Author: Michael Kreiling

Thankful for Clarity on Clarity, Deeper Learning from Leaders, & the Presence of Speaking

Day 2,229

Growth:

In one of our learning sessions today the speaker shared this thought provoking insight, “Clarity is controllable.”

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a leader is providing the necessary clarity of goals for my team. This comment reminded me that of all that I do as a leader providing clarity is amongst the most important, if not the most important. What a perfect reminder for me to be intentional about being completely clear in our vision and goals!

Appreciation:

One of my favorite The Far Side cartoons by Gary Larson is one which the line is, “Mr. Osborne, may I be excused? My brain is full.” That is exactly how I am feeling after 24 hours of our Express Leadership Academy Alumni Retreat. So many ideas are already stuffed into my brain bucket, I’m afraid if I add any more some will slosh out when I walk!

What I’m most appreciative for is the opportunity to learn from other leaders. Yes, the strategy and tactics are fantastic, but I’m talking about the deeper learning that is there is I remember to watch for it below the surface. How does the leader show their values in the way they communicate? If I listen to a deeper frequency there are more profound and impactful lessons to learn. There were two specifically today which moved me deeply.

One leader who is amongst the most successful in our 800+ offices showed such a deep level of humility. She’s done a superb job of quieting ego while continuing to lead the way to success. Her integrity shown through so clearly as well, everything she does is with excellence. She’s focused on the most important and gets at it. As I re-read Meditations I can’t help but see how she embodies so many of the Stoic principles.

Another leader is exceptionally courageous while also leading with dynamic clarity. She is willing to try new things, to see where the world is going and get there before anyone else does. She reminds me of the Wayne Gretzky quote, “Most people skate to the puck, I skate to where the pick will be.” That takes courage and old fashioned guts. New ideas are never easy and are often criticized… until everyone realizes just how brilliant the idea really is.  Her courage to do what’s right is truly uplifting.

There is no question I can draw inspiration from both of these leaders at a level deeper than their tactics and strategies. From them I can learn to be a better me. I am so thankful today for the opportunity to learn from them.

Presence:

Speaking in front of a group is one of my favorite ways to be 100% focused in the present moment. There is no room to day dream, to drift off, or to consider all the things going on in life. 

There is only the audience to focus on, watching their nonverbals and responding accordingly. What’s hitting home, what’s not. Who had a deeply emotional connection to the specific line. Which phrases or points packed the most punch. The speaking itself is muscle memory, the true presence in in the micro adaptions to the audience to provide them the best possible experience.

Having an opportunity to speak to an audience is a practice in forced presence and focus, I am so appreciative for that opportunity!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for The Deadline, Flight Discipline, & Releasing Control While Choosing Mindset

Day 2,228

Growth:

“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2:11

This quote has been top of mind for everal reasons today. In some cases I lived the moment in accordance with this thought, other times I worked in direct opposition to it and considered the right action afterward. The more I practice this quote the closer I will be to closing the gap between who I am and who I should be.

Nothing focuses us on a goal as knowing the deadline is soon at hand. Death is the ultimate deadline, its date unknown, and always sooner than desired.

Appreciation:

Time on flights used to be consumed with watching movies. I still remember watching at least three movies on one of our longer flights to or from Australia. I’d find a moive I wanted to watch, throw it on, and then dissolve into the screen.

More recently I’ve realized that the time on a flight is one of my last bastions of opportunity if I so choose. Rather than a movie I fired up my phone and started typing a presentation I’ll be giving soon. I was able to create a littlle over two hours of opportunity I could have easily squandered. I’m grateful for my flight discipline.

Presence:

My flight out of Minneapolis was a little bumpy early on. Within minutes of the wheels leaving the ground we started getting bounced around pretty heavily. I closed my eyes for a moment. I took a deep breath, relaxed, and realized this would be an opportune moment to practice remembering what is under my control and what is not. The bumps and shakes were outside of me, but I could choose how I responded. I looked to the front of the plane and enjoyed the next couple of minutes of the roller coaster ride.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Another de Mello Quote, an Outsider’s View, and Thought Provoking Storytelling

Day 2,227

Growth:

“Are you listening for something to confirm what you already think or are you listening to learn?”

Anthony de Mello

What a succinct reminder to listen with the right intent rather than the intention to be right.

Appreciation:

I’m appreciative of those moments when someone else helps me see that being me in the way I was meant to be me is s strength that I should embrace warmly and attempt to live into more often. A while back someone helped me realize that we often take our strengths for granted as we assume everyone has the same strength. Having it pointed out can be humbling, but is as Leo a wonderful guidepost that we’re living more closely into our best selves.

Presence:

Getting lost in a thought provoking story is an awesome thing. Sure, I’ve seen the movie Wild, but the book is already blowing my mind. I was completely enraptured while starting it today!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Weakness Leaving the Body, Becky’s Drive, & Embracing the Suck

Day 2,226

Growth:

Someone once said that suffering while exercising is really just weakness leaving the body. Sounds all badass and stuff until I’m in the heat of the moment when I’m suffering. During yoga today I reminded myself of that concept while desperately wanting to suck air because my lungs were on fire. Rather than give I decided to shed some weakness. I suffered through and realized I can push myself further do long as I become a better friend to self chosen suffering.

Appreciation:

I’m grateful for Becky’s discipline for exercising today. Thanks to her inspiration I knocked out two wonderful workouts and will sleep like a champ. I’d like to think I’d still do at least one workout, but thanks to Becky’s drive I don’t have to guess, I just do.

Presence:

In the moment my lungs were burning I dove right into the burn. I focused on it, took in every once of it, and was 100% present in it. Honestly, it sucked horribly while simultaneously felt incredibly liberating and exhilarating.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Making Space, a Day at Mom’s, & Condensed Family Game Night

Day 2,225

Growth:

We went to church with mom at her church this morning and had the opportunity to experience an awesomely insightful sermon. One of the biggest takeaways for me was this – if the devil can’t tempt you he’ll keep you busy instead. That one kind really hit home on the importance of creating time to breathe and to focus inward. Thus really followed suit with several other lessons learned over the past couple of years.

Appreciation:

Spending much of yesterday at Mom’s was great time! No real agenda, lots of talking at the countertop, walking the dog, going out to eat, and relaxing together at the end of the night. So chill, so relaxing, so wonderful to spend time catching up.

Presence:

Even a short and condensed family game night is still a family game night. Through all the chaos of the past few months these family nights have been few and far between, it was nice having the opportunity to sit around the kitchen table and chill as a family.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Memories, Surreal Intersections of Life, & Soil

Day 2,224

Growth:

Time passes by, the world changes, but memories created with dear friends are forever.

Appreciation:

Walking through the University of Minnesota campus as a family was a surreal intersection of memory and life and the realization of 20+ years flying by. Many memories created with great friends. Seeing the opportunity of the next stage of life for Dominic. Witnessing the steAdy forward movement of time over multiple decades. Inspiring. Humbling. Warming the soul. So much joy.

Presence:

The smell of fresh soil always gets me! On a hike with my mom and my family we happened upon a patch if freshly dug dirt where a new trail was being put in. Closing my eyes to breathe it in and appreciate it was so rewarding.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Confident Humility, Chik Fil A Breakfast, & Being Surrounded by Kangaroos

Day 2,223

Growth:

Impostor Syndrome is a legit challenge for many of us. The internal questioning of our ability can be utterly crippling at times when we let that little voice in our head mess us up. On the polar opposite end of the spectrum is arrogance. Somewhere in between is a beautfilly balanced spot in which I should strive to live my life, in confident humility.

Appreciation:

Here’s to the simple pleasures in life. This morning I had a doc appointment to start off the day. It just so happens that the hospital is right near the new Chik Fil A that just happened in La Crosse. The offer a profoundly tasty breakfast so I decided to pre-treat myself with a delicious chicken breakfast sandwich. The appointment was made all the better as a result.

Presence:

As I got closer to Winona this morning my audiobook hit the end of a chapter and decided to turn on a specific song on a whim. I fired up Mumford & Sons’ Tomkins Square Park off their album Wilder Mind. The combination of the song, the weather, and the leaves brought back a string of memories.

When Becky and I went to Australia back in May of 2016 the album I listened to the most, and think of as my personal soundtrack for taht trip, was Wilder Mind. May is the fall for the Southern Hemisphere so the leaves were changing color and the temperatures were a little cooler. Some of the areas we stayed in had an uncanny resemblence to the Driftless. Put all these things together and I was lost in a moment in which I was 100% present.

Becky was at the University of New England for meetings for the day so I went to one of Australia’s National Parks. As I pulled in I had that song playing quietly. I had the windows rolled down, and there was no one else on the road or in the parking lot. My hike started in the parking lot and almost immediately went through a field with tall grass. The hair on my neck stood up a little and I felt like something or someone was watching me. When I snapped my neck to the right towards the largest part fo the field three heads all popped up and stared at me! Three kangaroos, all about as tall as me, popped their heads up to see who was walking through the field. It was AWESOME!!! I’ll never forget that moment as the ‘roos and I stood in awe of each other.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for History, Cemetery Walks, & a Little Suffering

Day 2,222

Growth:

The book I’m currently reading is a historical fiction on the topic of the Spartans and the Battle of Thermopylae. The training regimen they went through was insanely intense. With that in mind there are some strong leadership and values lessons that come through loud and clear. The focus on group over self, disciplined action, and the need for suffering to grow all have been very clear. Great lessons to remember!

Appreciation:

One of the strategies we’ve taken on to increase retention is a monthly team building event. This month’s was a walk through Woodlawn Cemetery to experience the natural beauty and history contained in the valley. Spending time with my team forking one of my favorite things was a wonderful way to wrap up a busy day of work.

Presence:

Sometimes a little suffering can remind me to be thankful for relatively good health. The minor discomfort also was an unexpected source of presence. When I focused on it specifically I was 100% there with it.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Planning with Others, Taking Action, & Focused Breathing

Day 2,221

Growth:

What a difference it makes to let people be a part of creating a plan rather than just dictating a plan. The plan ends up being significantly better AND it is so much easier to execute with everyone’s buy in.

Appreciation:

There’s a time to stand up and take action, and I did that tonight. I’m thankful for the mentors in my life who showed me the path and built up my confidence to do so when needed.

Presence:

After our run this morning I took a little rest in bed. Due to taking Gavin to school I had a little extra time on my hands and I opted to get horizontal and relax my brain. With my sleep mask on and a very quiet house I chilled and focused on my breathing. What a wonderful calm there is to be found in my mind when I’m present without distraction.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Books & Rivers, Couch Time, & Being Lost in Conversation

Day 2,220

Growth:

On my quest to read 100 books in 2022 I’ve come across some I read over a decade ago. What’s interesting is that in reading them I’m finding that books are similar to rivers. You know the quote, “you never step in the same river twice.” Such is the same for books. Though the words are the same as they were before the person I am is very different than the person I was then. The experiences of life have shifted perspecitves a bit as well as help me divine deeper meanings.

Appreciation:

Family couch time isn’t usually on tap at our home. We’re usually doing something, playing a game, or off running somewhere. Tonight was a magical night in which we all had everything done AND plopped on the couch in the living room to catch an episode of Alone while talking smack and guessing what would happen. There’s only another 10 or 11 months ahead of us before there will be only three of us… I’m savoring all these moments while I can.

Presence:

Getting totally lost in the moment of a conversation with someone I haven’t seen in a long while is so easy to do. It’s kind of like presence on cheat mode! Time flew by as we caught up and shared thoughts and stories.

Thanks!!!