Hard Times

No we aren't having 'hard times' at the Simon's...just eating there:

I went to the Hard Times Cafe for a lunch meeting with a friend. This place has awesome chilli and is one of the top 3 places to hang out in Alexandria, VA. It is one of my favorite meeting places (of course any meeting of food is a favorite place fore me). It really hit the spot with the wind blowing and making it a little colder than usual. Over lunch we talked about a number of things to include FOCUS.

Looking back on many personal adventures as well as the business ventures of friends around me, we talked about how your focus determines your direction and ultimately your destiny. Whether you are an owner, employee, or leader, it is critical to remind yourself of why you are doing what your doing. I watch way too many people here in DC thinking about being at home while they are at work and thinking about work while they are at home. And then they wonder why they are not achieving the success that others around them are having. Their focus is off.

Here's a hint...don't take the laptop home one night and turn off the blackberry and see what happens around the house. I am just as guilty as the next guy but sometimes that stuff has to be put aside and the focus needs to be on family. Now I would comment on the opposite of this but far more people struggle to make home and family the priority than the other way around.

The other thing I will mention is that my life goals and dreams are written down and saved on my desktop so that I can look at them daily. I don't dwell on them or stare at them for minutes on end but glancing at them keeps me in focus as to why I am doing what I am doing.

~David

Torn!

Yep that's right...my ouch is more of tear than pull. After several sleepless nights and difficulty walking, I broke down and did the unthinkable. I WENT TO THE DR!

He tells me I hyperextended the quadracep and tore the ligaments. Looks like 2 to 3 weeks of R.I.C.E
R = Rest
I = Ice
C = Compression
E = Elevation

I guess I'm not as young as I think I am :-)

~David

DERBY RACING!!!

What fun! Start to finish the boys and I had a blast. My approach is that they are the cub scout and this is their project. So I made them read the instructions, pick a design, trace it out on the wood, cut, sand, and paint! That's right, we spent a lot of time together working side-by-side but I am giving them all the credit. Grandpa came by and help with the paint; it was a family bonding experience. Uncle Phillip (my brother) showed up at the races to cheer them on. It is great to have family who can be close by to encourage and cheer them on.



Now race night was interesting. I did not realize how serious this stuff is. There were mom's cheering, dad's working on cars, and all out chaos with that many children in one place. It was NASCAR meets CHUCK-E-CHEESE. There was a professional track with a laser light counter to clock times. I have to admit that when the 1st heat raced down the track and one car did not finished I prayed, "Dear God, just let the boys cars cross the finish line." Is that wrong? I knew how hard they both worked and I would have felt terrible if their cars did not finish the race. They both did great and almost trophied (both missed 3rd by milli-seconds). I WAS SO PROUD OF THEM! This was not Dad's project & car that they raced, this was their project that they built and raced.


The boys finished the race...

How many times do people start things and not finish the race?

Lesson 1:
Hebrews 12 - talks about running the race set before us. Now I know we are talking about pinewood derby but I believe that kids learn the lessons early in life and carry them through to adulthood. We all have a race to run...do you know what your race is? How well are you running?

Lesson 2:

1 Corinthians 9:24 - Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. I guess I have to remind myself of this because during the project the boys put the tools down, stopped sanding, and I let them go play while I worked on the cars (not a lot) but...the point is I want the boys to run in such a way as to win. I have seen so many people go to work, take on a project, or go through life never giving it their all. No wonder people are unhappy with their jobs, if you are not running to win then all that can be expected is mediocrity.

So I ask...Are you running to win?

Father to Daughter

Awesome book by Harry Harrison, Jr.


Sharon picked this one up for me. I got some cool ideas for raising Sybella. When I read "Wild at Heart", I gained new insight as to why my boys act the way they do and what drives boys as they become men. Father to Daughter, is full of cute one liners, great ideas, and tips on dealing with that special little girl in your life.

One of my favorite words of wisdom is, "When you tell a boy not to stick something in an electrical socket, he will either stomp off or do it any ways. Girls will cry!" I have already seen this one. One of the ideas I walk away with is to buy her a nice necklace and then by charms for different events as she grows-up.

Again, well written book helping remind men in America that we need to be the example of how men should treat women and that lesson starts with treating are little girl right.

Ouch!

This morning before I drove off for work Sharon asked me if I would carry a few boxes downstairs. Little did I know what awaited me...I took the stairs a little to fast and found myself sliding down to the bottom with my left leg extended and my right leg bent backward. Yes that's right... SNAP, CRACKLE, POP! I tore my 'quad'. Not walking very good and the kids are not authorized to sit on my lap as the result is me screaming in pain. I was hoping for a cool sports story to go with this bad of an injury but no such luck. ~David

St. Louis

I am heading to St. Louis February 22-24 to meet with leading authors Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady at the Team Leadership Development Convention. I have known these men for over 5 years and they are incredible leaders who wrote a best seller "Launching the Leadership Revolution". Orrin is a great visionary and Chris is a catalyst for change. If you are looking for professional development, a fresh perspective, or a leadership development system...this is a great place to be.

Home

I am back home after a 6 day (8 flight) trip. WOW! While in the air I saw, the highest peak in the US and the depths of the Grand Canyon! I love travel and seeing our country. Very glad to be home. ~David

Patience

I looked up the synonyms for patience today: endurance, staying power, persistence, fortitude, and lack of complaint. I flew into Seattle on Sunday and went to our home to see how things are going. Yes, that’s right; we still have not sold our home in Puyallup, WA. One of the things I have learned is not to complain or ask the question ‘why me’.

Clearly God is helping provide the opportunity to have patience and trust in him. Every time I want to complain about the house not selling, I have to ask myself two questions:

1. Am I being patient? One who lacks complaints.
2. How do I choose to respond/react to this situation?

M2C (my two cents)…I think these same two questions can be asked by all of us in any challenge we face.

~David