Fork in the Road

"If you come to a fork in the road, take it." - Yogi Berra

On the surface, the above quote is amusing. I take it to mean in life, when we come to a decision point in life, make a decision and move on. For those that know me, making a decision can be a hard thing for me. I am notorious for having a difficult time making a decision.

Each of us come to these decision points in life.

We stand still, evaluating, trying to decide which way to go. We spend a lot of time trying to decide, but never actually making the decision. Do not misunderstand me, we need to make a well thought out decision where possible. Yet sometimes we get lost in the evaluation, wasting time that can be better spent on the journey. When you reach this 'fork in the road' life decision, go ahead and examine the paths before you.

Don't waste your life constantly evaluating.

If you can not make a choice, then 'pick up the fork' and go down either path. You will learn from what lay ahead and you can adjust. I have described this in different ways to describe moving on in life. In my book CHANGED LIVES, the idea is to step through an open door and move on to greater things. Other ways are removing the things which hold you back such as 'rocks in a wagon' you are pulling. Or maybe you have read where I simply say that 'movement causes changes', so don't stand still, move.

You simply need to keep moving forward.

Which ever method works, just keep moving. Lewis Carroll said, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.” Life is a journey and many different paths exist for us to take. Standing still does not slow the journey down, life keeps happening. Standing still will only dull your view of life. Keep enjoying the ever-changing view that moving along life's paths provide.

Pick up the fork and keep moving.

Stay inspired my friends!

Risk Failure

"I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying." - Michael Jordan

With merely ten to twenty seconds left in overtime play, a spectacular header produces a goal and ties the game.

The result is renewed hope for a team on the brink of elimination. For the other the tie delays a chance to advance in a tournament. In both cases, each could have or could decide to quit and give up the fight.

Life can be cruel and life can be very rewarding. But we will never know the emotion or experience the joy if we never try. One could give up and walk away from it all, trying to avoid any failures. If we did, how could we ever then triumph in success when we accomplish the task at hand.

One goal, one tie, one loss, one setback does not define you. But not trying at all will define you and will isolate you from success.

Get out there and risk failure. Get out there and find success.

Stay inspired my friends!

Stress Happens

"The truth is that stress doesn't come from your boss, your kids, your spouse, traffic jams, health challenges, or other circumstances. It comes from your thoughts about these circumstances." - Andrew Bernstein

Through most of my career, my job was labeled as what companies call an "individual contributor." this meant I did my job, handled my responsibilities but had no direct reports. That was nearly twenty-seven years of my career and I was then thrust into managing people.

A change that made me change some of my perceptions.

What I have found though is managing people is not a whole lot different from working with customers, peer work groups or even family and friends. It remains a very relationship oriented function and as I have learned to accept that fact, my focus to "leading" our team becomes more clear.

But one other fact remains in any relationship, stress within people can and does occur. The stress could be due to the amount of work being handled, something at home affecting your work and many times cultural or personality differences. It just happens and sometimes it boils like steam venting from a pot.

When stress builds, stop, take a deep breath and relax.

According to research done by the online journal Thorax called Angry Breathing, shows that "hostility is associated with poorer pulmonary function and more rapid rates of decline among older men." What this means is anger can alter neuroendocrine processes, which trigger chronic inflammation and damage the lungs.

Essentially, the longer you remain angry, the more you express anger at other drivers, at other people and life in general, your risk of lung damage goes up. So it just makes sense to relax and 'take a deep breath' when you feel anger or stress coming on.

Life will be better and life will be longer. You'll breathe easier in the long run.

Stay inspired my friends!

Time Passes

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." - James M. Barrie

There is a simple truth to life that reminds us to stop and smell the roses.

This is because time passes us by so quickly.

Give yourself opportunity to enjoy many of the smaller and grander things in life.

Don't let your life slip by too fast......

Stay inspired my friends.