Rudy Miick.com

Lessons on leadership from skiing... chaos and care

What a week this last one has been.   I've watched those of us in the Christian world move through Christmas and all of us on the globe move into the New Year.  Amazing no, 11 years ago, we thought the tech and banking connections of the globe would collapse, it didn't... 10 years ago the trade center towers did; this last year the banking world did collapse and still came out with bonuses and still holding "all" the money.  And in 1 more year the Mayan's say we're all done... Chaos is constant.  

Fundamental Capitalism is in a fight for its life as the complexity of the world and our interwoven nature of life simply demands social care at the same it demands free enterprise... 

Enter skiing... again... 

I'm struck that the skier/rider responsibility-safety code has relevance here.  When its followed, the code provides us some pretty amazing wisdom on this second day of 2011.  I paraphrase below:

• I am, we are, responsible to stay in control.
• I am, we are, responsible to not hit or impact the skiers or riders below me.
• I am, we are, responsible to look uphill before we start moving to avoid becoming a target.
• I am, we are, responsible to have some sort of brake system, protective device on our gear to avoid gear becoming a random missile.
• I am, we are, when stopped, responsible to stop in a place that is out of the way of others, safe for us and "them."
• I am, we are, responsible to know how to safely load and unload (get on or off) any lift onto which I journey... 
• I am, we are, responsible to read and understand, posted signs and warnings.

Seems to me that these simple guidelines have some relevance to life in general.   And, yes "stuff" happens.

Yesterday, I was on mountain, and the air temp without wind chill added, was -10F.   When I took my young guest and his family in to warm up, there was a patrolman handing out hot cocoa to folks; young competitive skiers were there with coaches and volunteer moms/dads changing layers, hugging kids hard pressed to practice their skills to someday make it to a national team, regardless of frozen conditions; lift operators, perhaps the least thankless job on the mountain, yet critical for everyone's safety and happiness, as we move to keep warm, they stand, and smile and talk and somehow work to maintain their body temperature... all these folks at once sharing the common bond of what is at once both fun and hardship.   

Okay, we're all skiing and riding... this wasn't an earthquake or tsunami or flood... but it was community, smiles of common bond, head nods and assistance when and wherever, without having to be ordered or cajoled into some way of behaving.   

The skier/rider safety code doesn't take much to put into place... awareness yes, consciousness yes, choice yes.   

Imagine if we stayed conscious about each other as community as a way to lead; as a way to get to profit as we step into 2011 and on... 

This awareness of code, awareness of excellence and care for team in support of care of production... this collaborative journey's been a compass for me, my team, and our clients for two and half decades.   My intuition is that this collective conscious awareness is the future if we are to do more than survive and actually... thrive.

Best to you this new year, 2011!

 

And oh, by the way...

Just in case, here's the actual skier/rider code:

1. Always stay in control.
2. People ahead of you have the right of way.
3. Stop in a safe place for you and others.
4. Whenever starting downhill or merging, look uphill and yield.
5. Use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
6. Observe signs and warnings, and keep off closed trails.
7. Know how to use the lifts safely.

NSAA copyright

 

 

Lead and Follow; being part of a group or team; and more...

It's fast turning into winter in the northern hemisphere, over 2 feet of snow above 10K elevation.   The mtn. resorts are blowing snow like crazy, at least at night.   We'll be skiing and riding in bounds all over the rockies in just a matter of days now.   The snow makes me smile every bit as much as a warm beach day with a six foot swell grinding.   Both offer amazing fields of learning.   The cool thing about the mountains is that they're always there.  The fickleness of waves is even when they're running there's only one set at a time and each set creates sincere competition... the phrase "fighting for a wave" is just, real.

All the above is swimming in my mind as I get ready for another winter season of class offerings using skiing, riding and mountains as metaphor for leadership and life lessons.   The Durga Institute has evolved into Miick Institute.  Our leadership offerings have evolved to also include training and development for facilitators, trainers, coaches, and managers.  More and more I see great leadership as having the ability to also be a great participant... active, engaged, aware, awake, conscious of attitude and actions that get "us" somewhere.  

Another lovely irony of the working in the mountain environment is that getting somewhere is sometimes going inside, not indoors, but inside, looking in a mirror, watching, feeling, paying attention to, personal choices, attitudes and actions.    The other way cool thing about the mountains, especially in winter is that if I pretend to be oblivious, unconscious, I can easily end up, uh, dead.  Even, inbounds a resort.   This would not be my personal choice, likely it wouldn't be yours... 

What else as we begin our winter training sessions?  We have a series of 1 day sessions being offered as well as our multiple day programs.  Come and join me and my team.  Learn how to move a group, facilitate a meeting, deal with conflict, provide feedback and delegate more effectively.  Oh, by the way, you'll get more adept at moving down a mountain and through varied terrain at the same time.

Over the northern hemisphere summer and fall, I've been thinking long and hard about what Miick does, and why what we do works.  Here's a quick summary (and I promise I'll get back to the mountains and adventure sports as a teaching/learning tool): 

I am finding myself interested in the group dynamic of why our work works.  What keeps getting clearer is that regardless of the kind of organization, the more clearly I/one can pre-define what we're about to step into, the more likely I/you will not be caught by surprise.  We're more likely to end up with a fit.  

The same outcome will be as effective in conservative, passive, do what you're told types of organizations.  In my experience, these types organizations tend to be more likely to have you figure their culture out through trial and error.   My choice is "no surprises thank you very much," we create dynamic-highly active participatory leader-follower-leader type organizations that move fast, smart, looking for minimal mistakes and constant course correction, with high reliability!!!

Tied to this high performance thing, a colleagues asked me this morning, if some of my references to high reliability and high performance had anything to do with "Managing the Unexpected"?  Yes, what a great book!  And what a great model!  I do my best to live by this... !!!!  Paying attention to "Bolts on the deck" (get the book and you'll know what I'm referring to) and all that... NOT zero defect... 

I am beginning to realize that most "miick tools" are superb tracking systems, designed to build energy and focus.  Each and all keep us on course, constantly vigilant and actively engaged at the same time! I personally love the proactive, rather than reactive.  All we're doing in what we're sharing is in the name of supporting leaders, teams, and facilitators all to create an experience, that blows the mind in anticipatory service and care, excellence in product.  Doesn't matter the industry.. really.

The mountains provide us an adventure play ground. The adventure playground provides a class room in which one is simply unable to stay only intellectual. The environment and adventure sport elements demand total engagement: mind, body, heart soul.  So, each of us, gets to be more conscious of choices. Is what I'm doing effective?  Am I in balance, centered, moving with forces beyond my control or fighting them?   BIg questions here, equally big opportunity for fun, real learning... 

I'm more convinced all the time that the real choice in our 21st century, eco/econo-shock world is to be conscious or not.  If I'm conscious, I will have choices, If I'm oblivious and simply stay in my old habits, unconscious... watch out dudes and dudettes, there's an avalanche right around the ridge line, just waiting for us to slide into obliviously. 

Come and join me!  www.miickinstitute.com

Let me know if any of this random thought writing is making sense for you!  I'd appreciate hearing.  I am doing my best to be conscious after all!

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our first Facilitator/Trainer Training at Miick!!!

Howdy!

Miick Institute is open!  In addition to our leadership development work, we're offering a series of facilitator & trainer training!  These programs will build on, and/or add depth to the various skills you already possess as a trainer, manager, speaker, consultant!!!    

I've attached our first link here.  

In this initial offering for facilitators/trainers and consultants, we're stepping into real world, outdoor experiential hands on work.  No ropes course here.  It's the real deal.  You'll get an open door the core tools that are root to the facilitation skills my team and I use with proven success.

The first session offered is a 101 session, "introduction to"... this will likely build on skills you or those you might forward this link to, possess.  My guarantee:  You'll end the day knowing its been valuable taking your knowledge and skill farther, deeper, more effective.   And, we'll be outside all day!   How much better does it get than that!

Hope you'll be able to join us, even with this short notice!   And on the link below scroll down through our offering.  You'll see a list of additional 1 day and multiple day training sessions using adventure sport as our class room!  

Be there if you can, you won't be disappointed!   

here's the link:

http://www.miickinstitute.com/

What's next:

When you visit this link you'll notice the facilitator/consultant tab is the only tab working at this point.  (There's the entrepreneurial part... urgent... we're up, not perfect, but we are up!  ... the other tabs will be loaded later this week.)   We'll be editing the verbiage more each day as well, clean it up, clear it up!

If you've visited my sites previously you'll see a striking similarity to http://www.durgainstitute.com/home/home.htm

That's because it is!

Durga Institute is emerging as the Miick Institute.  In the remainder of 2010 and into 2011 we'll be offering a range of courses to take facilitation/trainer skills further.  We'll support consultants in a myriad of practices to evolve their skills and practice to a higher level.   

In early 2011, at Miick you'll see an offering of classes for managers and leaders.  These courses will integrate skills that are required on a daily basis in business, with whole life skills: communication, management systems, fiscal management, and overall decision making.  Our programs will support the development of conscious leaders by integrating breath awareness, reflection, diet, and some requisite of adventure sport: skiing, climbing, mountaineering, sailing, kyaking, etc.   

Our goal is pure pragmatics: create high performing, profitable, conscious companies by supporting leaders, managers, trainers and consultants to be conscious!   

Stay tuned!  And, by the way, thanks for your support along the way... you and the energy you bring to life are MUCH appreciated!

I hope you can join us!

BE well.

Rudy

Learning and Applying...

Lift served skiing in the northern hemisphere is almost done.  Mammoth is open until July as usual... most mountains in the west have snow still, hiking for the goods has been fun, though for me at least, not nearly as much time doing so as I'd like.   

NZ national demo team member, Dave Taylor's back in New Zealand, ready for another year of 250 days on snow +/-... not a bad way to live; fly fishing in the moment instead of making turns.  There's lessons there too... 

Just finished "The Speed of Trust" by Stephen M.R. Covey... let's see... Covey seems to have connected all the dots here... leadership, skiing, fishing, coaching, learning and applying learning... let's see how in brief!

At the outset of the book, Covey shares a story about fly fishing with a guide:  

The guide asks, "Look at the water, tell me what you see." 

"Basically, I told him I saw a beautiful river with the sun reflecting off the surface of the water."

"Do you see any fish?" the guide asked.

""I replied I did not."  Then the guide handed me a pair of polarized glasses."

"Put these on." he said

"Suddenly everything looked dramatically different.... I discovered I could see through the water.  And I could see fish - a lot of fish.  Suddenly I could sense enormous possibility that I hadn't seen before.  In reality those fish were there all along, but until I put on the glasses, they were hidden from my view."

Skiing's just like this.  We tend to take for granted, what we can or can't do.  We look, and often times do NOT see what's possible.  Sometimes this is due to mechanic's; sometimes its due to tactics; largely what we see is from habit.  

Skiing with a coach is amazing, Dave Taylor creates the ability to "see" the fish.   No doubt he's using polarized lenses as he's fishing in NZ, in anticipation of the first major snow fall of the southern hemisphere season... meanwhile he "sees" possibilities when he "looks" at water.  Dave sees possibilities when he's looking at terrain, "that's skiable!"

Leadership is the same.  Covey talks of this; Dave talks about this within the realm of ski industry leadership.   

What's true?  Habit doesn't make something true.  Habit makes the outcome of habit true... 

I may be stretching a bit here, but what I love about fly fishing more than any other style of fishing is that you have to work a line to the fish, its my responsibility to maneuver my gear to the fish in a way that is quiet, smooth and effective.   If I'm to be effective with a fly rod, practicing right things right is what's critical... 

Skiing, I'd better be centered, in balance.  This does not mean be static, in fact the opposite is true, I'd better be actively centered to encourage and maintain balance.   

I can talk about effective fly fishing all day, talk about skiing all day, talk about leadership all day... to be effective in any AND all three of these activities, I'd better look differently to see differently; I'd better pay attention to my point of focus and I better apply what I learn, not just "learn."   My invitation here is an invitation to myself:  

1. Pay attention to my habits

2. How is my habit serving me?  How is it not serving me?

3. What have I learned about seeing, hence performing differently?   

4. Do to the best of my ability.  Be conscious.  With enough practice, my new habits become fluid too, unconscious competence... Mastery... 

5. Stay conscious... 

What is it about experiential learning that works?

In the last few weeks my team and I've been working on a clearer explanation of all we're doing with "In the Fall Line."   

We're getting ready to take our program global and also expand to a year long journey.   The goal: take learning even deeper; create an roi that's irrefutable.   Of interest to me, and great learning in its own right is I'd better get a lot clearer about what we mean by experiential learning!   

Talking with some smart folks in various countries of South America, one devil's advocate shared with me that in most latin countries, experiential learning is focused on two primary areas: learning and applying a physical skill set in real time; or some sort of real time team building, building a boat on a deadline and sailing it as one example.  But I was asked, "How could either of these results occur with a leader who is likely participating on their own?"   "Rudy, don't you see, this team building or physical ability development was what experiential learning is about."   Hmmm?

I guess this means a case could be made that there's very little physical effort expended by leaders in companies?  Perhaps... that said, I'm very clear that the more fit I/we are the more adept, agile, sharp of mind, we are leading.   I could slide into the concept of "wellness" here.  I won't for the moment.

This discussion allowed a light bulb to go off!  

We're using skiing as a metaphor, supported by world class alpine coaches.   Is this physical?  Oh ya!  Are we building physical skill sets?  Oh ya!   And what we've seen time and again, is folks at all levels of ability working with a coach in real time get excited when they feel progress, effectiveness, trust, confidence and the rest.   Ironically this physicalness sets up metaphor with life/leadership coaches emotional, intellectual, heartfelt illumination of... 

• Ideas long held, vision of possibilities not surfaced
• Fears denied
• Wishes and dreams held back
• Old habits that provide glue.  Good news: holds things together, not so good news: also keeps things stuck
• Intrinsic skills, talents, undeveloped but available 

Outcomes?

• New possibilities show up big time!
• Fears acknowledged, fearlessness shows up and new movement happens that's more effective
• Visions get real clear
• New habits begin to emerge and become ingrained. 
• More so, folks who show up alone, end up learning from each other, their peers and the coaches themselves... 
• Last the retention of the learning is visceral because the emotional and interior motivations are impacted and tied to the physical act of skiing, or climbing or sailing itself.

Emotional growth, yep, illumination of stronger, focused inner self!  Supported by some of the best coaches in the world and your own peers.  And in the outdoors?   What are you waiting for?  

Sign up for the coolest learning experience you've ever been through!

In the fall line works, its real, and oh ya, it's fun...

Stepping into change! More?

Well, I've taken a while to write more about my boot experience.  Found myself wondering how anyone could remain interested in the fit of a ski boot or the impact of the fit.   Then again, the journey's been real for me, so since you've suffered through this with me so far, here we go I guess.

Headlines:

I've learned a ton:  What?, I'll share

I've questioned excellence more than ever: How, I'll share...

After 20 days, finally found center.   Now the real work begins.

Even with these headlines, the specifics on fit, may put you to sleep... bare with me please...

What I've learned:

Listen to my own intuition!   Be a client as well as a consultant!   I'm successful because I follow my gut as much as I listen to advise and study on my own with great intensity.  These darn boots have created a great wake up call in their own right about how to track what's uh, right.  By right I mean, effective.

I've had a number of knowledgeable ski gurus tell me I needed this change in fit.   It ends up after the fact most are wrong.  Why?  Only because, advise was given me from what now, after the fact, I realize was superficial information.  The info?   Observation of movement, observation of stance from a distance and only in loose fitting ski gear.   After the fact, I realize that no one that offered advise, no one, ask me about my bio mechanics or medical physiology.  I was simply told, "you need to change your alignment to stand differently."   

Okay, these are my coaches, my consultants if you will.  I had better listen right?   The feedback's been given consistently for a couple years at least.

It ends up after the fact, that finally, I went back to my amazing boot fitter, the one the only, Larry Houchen of Larry's Boot Fitting in Boulder.   You know, "Where's Larry?" Larry.    Larry takes one look at my stance after skiing on these darn boots for 10 days and asks, I paraphrase, "what the heck is happening with your alignment?"  

Cut to the chase, Larry and I worked through the fit again, now having lived in agony for days and frankly, fear from the fit.   He put me in shorts, and we talked about the myriad injuries that try to get in my way moving effectively.   At the end of 4 hours of one on one work, I have a 180 degree different fit, from one boot to the other.  Imagine the flaps on a airplane, one's up, one's down.  Hmmm, this set up actually makes me go straight and from side to side, more easily.  Go figure.   

If you know anything about boots this data may make sense if you don't, let it go... no worries.   Point of the story is the left boot is set as designed, almost flat, slightly negative, 1 degree up from heel to toe.  4 degree gas peddle (lift in the toes to create dorsiflection); on the right is the real game: 1/4 inch lift in the sole thanks to a shorter leg from so many times breaking it; then a 4 degree heel lift, instead of negative, ramped down from heel to arch; then back up with a matching 4 degree gas peddle, all this with a straight cuff.  This simply doesn't make sense except it makes my alignment flat and dare I say, close to perfect.     

What's the point, all this wacky fitting and frustration's taught me two things:

1. Ask more questions always, even if the data looks and feels clear, verify... never take for granted that what looks obvious is.  

2. Likely even when something's simple, real solution is not usually easy.   

My offering: Really listen to goals, then be Larry, dig deeper, look into the data more... be a partner in the fit.

What's shifted?   Boots fitting right has now opened up an opportunity to move to the next level of ability.  I can now really move my alignment in a centered way, over my feet, not behind them, and stacked on my skeleton.  The shift provides power and much more effective movement.   All this came, not because of a "simple answer" of a straight boot cuff or foot bed, but from hard work, digging deeper and then fine tuning.

The sad part is that although the boots are doing what they're supposed to now, they're still white.   They look fast, very fast.

More soon!

Stepping into change!

Sunday was so amazingly beautiful... warm, clear sky, more like a spring day, than January.   

The new boot thing continues to challenge.  Alignment is still off, skis are not flat, and thus, it's more work to tip and turn to one side than another.  Worse, with boots/skis not standing flat, the skis grab, when ideally they're designed to flow.  This can hurt if I don't pay attention.   Another "worse", because my boots don't "stand" aligned, my body has to move in ways that are not bio-mechanically efficient or effective.   Not only is this a pain in the !$@!, but very embarrassing too when I am in fact supposed to know better, and model effective movement for those I am training.  

The irony of all this boot stuff is that to the average person, my skiing is just fine thank you, not much to moan about.  In the big scheme of things, NOTHING to moan about... krumb bumb, I'm skiing in the sun shine, how bad can it be?   At the same time, my body knows, my brain is tracking, and something is really off albeit subtle.

How are these boots in the moment, vendors who don't follow through?   How are these stupid white boots, the Economy that's so out of my control?  Like me, I'll bet you're doing all you can do in any given moment to survive, thrive if creativity can find a way.  And, at the same time, a blind side hit, awkwardness at best, keeps showing up!     

Life ain't fair... okay, my boots are what they are.  Poor rudy, new boots, boo hoo.  I could be on worn out boots or no boots at all.  Enough victim.  

How do I move with them in flow, anticipate a little differently than before, get used to new feelings and frustrations that I've never noticed before?   Well, on one level, I am aware:

1.  I need to own the boots are what they are for the moment. 

2.  Do what I  need to do, as fluidly as possible, but pragmatically too, simply do what I need to do to move with the skis/economy... 

3. Keep conscious and aware, what's working and what's not, even though all I know to be true ain't so true anymore... 

4. Find the resources I need to keep tweaking the boots until I get them dialed in... 

5. Appreciate that after all these years and the skill set that I own, one thing alone isn't going to be a solution... headline on change:  the solution ends up being the next thing that needs to be tweaked, because the solution will create chaos in it's own right!

Faculty members at grad school don't often talk about this by the way...  more soon! 

More on stepping into change... literally

A lot's happened since October... too bad I didn't see "Julie, Julia" until last week... I would have known to keep you posted daily on the various events leading up to actually deciding on boots.   Heck, who knows maybe there's a script here, a leadership, skier, journey into uh, change.  I would need to likely conjure up some sort of real drama instead of simply emotional melt down... you have enough of your own drama, you do not need mine.  So, I'll stop here.   Back to simply a metaphor of yes, new ski boots.

The short version, after the fact is this: I did get new boots.  There any nuance stops.  The changes are gigantic.  FIrst in appearance alone my old boots are radical racing orange, these are world cup white.  I think the world cup racers are the only ones who can really get away with wearing a white boot, but here I am, boots on.  Second change, the boots have a straight up cuff.  My old boots were radically ramped forward.   

This part gets interesting, radical means all of 5 degrees forward lean.   Instead the new solomon's have not just a flat foot bed, they're ramped the opposite, 4 degrees or so, lowest point at the heel, then up to the toe.   

Without getting more techical, this is not as interesting as de-boning a duck... I felt like my right leg (the nemesis of my body) was going to break from being so straight...  It took me 3 days to learn how to stand on my skis and learn how to turn.   What a great leadership lesson... a trainer, role model for many in the resort in which I work, and I couldn't buy a turn... how'd that feel?  Scary and odd and embarrassing until I learned to laugh at myself and simply own my own learning... when I did, I found folks actually interested in my struggle and a ton of support.   

Let go and begin to re-learn.  I'll stop there.  More to come.

Stepping into change!

What a gift I'm giving myself!  Yea!  I think... uh, kind of... 

I'm about to step, literally, into visceral, mechanical, real change.   I'm taking this action choicefully.   If I was my own client, I'd say, "All the more courageous".   No matter, my inside demons are having a raging conversation.  Some innermost voice is fearfully screaming, "Do I really need to do this?  Do I have to?"  

Another inside voice, sounding like I'm talking to one of my clients offers, "No Rudy, you don't have to.  At the same time, what shift in performance can you expect if you don't step into change?  Yes, there's some risk." 

"Good point", pause, "But boots aren't cheap, and if I get this new alignment, what if it doesn't work the way its supposed to?"  

Wait a minute!  Hit the pause button!  This discussion is about, uh, boots?  Yep, ski boots actually.  

That is, new boots, ones with a completely different fit.  I could easily blow this off and simply blame the economy, for what could be seen as an amazing luxury.  At the same time, because (fortunately for me) I spend a lot of days on snow with clients and colleagues, my boots are a tool that simply have to work.   Oh that the issue was this simple.  

So boots, the change I'm facing, isn't really a choice.  I can make the case I need this change.  And still its not bad enough that my ski boots have had it, beat to death, beginning to be sloppy in fit.  The good news is I get new boots.  The issue is deeper, the bad news is I get new boots.  

Yes, so obvious by now, my boots are a metaphor for all the challenge leaders step into, not into boots, but into work...

You see, based on everything I've been experimenting with in my skiing, changing my boots doesn't just mean foot fit.  This is whole change: in alignment which changes the whole stance on skis, which changes how the skis function, and hence how I, uh, am more effective or not.  This shift changes center of balance, movement, and flow.  It is likely going to create lot's of positive changes I need to make... except, what if it doesn't?  

Just like my clients facing old habits that no longer serve them, I've come head on into the clear reality that something needs to change. And, almost nothing is harder than letting go of old habits.  "Unconscious and comfortable" easily translates to a sense of misguided safety.   I know exactly how my old boots fit, what they do, and how they do it.  I've had radically successful days and events happen on those boots.  Those boots got me here after all!   My results have been really good!  ... until I needed something that is, "next."  The next level of performance.   

I consistently hear prospective clients say some variation of "I'm good, we're good at what we do.  And, I feel like there's something more out there.  I know we can do better, but I don't know how."  

The good news is the old habit, the alignment and comfortable fit is what got you (and me) here. At the same time, from experience, its likely that the old fit and alignment, the old habits, won't support me or you in what needs to happen next.  

So, this week I begin to work with my boot guy collaboratively to find new fit that provides even better balance and momentum while moving faster and more aggressively, with better results than ever.   May I offer to myself and to you, "Sometimes its real good to have a guide by your side."

Conversations about work and life and leadership may as well be about ski boots and changing fit and alignment.  Just like my clients, habits got me here.  Without the skill set, I might not even realize its time to realign... I get to remember what I tell my clients now, "What got me here is so "IN ME" that there's no way, I'll loose that awareness or skill set.  My awareness, my ability to pay attention to variations in terrain and the changing conditions that confront any skier, dare I say, any leader, will still work.  Just as true, different alignment is going to feel odd, I will stand differently, notice actions and activity in different ways than I have in the past.   What I know is that I will end up with more.  More skill, more agility, more, not less.   And still, the little voice of, "what if I don't?"... still shows up.  Thus, this change is off putting, on another, what a gift I am to receive.  

Like my clients I get to build on everything I know and at the same time, step into something not only new, but completely different.   This newness supports how I align myself and stay in balance even as I move, doing my best to use gravity to my benefit, instead of fighting it.

My clients inspire me constantly.  I am cracking myself up here.  Who knew, from some entrenched fear in getting new boots, I'm inspired again by everything, each of my clients go through!  So, I'm really ready for this new fit!  Like I said at the start, "What a gift!"  rm 

    

  

Finally...! Fall air...

The last two days in Boulder, its felt like Fall's in the air.   Only an early sign, but sweet none-the-less.

So cool yesterday I had a hoodie on all day; this a.m. hoodie again during sunrise and coffee time... so sweet.

Why?  There are certainly those of you reading this that yearn for summer heat.  I could go there for sure.  But not now.  I'm ready for change.  Ready for a new season, for... snow and skiing.   

Maybe the change of weather has some metaphoric relationship to the economy?  It is changing right, the economy, not the weather?  ...(whining) but, that's what TV news is saying!  Of course!  Sure! 

Back to now and about tomorrow:  August will be back full on, then September with indian summer raging full force, "Don't kid yourself!"  I say to myself,  "We've a ways to go." 

Regardless, it sure feels good in the moment to feel the chill, add a layer and feel GREAT!  So, stay in shape!  No doubt its easier than getting back in shape.  Build more muscle and cardio from now into the real fall.  That preparedness will pay off when snow hits the ground.  Jeez, maybe there is some metaphor or relationship?   Sure as #!$#%%@# hope so!

Regardless, rock on!  Live large, passionately... hot or chill, BE present!   More soon...

Rudy