Merry Christmas

Well I'm sitting here with the family at the San Diego Airport. We're on a 2.5hour flight delay and won't make our connection. I thought another Blog post was in order.

Among the many Christmas traditions we have in the family we reserve one no matter where we are and that one is to get outside and be active. Last year that meant cross country skiing in Slovenia. This year at home in Cardiff it means running. Below are pictures from the run.

I had some time to reflect while on the run. My thoughts jumped around from:

1. This is the first time in 45 years I haven't talked to Dad on Christmas Day. I'm not sure that is going to get any easier.

2. I thought a great deal about the people who aren't with their families or in their homes on this day. Mostly about those in Iraq and the Hindu Kush who are afraid every day for their lives. I hope they can find joy on this day.

3. I thought about my wonderful family. This run is called the Wedding Park Run. It has special meaning to us.

4. I'll let the pictures do the talking on the rest.

The view from the our Wedding Park. Not to bad.
This is the running path. To the right tracks and Pacific.
Christmas morning along the Pacific.
The Surf isn't big but why not just hang out there!
Chesterfield Hill. It will work you.
The view from the top of Chesterfield. If you think to turn around.
The View from the top of our street. Blue water in the back.

Merry Christmas to all.

It's a good life....

Dave

Let's do it again!

In this time of Holiday Cheer, Dad is on my mind often. This was his time. Without fail he would travel the country visiting all his grandkids making it home in time to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas with Cathy. He loved the entire effort that goes into making Christmas special. I think we all miss that right now.

I was going to continue my countdown of top 10 learnings/observations this year but I'm done. I've decided to focus on one and only one. To know my Dad was to know a guy that was on his game all the time. Only in the early morning hours before coffee was he not on his game. His game was good. He could be talking world Politics with one person and instantly change to talk to a 2 year old grand child at their level. He simply loved the interaction with people and he was outstanding at it. Asking more questions than giving answers. During the funeral something came up about him that I didn't know. It makes all the sense now and I think it's worth everything I've ever written about life. The story goes like this: Every night his head would hit the pillow with a thud, a sigh and an "I'm so tired" Pause and then like a kid he would say "I can't wait to wake up and do it again".

Let that sink in. I think it's the ultimate Win the Day effort. If you really put your best out there every day you should be able to hit the pillow so tired that sleeping is easy. But the sense that you want to get up and do it again before you ever go to sleep is special. You could look at it as though "Man, I'm never done" or you can simply look at it like Dad did. "That was a great day, I want to do it again". I think that's better than Win the day. That's Win The Day and be totally satisfied with the effort. That's Win The Day and wanting to do it again. That is something I want to strive for every day for the rest of my life. Thanks Dad, I love you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!

It's a good life....

Dave

The Top 10 from 2009 take #1

Sunset in the Great Central Valley, California

I was watching 60 minutes tonight. Probably the first time in 3 years I've actually watched it. All I can say is I'm darn lucky I have a job. When you work in my industry you don't notice as much just how bad it is out there in the job market. Darn lucky I am.

I thought I'd spend a bit of time this week reflecting on the last year. I looked through all the posts I made on this blog and am listing what I think are the most important things I had to say. Today I look at the first 6 months of 2009 and give you my top 5 things:

1. Win the Day - I think sometimes we spend too much time trying to win tomorrow. If we can concentrate on what we are doing today and doing it the best we can, tomorrow can happen. If we screw up today we probably will screw up tomorrow. Small victories strung together can add up to something big. Small victories make failure easier to take. Going for the one big win and failing can be devastating. So I say focus on today and Win the Day.

2. Dream Big - How do you ever get there if you don't Dream Big. Set those dreams high and then back it out to a day to day effort. If you win the day and the day is focused on the Dream, Big Dreams can happen.

3. Opportunity Management - I hear people over and over talking about Risk Management. There is no risk in business only opportunity. If you manage risk you'll hit mediocrity every time. If you manage opportunity you can do special things.

4. Leading Life - I find times in my life where life is leading me. I sit around and let things happen. I ask everyone who reads this to kick me in the butt if you feel I'm letting life lead me. If I'm not out there Leading my Life let me know it. You won't offend me.

5. I'm a pro Triathlete - This probably doesn't belong on such an insightful list but it's been a topic for me all year and belongs here. You are not a pro triathlete unless you are making a living off your winnings. If you are not winning you are not racing enough. Many of us would kill to have that talent. Time and time again those who race the most make the most and tend to succeed more often then those who try to cherry pick and make it big without doing the work. Hell that's true to being a professional in any field. You have to give more than you get to get more.

The next 5 later in the week.

It's a good life....

Dave

A New Bike

Ordered my New Bike today. Well not the total Bike. Just the Frame, Fork and Seat Post. Next up will be the rest of the bike. It's my first new Tri bike in 9 years. Yes, I've been racing on a 9 year old bike. Imagine how fast I'll go on a new full Carbon speed demon. Pictures to Come!

It's a good life.....

Dave

Priceless

- 4 Months of Running

- Listening to the words "I can't do this Dad, it's too hard"

-Flying Home from Germany

-Driving 10 hours the following day

-Driving down Donner Pass at night in a blizzard

-Watching Marco Run in the National Cross Country Championships

Priceless!

It's a good life....

Dave