IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING

“It goes without saying.”

 

Does it?

 

When was the last time

you went to a restaurant

and received the food you desired

without asking for it?

 

When was the last time

a co-worker did a task

you needed done

without your saying a word?

 

When was the last time your

partner knew exactly what you

wanted and needed

without you asking?

 

Many of us assume,

especially in our close relationships,

that the other should be able to

read our needs,

know our wants,

discern our desires,

without us saying a word.

 

And in our closest relationships,

we do get better at knowing each other,

but only after time

and time again

of asking for what we

want

and

need.

 

In all relationships -

business,

family,

friendships -

it doesn’t go

without saying.

YOU DON'T KNOW

“You don’t know what I’m going through.”

is the lie we tell ourselves.

 

I might, if you give me a chance.

 

If you take the risk

to be vulnerable,

to be open,

to be seeking connection.

 

I won’t say

“I can fix it”

or

“It isn’t as bad as you think.”

 

Unless that is what you want.

 

I won’t say,

“Get over it.”

or

“It’s all in your head.”

 

But, I may

encourage you

to get some

help instead.  

 

One thing I know for sure,

the longer you say to yourself,

“You don’t know.”

the longer I won’t. 

DON’T BE JACK

Work hard.

Do good work.

 

But don’t drive everyone around you

beserk.

 

Don’t hustle.

Don’t hurry.

Don’t fill up your time with worry.

 

Don’t spend all your time pushing.

 

It’s enough to craft your day

to have time for

dreaming,

rest,

work

and

play.

 

And when you only have time

for work

and

no play…

well, we know what they say about Jack.

 

Don’t be Jack. 

BEAUTY UNDERLYING

There is an underlying beauty.

 

Sensing it,

seeing it,

feeling it,

may not happen in the moment.

 

We see it easily

in a sunset or rise,

a cloud formation,

or as a forest trail

disappears before our eyes.  

 

Even when

disasters occur,

crisis hits,

and

futures seem uncertain,

something is

revealed

as if someone pulled back

a curtain.

 

Sometimes

the beauty of humanity

shows up

with

neighbor helping neighbor,

setting aside what had kept them

strangers.

 

Sometimes,

the wonderful and terrible

beauty of nature

shows up,

wiping away the old

and calling for something new

to unfold.

 

This underlying beauty is always there

in others,

in ourselves,

in the world around,

but one thing we must do

is stay still long enough

for it to unfold.  

ABOUT THE PEOPLE

No matter if you

produce

widgets,

paintings,

speeches,

policy,

code,

programs

sales,

the bottom line

is not

votes,

money,

likes,

shares,

or some other

easily quantifiable statistic.

 

CEOs,

politicians,

managers,

and most of us humans

forget.

 

Everything is about the people.

 

So,

bring out the best in your team.

Connect authentically with your customers and clients.

Seek to serve first and be served second.

Be brave in addressing anything that doesn’t

move everyone forward.

Honor people’s time.  

And when you muck it up,

face up

and fix it up.

 

Remember, it’s about the people. 

THE DAY IS HERE

Days,

months,

or

years ago

you

marked the date,

began making plans,

and let the anticipation begin.

 

Now, the day is here.

 

The interview,

the vacation,

the move,

the first day,

the wedding day,

has come.

 

Maybe your

mouth is a little dry,

heart rate a bit higher,

adrenaline is pumping,

awareness is completely awake.

 

This day will be unlike any other day.

 

And it’s exactly the same,

because today has never happened

before.  

 

And this is true,

Every. Single. Day.  

 

Make today THE day.