Book Update

So I started writing my book tonight. I'm just approaching it as a mind dump of ideas that I'm trusting will congeal over time. I started with an introduction which I thought was kind of fun, not too serious, and gave a flavor of who I am and how I'm wired. It was about 3 pages long and just kind of a warm up; something to give me a little confidence to throw myself into this project. Excited about my first 45 minutes of "work", I was very confident that it would be "safe" to show my lovely bride.

Let me take a moment here to let you know that we've been married about 16.5 years and she is the most honest person I've ever met. It used to really annoy and anger me, but over time I've learned to appreciate that so much. I always know how she feels and where I stand. I once sang a song at church (many years ago) and when I got back to my seat knowing it wasn't that great, but expecting some comforting encouragement from my bride. Her first words to me were, "Well, once you pick a key you stick with it."

Now, back to my early story. She read the introduction I quickly sketched out. The first words out of her mouth..."It's cute." I'm not sure I need to comment any further here. Apparently I missed the mark quite dramatically on my introduction. So, anyway, for those of you who have been asking about my book and potentially might be interested in reading it... you may need to change your expectations.... my working title is now, "A cute approach to discovering leadership." We'll see, maybe we can de-cute it before it goes to print.

Bulls-Eye

So, I created a diagram, and have been working on it with my mentor, that shows my life focus as the target (the "bulls-eye") with other elements surrounding that target. I use this depiction to then look at several elements of my life: which are lined up with my bulls-eye and which are pointed in the wrong direction; which are those I am committed to do and which are optional; how is my income allocated among these versus how my time is allocated; which are utilizing my strengths; and what tools do I have in my tool shed. This bulls-eye concept has never been part of the discussion groups I lead at Thrivent, but invariably the idea would come up and several people have asked me about my bulls-eye.

Based on the interest expressed in the group and one-off conversations I have had, it looks like I am going to start a group to help others find their bulls-eye. I don't know what the process will look like, but I anticipate sharing how I went through the process (at times formal; at other times informal) and see where this leads us.

All of this is background to say that I'm still rattling around one response from a friend of mine and trying to determine what it means. This person said they would not want to participate because they are very content with their life and would not want to introduce anything that would cause upheaval. I'm interested in someone being "scared" to find out their sweet spot in life, but I think I get it. I also wonder if that response is simply an indication that the person is already in their sweeat spot - that their life is already operating in their bulls-eye.

Should be interesting if/when it gets off the ground.

Fishing Hunger

The temperatures are now in the 30 degree range, the snow is just starting to melt a little bit, and we are only about 6 weeks from probably ice-out on the lakes. I can almost taste the water, the fish, the line, the worms, the lures, the joy, the sun.... I can almost feel the tug on the line as the largemouth grabs the Rapale or the northern takes the Daredevil. I can; I can almost taste and feel those things. I saw about 2 minutes of a fishing show today and had to turn the channel... I just couldn't continue watching footage of guys bringing in four pound bass.

Last year we used my father-in-laws boat for the entire year; a 16' Lund with just a trolling motor... it was awesome, but we couldn't get too far across a lake with that motor. This year, I have a line on a 6 horse motor which is slightly better and still looking for something a bit bigger - but with no money to spend, it makes it a bit more daunting. This year we will pick up the boat even earlier (as soon as the snow melts) and get it ready for hitting the lakes.

There are very few things I anticipate so much that I just can't wait for. In fact, the list might just be fishing and heaven. OK, perhaps my kids welcome when I get home from work or a trip.

This winter I've run into a number of folks who have said they'd take me out this summer... prepare for me to take you up on that. Jason at Evergreen, you WILL be taking me northern & muskie hunting!

Book Writing

I'm so excited... I'm finally going to take the step of taking time away to start wrtiting a book. I think I know the direction I'm going to go with it, but it will be interesting to see what kind of momentum I get on that. I'm planning to spend about 4 days (generally uninterrupted) and see what happens. It's one of those "avoiding regrets" or avoiding the "what if's" in life. I don't have a bucket list, but if I did, attempting to write a book would be on it. The primary audience for the book will be myself and serve to capture my thoughts as a 37 year old trying to figure out this leadership thing.... it will be interesting to compare it to my thoughts in 5-10 years. Should be fun..... it's nice to think that even when life is crazy busy, it can work out to chase a dream now and then. What are your dreams that you have not been able to chase?

Ice Fishing

So, my son and I spent about 6 hours ice fishing on Friday with some friends who have moved out of town. The fishing sucked, but we had a great time. The bulk of the time was spent just playing cribbage and shooting the bull... but there was one moment of great excitement. One of the rattle reels starting turning and we all jumped up and ran to the corner hole. Mike set the hook and starting bringing it in... his son and I saw the Walleye swimming by a few feet below the ice... nice fish. Didn't take long, however, for the line to snap and off she went. Dang! For the next several hours, the disappointment of missing the fish would come back up to the surface and we'd all share our disappointment before moving back to another subject.

As I thought about the fun day we had, I thought about how the conversation would have been different if we would have caught a different fish after that and been able to bring it in. It's just like life... as things happen to us, we make mistakes, or "the big one gets away" in life, we become pre-occupied with that negative experience until the point at which something good replaces it. The old attage, "get back on the horse" is critical in my life... if something doesn't go the way I want, I will live with that memory... it is important for me to replace that negative memory with a new memory rather than allow that memory to dwell and fester.

I think I need to go ice fishing again soon.