Many books provide some excellent insight, ideas, and motivation. Even the ones I haven’t enjoyed much have at least had a handful of nuggets of knowledge to collect. Occasionally there are those books which some have referred to as “quake books,” the ones which rock my foundation. Those are the ones that go up on the short shelf to be read and re-read. They are the ones that cause me to pause and think. Quake books force me to step back and look at myself through a new lens.

The most recent one is a book I’ve known about for quite a while but hadn’t brought myself to pull the trigger on, Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday. This read was like a sledgehammer to my ego, one of the hardest hitting books I’ve read in a long time.

The timing of me reading this is quite serendipitous. I’d already started putting together the presentation of my partnership history with Express when I decided it was time to pick this up for the first time. While compiling my notes for that presentation I kept realizing just how many times I’ve let my ego get the better of me. When asked by a teammate what my biggest mistake was in my career my ego was the one that I couldn’t help but focus on. How many opportunities missed, how many potential successes squandered, and how many partnerships undone before they could happen have there been due to my inability to see just how much my ego got in the way. It was humbling to admit, especially in a room full of cohorts, but it also felt like a weight lifted. Acceptance can be a beautiful first step.

This book really helped me see just how ego has gotten in my way, and that I am certainly not alone. There were so many stories of others who’d made similar mistakes and others who’d performed the way I wish I would have. After finishing it today I had to just sit down and let it all sink in and ferment a bit. This one will be re-read again soon, there is so much more info to glean from it, so much work ahead for me. I’m so appreciative to have this tool to help me grow, to help me close the gap between who I am and who I should be.

Thanks!!!

Today some of my partners and I conducted a training for a group of our future leaders, our NextGen Leadership participants. There were so many reasons to be thankful for the day, I hope to capture each of the key reasons as best I can as each brought great joy today.

The participation was incredible. So many great ideas and insights, there were many things I was able to learn from everyone – new and old. Everyone spoke up, asked questions, and shared, a very active group.

Being in person with everyone rather than all the Zooms we had been doing was priceless. As COVID numbers dwindle again I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect with others as we were initially intended to do.

Sharing the path I’ve taken to get to the present was transformative for me. As I wrote about a couple of nights ago, the zooming out was profoundly insightful. Seeing and feeling the emotions of others as I shared my journey took the entire thing to a new level. Hearing myself share the story I’ve already lived also helped me analyze and review my past actions and intentions – and see a better path forward. The questions asked helped me pause and reassess some conclusions as well. While the presentation was intended for others the impact on my own thought processes was mind blowing.

So many memories of times with my mentors and partners were refreshed in my brain. I’ve been so blessed to be surrounded by so many wise, giving, and loving people. Having the opportunity to honor them through the sharing of concepts they’d shared with me was awesome.

The energy of the participants, active in pursuing their future career growth was inspiring. Their eagerness to learn and willingness to share motivated me more and more. I deeply appreciate the opportunity to spend time on their journey with them.

Last, but certainly not least, I am thankful for the partnership my cohorts and I have. The three of us who were present each pitched in, adjusted, helped, and adlibbed to keep everything running smoothly. There were zero egos amongst us, only a shared passion for helping to grow our teammates. This experience has had a very positive impact on our relationship and I’m giddy to see where this continues to grow for us.

What an amazing opportunity to learn and grow with so many important people from our teams. I appreciated each and every moment.

Thanks!!!

Objective judgment, now, at this very moment. Unselfish action, now, at this very moment. Willing acceptance—now, at this very moment—of all external events. That’s all you need.

Marcus Aurelius

At a time when it was needed most I drew upon the strength and wisdom of this quote. I lived into it, followed it, and did what needed to be done through it.

The process was successful. The end results are yet to be decided. I feel fulfilled in knowing I have lived at least a brief portion of my day successfully.

Now I must push harder to live into this more regularly and with intentionality. A work in progress, but eventually becoming the rock the sea crashes over, unmoving while the raging of the sea still falls around it.

Thanks!!!

On Friday we have a leadership training for our NextGen Leadership crew at work. One of the agenda items is me giving a short presentation on my experience as a partner. When my cohorts first asked me to do this (the first one) I chuckled as I said yes. This was going to be easy – talking about myself? I’ve got this one covered! As I’ve been working on it I am now doing more of a nervous chuckle. This is way more difficult than I initially thought.

What’s been so interesting in this experience has been taking the time to zoom out over two decades. As I piece together my Express journey it’s almost like someone else experienced all of these events, there’s no way I’ve been with Express long enough to experience them all. From showing up for my first interview in blue jeans to becoming an owner to opening a new office to surviving a pandemic there have been so many experiences, so many lessons learned. While trying to piece them all together and then cut back to the most important I’ve been forcing myself to zoom way out.

What I really noticed today was the ability of time to fly by so quickly if I don’t pause to step back. If I don’t pause to zoom out it will continue to spin out of control so rapidly. By taking a breath and looking back I can stop and see the progress and the true depth of time I’ve let pass by.

At least a few times each week I review my blog posts from each of the past six years. In those posts I have planted mini time capsules for myself. They remind me of just how much life has changed in such a short period of time. I don’t have a system like this for pausing to do the same thing in my professional life. Perhaps I should.

Zooming out has brought me much joy as I see the progress and growth from the past 20+ years, but it reminds me I have so much work to so in order to live intentionally at work as I also strive to do at home. It really helped me see that I’ve got a sizable gap for me to work towards closing, which really just means I’ve got a unique opportunity to learn while helping others find a path through a similar challenge.

Thanks!!!

With the first month of 2022 now in the rear view I am smiling at seeing what I’ve accomplished thus far. There’s still quite the gap to cross over the next 11 months, but I’ve definitely got the wind at my back.

Amongst the highlights towards my goals for January are:

• Reading over half a dozen books
• Reducing screen time on my phone drastically – 40 minutes per day last week
• No alcohol
• Very little internet usage outside of work, travel, woodworking, blogging, and recipes
• Taking specific actions towards one of my biggest goals in 2022
• Dreaming up some interesting clarity for other 2022 goals

This next month will see more movement towards where I want to be by the end of the year. Each successive month will be more and more difficult as I ramp up certain areas while maintaining the habits built in the previous months. That said, I have a vision of who I want to keep living into and have a great idea of the habits that person lives into. Lots of work, but on my way!

Thanks!!!

My early morning drive to Menomonie was wildly scenic. The sunrise started as a super dark orange and then changed to a shimmering copper color before rising completely. The colors reminded me of much warmer days in Sydney when the forest fire smoke changed the hue of the sunlight all day long. The trees were all covered in a spectacular hoar frost that absolutely glittered with magical delight as I drove past. Everything was so calm, peaceful, and perfectly snow covered. The entire drive felt like something right out of a storybook.

When I got to Menomonie I made my annual pilgrimage to a service road just off a bridge almost in the middle of town. On the frozen lake was the infamous Klunker on ice, an annual fundraiser for the local Lion’s club. The car is pulled onto the ice and then people place their bets on what time and day the car will break through the ice and sink to the bottom of the lake. Why would I drive to see that every year?

One of my all time favorite books is American Gods by Neil Gaiman. In that fantastic work of fiction Neil pulls in many aspects of life in Menomonie, WI as the fictional town of Lakeside. The bridge and the Klunker are two prominent features in a small part of the story. Seeing both in the winter like this are such an odd intersection of reality and fiction. Each year I can’t help but feel a little wonder when I see them, it’s like the feeling that Santa Claus is real again for a brief moment or two. What a gift that wonder is!

Thanks!!!

This morning I had an idea before we went to church. I gave Gavin the heads up that he would be joining me for a trail run up and down the bluffs once we got home from church. As can be expected I received groans, complaints, and eye rolls. There was zero interest from Gavin in my plan. I could hear Dad’s voice in my head as I told Gavin, “Suck it up Buttercup!” He was obviously very disinterested as we got our gear together and headed out to the car.

On the way there he started to warm up to the idea a bit and he was almost smiling by the time we parked the car near our trailhead. We put on our crampons and began jogging up the hill.

Not gonna lie, it was a little rough at the start. Most of the running I’ve done recently has involved a total elevation gain of about eight feet or has been on a treadmill. This was the first time I’d jogged up a hill on the uneven footing of a trail in quite some time. We were both breathing pretty heavy until we hit the first trail junction.

At that point Gavin said, “this is kinda fun.” A little ways further down the trail he asked if he could take the lead. I let him pass and caught a huge smile on his face as he went by. Next thing I knew he was setting the pace and seeming to enjoy each and every footstep.

As we kept going up the bluff he mentioned how much fun he was having and how he could understand why I enjoy doing this type of stuff. I didn’t say as much because his pace had me pretty well gassed 😉 When I would ask him to stop for a second Gavin’s smile was the first thing I saw when he turned around.

With as much fun as we were both having we took a couple of side trails rather than the quickest path down. We ran through almost knee high snowdrifts and up and down the rolling hills atop the bluff. We cruised through quarry and took in the sights of La Crosse through the trees and down below. We talked, we joked, and we discussed trail and distance running. In what felt like no time at all we were back at the bottom of the trail taking our crampons off.

Gavin was complaining before the run when I mentioned that we may go three miles or so. By the time we reached the trailhead we’d gone over six miles and he was grinning from ear to ear.

The running was so effortless I had to double check my GPS watch for accuracy. My legs are a little tight and sore now, but at the time I felt like I could go longer. It was awesome. The thrill of running on the trail and losing myself in the moment with Gavin’s first trail run made the run so easy and chill.

Today was a run I’ll never forget. Just a hunch, but I have a feeling this will be the first of many long distance trail runs for Gavin, it seems like he caught the bug.

Thanks!!!

Yesterday after school the boys made a run up towards the Ladysmith area to go snowboarding with some of their cousins on a Scout event. My mind is still reeling over the fact that they are old enough to make a multi hour road trip on their own like that. The videos we got back from one of their uncles were awesome! Snowboarding down black diamonds and making crazy jumps – it was wild to see. I’m thankful for their willingness and ability to make road trips like that to do something they both love. Hearing how excited they both were afterwards filled me with joy. I will never tire of hearing stories of how much fun they have had doing something they love together.

Dominic spent the majority of his day working as a referee for an indoor soccer tournament. That meant it was just Gavin and I as we did some chores around the house, grabbed lunch, took the dogs for a walk, and played some games. Throughout there was much conversation between the two of us. While most of the conversation was more lighthearted and chill there were also moment bits of faith, life, and other more serious things. Just a couple of nights ago I got some bonus one on one time with Dominic, I’m very appreciative of the extra time alone with Gavin today. Whenever we spend time together like this our relationship grows and I go to bed with a smile.

Thanks!!!

Tonight was our annual Chamber of Commerce banquet and our team got a table. Spending time with the team was pretty awesome. Having the opportunity to spend so much time with a couple of work teams like this is an incredible blessing. Work is a lot more fun, enjoyable, and rewarding when I get to work with teams like this.

Thanks!!!

Today I was able to find a pretty big “AND.” You know, rather than choose “this” OR “that,” how can you choose “this” AND “that.” It can be so easy for me find the “OR,” the “AND” takes work to find and create. The “AND” is typically more elusive, it hides quietly in the the deep dark corners and has to be coaxed out. If I don’t intentionally seek it out the “AND” will sit quietly and wait until I’ve settled on the “OR.”

Today I found the “AND,” and it made all the difference in so many ways.

I like working on projects alone. I enjoy the sense of independence and control. This is not the best way to work. I may make good things, but we can make truly exceptional things.

A meeting with a small handful of teammates this morning reminded me of that fact. When taking on a rather large concept with huge implications I realized I couldn’t do it alone, especially not in a great and meaningful way. My teammates came up with some mind blowingly amazing ideas AND are ready to implement them right away! Together we saw a much larger opportunity than any of us, especially me, would have seen individually.

It is so easy to take on a task alone, it is so much more successful when we take it on together.

Thanks!!!