August 2007

Here Comes the Big 4-0!                                                    August 2007

"So you're turning 40! How does it feel to be halfway through the race?" I was asked that question by a friend the other day when he realized I'm celebrating my 40th birthday in a few weeks. Based on life expectancy, I can accept the "halfway" part of the question. But years ago somebody forgot to tell me it was a race. When did we start racing? That must be why life flies by for so many people.

The big 4-0. Some people consider turning 40 a traumatic experience. I guess I'm a little different. I don't mind turning 40, although I did have a friend point out to me that I'm officially old enough to have fathered any of the women in my wife's Victoria's Secret catalog. That was just mean. I need some new friends.

As I approach this age landmark on September 2nd, I've had many people share with me how they used the occasion in their own life to take time for self- reflection. For some, the experience was so traumatic that they stayed in bed with the lights out until the next day. Some evaluated who they are and what they're about. Some changed careers or went back to school. Some got divorced, and others got married. Some experienced a mid-life crisis, and some took a year off from work to truly evaluate where they wanted to go in life. I don't think I'll do any of those things.

First of all, I get to do what I love to do for a living, so I'm certainly not changing careers. I got married to the love of my life five years ago, so I don't need to get married, and I'm certainly not getting divorced. With a great job and a wife I wouldn't swap for anything in the world, there is no "crisis", so I'm not anticipating a mid- life crisis. Besides, I told my wife that she's going with me if I have a mid-life crisis, and she's way too busy to go. As for taking time off, I find myself tapping my toe at the end of a three-day weekend, so I don't think that would work.

As I've approached my 40th birthday, I've spent some time analyzing where I've been and where I'm going. In fact, as I've examined the past, I made a Top 20 list of the most significant things I've learned. I don't have room in the newsletter to share it, but if you'd like to see it, I've put it on my website. If you get a chance, check it out. Now that I've looked at the past, I'm not interested in spending any more time looking back because I cannot change the past 40 years. However, I plan to take what I've learned and make commitments that I think will enhance the next 40 years, including:

Embrace me age

It seems no one likes their age. We spend the first half of our life trying to be older, and the second half trying to be younger. I've seen the many phrases created by society to deal with turning 40. "Life begins at 40!" or "40 is the new 30!" If you believe that life begins at 40, then what have you been doing all these years? And friends, 40 is not the new 30. 40 is just 40. If you've experienced this many years of life, then you've had enough wins and losses to help you put life in perspective. If you've made it to 50, you've earned your degree from the school of "Been There, Done That", and you should be proud of it. I plan to embrace my age, and I encourage you to do the same --- regardless of your age.

Make better choices

We've all heard people say what they would change in their life if they could do it all over again. I'm one of those people who wouldn't change a thing. There have certainly been some things I wish hadn't happened or would have happened differently, but I know that changing any of it would change where I am (and who I am) today. While I don't want the past to change, I can control the next 40 years by making better choices. I'm going to choose to be more selective of who I spend time with. I'm going to focus on having deeper friendships rather than having many friendships. I'm going to be more spontaneous, having lived my first 40 years as a planner. I am who I am today because of choices I've made up to this point, and I'm going to take responsibility for who I become by owning the choices I make in my future.

Start forgetting things

One of the downsides to getting older is you start forgetting things. I forget where I put my keys, and constantly forget where I've left my glasses. While we usually wish we'd stop forgetting things, I'm going to start forgetting things. For instance, I'm going to start forgetting when people offend me. I'm going to forget when someone lets me down. I'm going to forget the moron when he cuts me off in traffic. I'm not sure if forgetting these things will help me live another forty years, but I'm certain it will help me enjoy every one I have left.

One thing I know for certain is that our priorities change over time. When I turned 20, I thought I could make a difference in this world. When I turned 30, I started finding ways to actually do it. As I turn 40, I continue to do what I can to make a difference in the world, but I must admit that I'm a little scared. I'm not afraid of getting older. I'm afraid I won't make enough of a difference. It is my hope that I get many opportunities to make something big happen! It is my hope the next forty years is a new journey of discovery. It is my hope that I learn lessons every step of the way, and that I have an audience to share them with. And it is my hope that I spend more time sharing those lessons than looking for the stuff I've lost. In fact, has anyone seen my glasses?

Here's to the next lesson. God bless!

Enthusiastically, 

Clint Swindall - President & CEO

*Book Review

Unleashing Excellence, by Dennis Snow and Teri Yanovitch

Here's what I've been reading lately ...

This month I'm excited to review Unleashing Excellence: The Complete Guide to Ultimate Customer Service. Although the marketplace is full of customer service books, there are three reasons I believe this is a good read. One, the authors spent many years working for The Walt Disney World Company, and I believe they had a chance to learn from (and help develop ideas for) one of the best customer service companies around. Two, it truly is a "complete guide", with specific steps and usable (yet flexible) tools that can be used by companies of any size. And three, I have a great deal of respect for lead author Dennis Snow, a fellow speaker, trainer, and consultant. He's a great speaker, and a great author.

* Raise a Glass

A reason to celebrate

This month we raise a glass to commercial airlines. Before you choke, hear me out. The airline industry has taken a beating over the years for poor service, reduced service and (in some cases) no service. If you travel very often, then you know that much of the criticism is earned. This past week alone I spent four hours sitting on a runway in Boston, so I certainly have not avoided the challenges of air travel. But I celebrate the commercial airlines because, even at their worst, it beats the alternative. I didn't check, but I assume Greyhound had a bus that could have gotten me from Boston to San Antonio (with many more stops than the one I had in Newark, and many more days of travel). Amtrak probably had a route I could have taken. It's just over 2,000 miles, so I could have driven it in 32 hours. When you look at the alternatives, a four-hour delay on a plane is terribly frustrating, but it still beats the alternative.

*Quotes

Inspirational thoughts

"If wrinkles must be written on our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old."
- James Garfield

"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."
- Mark Twain

"The minute a man ceases to grow, no matter what his years, that minute he begins to be old."
- William James

*Question to Ponder

Some time to think

As many of you know, my first book was released this summer. Now, it's important for you to know that I open myself up to criticism every time I get on a stage, so I'm accustomed to that vulnerability. However, I had no idea what to expect when I published my first book. Everyone told me to be prepared for the harsh critics who have nothing better to do than criticize other people's work. So I prepared myself for it. What I hadn't prepared myself for was the kindness of strangers. People I've never met sent e-mails to share kind words about my book. Leadership bloggers took the time to review my book and share their positive thoughts. Wow! I was blown away.

None of these people had to stop in the middle of a busy day to say kind words about my work, but they did. It was a nice surprise in a world where people seem too quick to be critical of people, services, products, etc. So this is my question for you to ponder this month. At the end of each day, I want you to ask yourself this one simple question ... did I go out of my way to compliment someone's work, product or service when I wasn't required and it wasn't expected?