My Big Dream

I read this book, "The Dream Giver", about 3 years ago for the first time.  It was a good read, but I really didn't embrace the concept that God has given each of us a dream.  Without going into a rathole here, I'd just say that God has many plans for us, and we need to be listening and use his Word to test the nudges and insights to see what their source is.

I re-read the book about 6 or 8 months ago.  I was nagged by it, because I believe I am nagged by a dream.    Further, I read it the 3rd time on my way to and from California this week.   I've come to realize there a significant truths found therein.

First, in late 2007 through mid 2009, I was probably at my happiest.  In believe the reason is that I felt like I was realizing a dream - to be a leader at a level that I could make a difference in peoples lives - how they interacted, how they approached their work, and how they viewed their company.   This was a great time for me, and for the team I lead.    During that time, I did feel complete and like I had been born for the situation and for the opportunity.   I still have people tell me that that team was a "dream team" and that they wished somehow we could re-create it.

At my current employer, there are people that are looking for a dream team situation.   This is simply an environment that promotes team and allows them to do what they love doing.   Unfortunately, there are always "giants" in the way, border bullies and other things that stand in the way.   Some of the "giants" are actually within us - they keep us from pursuing and being bold about good things.  Some people in the organization, or any organization, are bullies and don't see how their mindset of command and control hamper creativity and spirit.

There is a stirring.   There remains a "dream" within me.   I can't deny it, I can't shake it.  It is a call to rebuild or at least to lead the creation of the "dream team" environment again.  

Yes, this call causes discomfort, just as it did before.   Yes, there are many things I want to point to that tell me it's too late, too much trouble, and not worth it.   But, since I've come to realize that this call is consistent with God's will, I feel compelled to answer.

Read the book, think about the principles described, and see if it is time to answer the call of "Your Big Dream"!

Tenacity

I think more than anything else, tenacity has been that attribute, that secret sauce, that has propelled me through the thick and thin of life.

My definition is this, the desire to not give up even when it makes sense to.  To not give up even when it would be OK to.   To not give up even when it would be popular to do so.

My Dad blessed me with this gift.  He instilled in me, tenacity.

Dad didn't go to college but he desperately wanted me to go.  He knew that in "in this day and age" that a college degree is near a requirement for today's worker.   He did not know anything about my choice of college career, engineering, but when he saw me struggle he encouraged me to stick with it.  He would see me studying at the dining room table, with all my Calculus notes strewn everywhere, and I would tell him how hard it was, and he would simply say"stick with it".

My Dad has recently had open-heart surgery.  During his recovery, what I'm seeing displayed in him is shear tenacity.  Yes, there are thousands of folks that have bypass surgery in this country everyday.  But, when it's your time, none of that matters, you and you alone have to decide whether to push through the pain and discomfort or not.   That's tenacity!

Tenacity.   Yes, God did bless me with enough gray matter, or the right gray matter to be able to do abstract mathematics and engineering.  Additionally, he blessed me with a father that passed on a gift - tenacity and mental toughness.  It's that tenacity, more so that brain smarts, that continues to be a driving force within me.

Thanks Dad for that gift, and hang in there and "stick with it!".

20 year old 10K PR

Just wondering if I could break a 20 year old personal best I set back in 1992.

I ran the Cotton Row Run in 47:40, that's about a 7:40 mile pace for 6.2 miles.

First order of business, drop 10 pounds!

How about you 50er, do you have a running record that needs broken?

I'm not totally committed just yet, just thinking about it!

Start with Why

Several months ago I came across this video.

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/lang/eng//id/848 .

The video was highlighted by David Skok on his blog http://www.forentrepreneurs.com/ .

I'm not sure how the book read will go, as I just started, however, the video is worth a few watches!

As I continue to rediscover and re-explore my own drive, I found a truth here.   We don't buy products and services based on price and features.  Many time it's about brand, and the perceptions in the market around the brand.   I have found this to be so in so many of my purchases.

For me, I like to be different.   I'm not better than anyone else, not better looking, not smarter.  But I do like to differentiate myself a bit - after all there are 7 billion of us running around on the planet now.

The author of "Start with Why", zeroes in on Apple as a great example of the "start with why" principle.     This example resonated with me since I know I can purchase a PC with more power and more features than the MacBook I purchased.  However, PCs are a commodity, and for me there's nothing cool about a  ThinkPad.   There is something cool about owning a Mac.

After I read the book, I'll let you know what I think about it, right here.  In the meantime, tell me what you think about the video.

What's your take?