​Where do you go to observe the world?  Do you have a quiet place from which the view is clear and you're not bombarded with life’s intrusions, at least for the moment?  My Welsh Springer Spaniel does; it’s atop his wall.
 
You might not think it from this regal pose, but Rhys is seldom still when outside.  He's a serious hunter; he's relentless and fully-engaged in his pursuits.  His name, literally translated from Old Welsh, means “enthusiasm”. And that describes him perfectly.  Rhys approaches all aspects of his life with great joy, but especially when fulfilling his daily mission, which is to capture things.  (For the record, he's a “catch and release” sort of fellow.)  I've never known such a happy dog.
 
We all need a place to pause and reflect; for Rhys, it’s on the wall.  His wall.  He never stays up there for long, but it's a fine place to survey the landscape and consider his next pursuit. Then he's off to the next thing in a flash of focused energy and fur, white-tipped tail held high like a personal flag as he springs across the property!
 
When we’re in the thick of our own daily pursuits, it can be difficult to pause and survey the landscape. But it's critical to do so, both literally and figuratively. Only then can we clearly see what's been accomplished and assess what to pursue next. A brief pause, in the right location, offers both rest and perspective. Your special place may be perched on a wall, a dock, in an office, under a tree, in a favorite open space or even in your car; where doesn't matter nearly as much as what the brief respite affords you.
 
Take a tip from Rhys and find your place on the wall.  Briefly reflect on and appreciate what you've accomplished, then fix your sights on what lies ahead.  Plan your next move.  Then…….Enjoy the Journey!

​We say the word, often, as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. We talk about “where” we're going, “who” is coming, “how” we’re coordinating everything and “what” we’re planning to eat.  How often do we talk about “why” we’re celebrating and discuss what we’re “giving”?  It can get quite hectic.
 
We certainly have plenty to be thankful for.  We live in the “best” times our world has ever known, by many measures, and certainly have the benefit of not worrying about how we’re going to survive for another day.  It's meaningful to look back and appreciate the circumstances and good fortune that have brought us here, with one another.  Our DNA and our life experiences are undeniably integrated into what makes us who we are today.
 
ThanksGIVING isn't about the past for me.  Instead, it's about how we will take the present we've been given and turn that into the future.  What are we giving to others?  Not just materially, but of our knowledge and abilities?  Of our perspective and patience?  Of our beliefs and commitment?  Of our ideas and energy?  Of our precious time?  We ALL have something to GIVE; what will it be?
 
The past gave you a ride to the present. The present provides your ticket to the future. Celebrate ThanksGIVING and……..Enjoy the Journey!

In October of 1805, British Admiral Horatio Nelson faced a daunting threat in an effort to defend the British Isles from a Franco-German armada focused on defeating his lesser force and opening the way for an invasion of Britain.  Nelson had 19 ships against the enemy’s 33.  The Battle of Trafalgar loomed…

The classic method for fighting warships in those days was to align them across from one another and fire cannon across the void until one of the forces surrenders, or sinks. This parallel alignment also enabled the admiral to direct actions of his ships via flag signals down the line.  It was a brutal approach, pitting force against force with a central command to direct the action. The thing is, that's a tough way to manage things when the opposing force doesn't behave as you expect.  That's especially true when disruption and chaos ensue.

Nelson, outnumbered and outmanned, decided to change the rules of engagement. He gathered the captains of his ships and shared with them an entirely different approach; they would divide their ships into two lines, sailing perpendicular to the Franco-German ships, and go right at them with the intent of dividing the enemy ships into three sections, disrupting signals and creating chaos as they fired directly into the ships as they crossed the line.

Wind direction favored Nelson as he sailed his 227 foot wooden warship 'Victory' and the rest of his fleet across the void and directly into the enemy line. This move confused and then decimated the Franco-German force. Nelson knew this would create chaos and in his direction to his other captains said that no man could go too wrong if he were to “place his ship alongside that of the enemy.”  They did and, as the smoke cleared that day, no British ships were lost; 19 of the 33 enemy vessels were captured, however.  The British Navy decisively won the Battle of Trafalgar, by employing an unorthodox but highly informed and shared approach.

This novel battle plan depended upon Nelson’s captains and crews fully understanding the overall battle plan and objectives.  The “entrepreneurial” approach he planned was dependent upon shared purpose and clarity of focus. The Franco-German ships didn't have that; in fact, Napoleon had made it quite clear to Vice Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve that he absolutely could not share with other officers what the plan for defeating England might be.  The 33 Franco-German ships were suddenly in the fog of battle without a signal flag to read.  And there was none….

Cool history lesson?  I hope so.  When I read about this old sea battle recently in a current book on leadership, I was captivated by the idea of how such an informational and structural change could create such an unexpected outcome. Those lessons are surprisingly relevant to business in our day and time.  A generation or so ago, people in business were waiting for signals from the leaders regarding what to do, when, and how. But then the world changed and the Information Age dawned.  Old rules out; new rules in.  The fascinating thing is that the “new” rules mirror those adopted by Admiral Nelson 210 years ago.  Know “Why”, “How” and finally “What” needs to happen and fully share that with your team; then go accomplish it.

If you're equipped with that knowledge, you can win a battle equally important to the Battle of Trafalgar for the British in 1805.  You’re equipped to win the Business Battle of the 21st Century!

What makes for a worthwhile day when it's Day’s End?  How do you judge a success, or evaluate a failure?

It's important to have a clear idea in mind of what a productive and successful day looks like, each time the sun makes its appearance in the east. They don't always go that way, but it helps to have a plan on the front end.

From that point forward, a good day depends mostly upon what you do – how you react – when the inevitable changes come your way. Do you complain, or do you push through?  Do you believe that you'll achieve your goals, no matter what?

How things look at Day’s End has everything to do with your mindset at the start. You have more influence on how that turns out than you might think!  Life is what happens to you when you're making plans, but each day depends upon how you handle the detours.

Enjoy the journey!

We can embrace the summer season, or not. Depending upon where you live, reactions often vary. What seems incredibly hot to residents in northern Illinois might strike Floridians as being very tolerable, even on the cool side.  Your perspective makes a difference.

Summer is the season when Mother Nature gives us a major dose of her full energy, up close and personal. She turns the lights on bright and cranks the thermostat up.  Grasses grow, plants flush, flowers blooms, weeds prosper and storms brew. People sweat it out, especially those of us who aspire to create premier properties year-round.

The "cool" thing about the summer season is that all the energy and growth creates opportunities to shape nature to our liking. Plants respond quickly to our care and cultivation. We can literally see landscapes transform before our eyes.  And that's a beautiful thing to behold, especially in the season where it's nice to be needed by those who are looking for landscape professionals to make nature's beauty happen for them, without all the work.  As a leader who has worked with me for years loves to say: "If it were easy, anyone could do it."

My genetics may be coded for cooler climes, but I've come to appreciate summer for all it offers.  Summer rewards those who can endure her challenges and the results are worth the effort!  Plus, when the day's work is done, summer is the time of year to enjoy nature's shade and to cool off in the water or with the beverage of your choice.

The heat is on, so find ways to relish it.  Enjoy the Journey!

In cases where the first or second attempt doesn't work, do you try again?  Sometimes the third time’s the charm.

Several recent experiences have revealed the importance of determination in achieving desired outcomes. It took a third prospective buyer to close a real estate transaction.  It also took a third effort to produce exactly the right enhancement solution for a customer.  A third contact with a credit card company finally resolved a sticky billing problem.  But three isn't always enough!  Unfortunately, a third attempt to reach a caring human at Expedia in what should have been a simple matter has only turned up more frustration; I haven't given up yet, but will clearly need to change my approach in dealing with that faceless organization.

To make a third attempt at something doesn't suggest doing the same things the same way as the first failed attempts. That could be the case, but it's wise to take a step back and determine the follow-up approach. A minor adjustment may be all that's needed; it’s also possible that you'll need to find another way altogether.  Albert Einstein is quoted as saying that “Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.” 

The important thing is to persevere. If you quit, you lose. Game over. To achieve success requires a willingness to push on, to find another way, after a first or second failed attempt. It can be tempting to throw in the towel early on, but often the very next try is the one that will produce the desired result. The World doesn't give up her treasures easily!

We learn from our experiences and, many wise people think, we actually learn more from the things that don't work out initially.  If you give up early, however, you'll never know just how close you were to success. Rather than be frustrated, it's worth adopting a belief that the third time's the charm.  Enjoy the journey!