weekend with family was awesome and stress free and I really appreciate that.  When I pause to think of how it was all possible I kept coming back to my planner (& my incredible wife!), and I’m especially thankful for it today.

Thanks!!!

Christmas at Mom’s is in full swing and we’re all having fun playing games together in between meals. Always a great time that I look forward to every year, the cold weather isn’t getting in the way of us having an awesome family Christmas!

As we opened gifts last night my mom surprised me with one that may have caused a little awesome to leak out of my eyes. No need to be verbose today, as you see the picture of the gift you’ll understand why I’m thankful for this gift from my mom. It is awesome!

Thanks Mom!!! Love you tons!!!

Thanks!!!

Heading up to my mom’s for Christmas means that we get to travel one of my favorite stretches of pavement, Highway 35 from Maiden Rock to County Road D. That stretch always makes me smile for a couple of reasons, and anytime Becky and I drive it there’s a topic that is always brought up and always leaves smiling and laughing.

When we first used to drive that way to Mom’s that area always struck me with its beautiful views. Majestic bluffs with sharp jagged edges on one side and an incredible view of the bluffs of Minnesota rising up from across the Mississippi River. There’s one spot in particular I’ve thought would be the perfect place for a cabin, high atop the bluffs with a view up and down the mighty Mississipp. Every time we pass by I pause and soak it in. Sometimes God doesn’t quite think it’s pretty enough so He sends a bald eagle (or several) overhead to really take my breath away.

Driving that stretch also reminds Becky and I of when we ran Ragnar several years ago. I’d intentionally chosen the legs of the race that included the run from Maiden Rock to County D. It has a pretty rough hill that climbs up the bluff, but it was gorgeous, peaceful, and it was already one of my many happy places. I still clearly remember running (& walking) that stretch in the dark. The light of the moon just bright enough to silhouette the trees, but not shining enough to see the top of the hill. It wasn’t my fastest run ever, but it’s certainly amongst my most memorable.

With that in mind the conversation between Becky and I always drifts back to Ragnar and so many memories of that awesome experience. There are so many moments when we laugh out loud (ask our friend Kurt why I deserve a god damn medal if you’d like a good laugh!). Every time we drive past it’s like opening a time capsule. We dive right into those memories and re-enjoy that experience we had together and with so many of our friends.

How awesome is that? So much joy from just a simple stretch of pavement in kind of the middle of nowhere. I already appreciate that ride when I’m on it, today I’m even a little more thankful for it.

Thanks!!!

With the holidays just behind in the rearview mirror and a vacation on the horizon my life at work has gotten extremely busy in a short period of time.  Starting new strategies requiring extra thought and focus, following up on the previous year’s commitments, catching the occasional surprise out of left field, and taking on projects to help teammates grow while helping our clients on short notice all really hit me right between the eyes today.  As the day unfurled I had to pause at one point to take a deep breath, focus, make sure that each task was necessary, and then figure out a strategy to make it all happen.

And you know what?  I frickin’ loved every minute of it!  It’s crunch time and I love the rush of endorphins that come with getting stuff done in a tight deadline.

Sure, there’s sometimes when I’d like it to all slow down for a day or two to get caught up, to plan ahead, and to prepare.  That said, I love me a good sprint as well as a tough puzzle.  In this case the sprint is for a limited time with clearly defined goals and a very clear finish line.

Trying to make it all fit is a part of the fun as long as I remember to look at it that way.  Not only are there work deadlines, but I also still plan on spending time with Becky and my boys, working on my book, and a handful of other things that bring me great joy (like writing this blog).

Part of the reason that I’m able to lock in and let ‘er rip in a time like this is a theory that I learned from a wonderful book – Scarcity.  In the book the authors dive into great detail about how a long term situation of scarcity can be very detrimental, but in short doses it can help us do incredible things.  When I consider times like this I wonder why I am enjoying myself way more than I should be.  I have more on my plate than usual and with less time to get it all done, but I smile and get more done than normal.  It’s like time slows down, I prioritize what needs to get done, and then I focus on one task at a time, then the next, and then the next.  There’s a rhythm and a flow that I get into that just feel so awesome.  All the while I’m also keeping in mind that there’s a finish line that I am going to run through, crash, take a deep breath, get up, and sprint again.

So here I am, in crunch time…  and appreciating every minute of it!

Thanks!!!

 

Today I was helping out one of our newest offices and I had a fantastic time working with them.  There’s something about the energy of people taking on a new task that gets me so amped up, I really appreciate it.

It meant an early morning long car ride and a later evening car ride home, so I’ve had a lot of car time to think and listen to the book Triggers by Marshall Goldsmith.  The book is focused on how to create behaviors that last to help us be more like the person we want to be.  As I listened my brain kept going back to one of Father Mark’s favorite quotes, “Let us take a moment to mind the gap between who we are and who we are called to be.”

That quote has lasted with me for over 15 years, and it’s a part of the core of my value of having a growth mindset.  As Father Mark said it he never intended it to be something that made us feel bad or guilty.  Rather, it was bringing awareness to where we could each be better.

As I listened to Triggers this concept kept sneaking back up, over and over…  Who do I really want to be?  How do I really want to live?  How well do I live my values daily?  What am I actively doing to live my dreams?  Did I do my best today to be the best possible version of me that I could be?  As I thought through these and many other questions it helped me remember to mind the gap…  and find ways to close it.

There were several times in which I paused the audiobook and spent some time thinking, considering the answers.  The interesting thing is that I am not beating myself up over the answers, but rather considering how important each of them are to me and thinking of ways to improve those answers for tomorrow.  I am pretty sure that I’ll never answer everything perfectly, but I’m okay with that so long as I am doing my best to close the gap.

After a while I had a song that got stuck in my head and it really fit the mood.  If you just read the lyrics below you might not quite be sure what to think about it.  It almost seems sad and somber.  In reality, it’s a very hopeful song.  It’s not focused on not being as good as he could be but rather showing the constant reach for growth and improvement.

When I hear it I think about how I want to be better than I am for my family, my friends, everyone, and especially for myself.  Not in a disappointing or hopeless way, but in the way of knowing that I need to keep working at it, that it’s a never ending journey to work to be better, and to enjoy the entire journey – the successes and the failures.  Each step slowly but surely leading me to be a better me.

Between the book and the song I’ve been thinking about the gap a lot tonight.  I’ve got a long ways to go, but I also know I’ve made a lot of progress.  Something about both halves of that last statement makes me smile and brings me joy…  and I’m very thankful for that today.

Thanks!!!

 

Better Man – Judah & the Lion

Oh that I would go through storms
Know my soul is better for it
Oh my heart to face the pain
My mind, it’d move past yesterday

No, I just want to be a better man
No, I just want to be a better man
As I go

All my life that I would grow
Like a flower that comes up from a seed that’s sown
The spirit now to rise within
Reign over my carnal skin

No, I just want to be a better man
No, I just want to be a better man
As I go

And oh I just want to be a better man
And oh I just want to be a better man, yeah
And oh I just want to be a better man
And oh I just want to be a better man
As I go

Oh my hands to serve and love
My eyes to see and not to judge
My spirit now to rise within
And reign over my carnal skin

Today was one of those days that started out well, got interesting, went well again, got interesting again, and went well again.  At the end of it all it was pretty easy to see an ongoing theme and that’s why today’s blog seems appropriate.

This morning life was going well, there was a scheduling issue at work that we were able to work through, but everything else was moving along well.  Even Gavin was ahead of the game and ready for school over 30 minutes before he needed to be.   And then Becky went to start the car…  and the battery was dead.

There’s always a choice to be made, get angry and upset or be cool calm and collected.  In the case of Becky today, she set the stage for all of us to follow today.

Instead of being angry or frustrated she came in with a smile on her face and filled me in on the battery situation.  She threw a couple of options out there and gave me a minute to take a deep breath so I could stay calm too.   We went with the plan that made the most sense (me take the car with the dead battery and get it replaced), and that was that.

On my way to work I was still early and I took advantage of being early and in the right place at the right time.  Even though it was -9 before windchill I drove up to the top of Garvin Heights, ran out of my car to the overlook, and took this picture of the beautiful moonset / sunrise…

Almost all of the work day went very well and I was able to have a very productive day…  until…

Becky called to let me know that she had a flat tire on the offramp on I90.  She was totally cool & calm, kind of laughing it off.  I again took a deep breath, followed her lead, and decided to leave a little early to head down to change the tire for her.  A couple of minutes later she called and said based on how cold it was and the convenient location of Tires Plus to where she was located she decided to call a tow truck.  Once I got there and felt the windchill I knew she’d made the right call, it was way too cold to attempt that with the lame little jack in the car.

We had the car towed to Tires Plus and started to make plans for tomorrow thinking we’d only have one vehicle.  As luck would have it they not only had two of the correct tires, they also had time to put them on tonight for us!  Disaster averted and all was good again.

As the night is wrapping up I’m smiling at how much we’ve accomplished tonight, looking at my old Boy Scout merit badge sash and planning a long weekend of camping this summer.  We’ve been joking around about the events today and taking a deep breath, staying calm and realizing how much worse any of these scenarios could have been today.

The reason we’re all chill and having a great night is because Becky totally set the tone.  She didn’t get upset, angry, or frustrated, she stayed cool and calm…  and helped me get there too.

Thanks!!!

For many years Becky and I have tossed around the idea of going through all of our pictures from the past year on New Year’s Eve.  The thought was that is would be a pretty fantastic way to remember all of the fun we’ve had in the past year.  Every time we’d thought about it we got busy and found ourselves not having enough time to go through them as a family.

This year we decided it was the right year to start a new Kreiling family tradition so we started going through all of our pictures on January 30 and wrapped up the second half of 2017 tonight.  If the number of pictures taken in a year is any indicator of how awesome a year was I’m thinking my post from yesterday was spot on!  There were over 3,000 pictures taken this year and we went through each and every one.  Don’t get me wrong, I often took 3-6 to get one that turned out right, but even still that’s a lot of great moments caught on film.

What I appreciated the most about going through it was the giggling as we saw all pictures, good and bad.  There were some that we didn’t mean to be humorous that were and others that were meant to be funny that were a riot!  We were constantly laughing and giving each other a hard time.

Another part of the two night event that I am grateful for was the repeating and sharing of stories.  Many pictures elicited a response of “do you remember…”  It was great!  By going back through those pictures we had our memories fired back up and talked about them again.

The part that I am most thankful for about this new family tradition is spending time together as a family.  All four of us were together to go through the pictures.  When someone left the room we paused.  When someone fell asleep we gave them a hard time and woke them up before proceeding.  It was great!  Wonderful bonding time together remembering the events from the past year that have slowly but surely shaped us into who we are.  How awesome is that???

Next year we’ll just plan on it being a two night event and find new ways to make it more exciting.  Maybe there will be more pictures, but maybe there will be less.  Regardless, I am already looking forward to it because it will be a fantastic time together as a family remembering our adventures!

Thanks!!!