Because they are not sitting across the table from me every night (and because they left for college before I was done imparting my knowledge), here are the nightly bits of wisdom you received at the dinner table.

Love Dad

Monday, October 4, 2010

Victory Lap

You need to take a victory lap to start the week.. 

That is easier to say than to do, because even as I say it you are starting to think about all the things that need to be done. Everyone is kind of wired that way.  Try this on some of your peers, tell them to take a victory lap for stuff they did last week and they will tell you everything that is not done and due this week.  Taking your victory lap is more complicated because you are both genuinely modest and inclined to understate things you have accomplished.

Recognizing those milestones, the distance you have traveled is a very important thing to do.  One of the most frustrating things anyone can experience is the feeling that no progress is being made. We get that feeling because we always move the starting line to the current day and time.  Our own self imposed Ground Hog Day. 

I know from talking to each of you that things got done last week that were important.  You need to acknowledge these.  Don't get me wrong, don't hang out a MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banner.  (All politcs aside, you know if he would have just added the words THIS WEEK to that banner - it would have worked).   

There are plenty of deadlines this week.  Plenty of people who will end up trying to share their bad moods or frustrations (either by accident or purposefully).   There are also a lot of ways to pile up a bunch of those small victories.  Those small victories pile up and make those lofty goals seem very possible.  Work at recognizing them and piling them up.  If you pile up only that things that need to be done, you will end up being manic. There are people today who are following your lead.  Teach them this and it will reinforce it with you.

Me, I am going through the entire process with a new FD.  It consists of 2 Physical Agility Tests, Written Testing, and Oral Board Reviews.  My victory lap is that I completed the 1st Physical Agility test with a crappy knee. Working like hell to pile up them small victories.

I am already doing the countdown until Thanksgiving.

Love Dad

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