I set my alarm for 3am this morning so I could get up and drive 325 miles to committee meetings that began at 9am. Well, they do start at 9am but tomorrow.
There was a time I’d have been none to happy about this calendar failure. I picked up the phone and called my wife laughing about it. After getting off the phone with her I realized I had found the extra day I have needed for about a month. My email autoresponder is set and I have been trying to only check email once a day anyway.
Cool! – I have all day to catch-up on projects, write blog posts, and make the outbound calls I feel are important. Until tomorrow at 9am my time is truly my own. There was a time I’d be upset about this wasted or lost time. The reality is that by learning to work anywhere and anywhen, this is found time.
Committee meetings aren’t like sales calls. I came to Minneapolis to give back to an industry that has treated me well for more than a quarter of a century. I’m here to listen and learn what the various committees are up to. I’m here to assess where and when I can help. Then, I’m here to speak up and offer my help and assistance.
Karma works. I came here to help others and my industry. My payoff is an extra day I desperately needed. When you put the needs of others above those of yourself the returns are enormous and unexpected. Don’t think this advice is lost on me. When I get home Wednesday evening there is someone who has been putting my needs first and now it’s her turn for a while. I’m thankful for this extra day – for the work I can get done – for the perspective it has given me.
Have you experienced the karma of giving without expecting to get and then being blown away and surprised with the resultant return?
great story Jim. i sure miss working with you. i just don't have the kind of fun we used to at Color Press. this seems to be a different point in my life and i'm glad i don't have the stress, but i do really miss the people and team we had. – Dean
Dean – So much of what I do and how I do it was learned in those years working with you and Sandy and a whole host of other great people. You have no ideas how often I 'let it age' overnight and have an answer in the morning. I have told my son at least 3-4 times in the last few weeks (as we built his new computer) have you read the manual – if not, do so, come back with the page marked you don't understand and we'll start from there.
Forever in your debt for the learning and fast failure (where it was OK to fail) environment you provided.-Jim