Are you prepared

Are you prepared?
In my 16th year, my dad and I embarked on a memorable journey together. Actually, it was more of an adventure for us both. We took the train to Inverness and for the next 5 days, we leisurely cycled the 160 miles or so back home.
In between, we camped at a few scenic spots by some beautiful Lochs and stayed in a couple of Youth Hostels along the way. I’ll never forget the camping because of dad’s snoring! It really was bad…!
I have very fond memories of those days, including the heavy rain and beautiful warm sunshine on one particular day in Spean Bridge.
I recall visiting, for the first time the Commando Memorial there. The monument commemorates the British Commando Forces who trained in and around the Lochaber area during WWII.
As I recollect looking at the memorial, I thought about how well prepared and fully equipped those soldiers were with all of their military gear at the ready.

Preparation

I can also remember thinking about how dad and I had prepared for our trip together. The careful attention to specific details that we’d considered to ensure we were safe by carrying the essential equipment that we’d need on our cycling journey together.
Looking back now, the pannier bags on our bicycles were filled to maximum capacity with all kinds of essentials, because we were fully equipped for any eventuality that could potentially arise – and simply stated we didn’t want to be caught out in the middle of nowhere!
Dad passed away in 2005.
Unbeknown to him now, he sowed the seeds of a little tradition in our own family. As each of our children entered their 16th year, we embarked on planning and preparing for a special trip…..with dad. My time with Kyle, Megan and Cristi are days I will cherish forever.
Time is never for sale; it is a commodity that cannot, try as you may, be bought at any store for any price. Yet when time is wisely used, its value is immeasurable, just like those days with dad, all those years ago.
We live in challenging times…
Are you prepared?

Sharing

“Life is about creating and living experiences that are worth sharing.” – Steve Jobs

We need to talk about what we’re learning.  Continuous learning is one of the keys to success in life, no matter what you do.  A phrase I have heard a lot recently during many coaching conversations is that “sharing is caring”.   For children, sharing can be a difficult challenge to master, but an important one to learn and carry into adulthood.

As a coach and learning facilitator, frequently I share thoughts, ideas and insights to help others meet some of their challenges in the workplace or in their own life, one by one or in a workshop.  The knowledge comes from my own experiences, personal learning & study, but also what has been shared with me.

In our technology savvy world, we live in an age of sharing. Mark Zuckerberg wrote when setting up Facebook –  “I wanted to create an environment where people could share whatever information they wanted, but also have control over whom they shared that information with.”

Sharing – “to give a portion of (something) to another or others”.  There are some real benefits to sharing:

  1. It builds trust
  2. You feel good
  3. It brings things to life
  4. It creates understanding
  5. It makes things real

Show you care today and share.