Armed with the belief that the extension of my noble obligation was going to make a difference for others, I set my sights on the top of the mountain; that mountain of success that was measured and validated by the external — and began my climb.
I was undeterred and focused, committed to living the sacrifice to achieve the result. I would wake-up at 3:00 am and make calls from the West Coast to London and New York from the darkness of my living room. This was the habit of clockwork for me. Four times a week, for four years, my internal-alarm went “off” — I awoke, dragged myself to the living room, flopped down on the couch and put the week’s negotiations in play.
Sometimes I finalized the negotiations that would result in a new client or initiated a conversation designed to convince, cajole, or compel an underwriter to entertain a prospective client. My days started at 3:00 or 4:00 am. In the narrative of hindsight, the day morphed to night in that circular sweep of time that seemed to be endless; endless days and nights, but never enough time.
An underwriting manager in my industry continues to circulate a story about my obsession with achievement to this day. The distilled essence of the legend is as follows: for ten years, I never took a day of vacation, seven days a week, every week, every year. Now, I don’t consider this a badge of honor or a meritorious distinction. I have learned much since the days of frenetic, obsessive work behavior. I encourage those I mentor and lead to take time away from the game and replenish their resolve in the well of reflection, the pool or oasis of their ideal vacation spot. I encourage people to go far from the confines or constructs, concepts, and conditions of work.
Personally, my rule of thumb is as follows: at the end of each year I physically travel as far away from the epicenter of my work as geographically possible. I allow my mind to travel the expanse as well. For two or three days, there is a jetlag sense of serenity followed by the stress release of doing nothing — absolutely nothing. By the fourth, fifth, sometimes seventh day, I start to miss the challenges and the people. This is how I know I’m still doing what is vital and necessary. It’s a signal that I’m still doing what I love. Maybe there will be a trip down the line, and on the sixth day, perhaps I won’t miss the challenges or the people. I guess, then, I’ll stay… Don’t really see this happening.
Perspective and appreciation bring awareness and choice. We need to replenish our vigor and vitality. It’s the “magic sauce”, the energy elixir that will enable you to rise up and change the game for your customer, yourself and your company. This triad is interdependent.
Perspective and appreciation bring awareness and choice.
There is shortness to this life regardless of span of years. What we focus on today becomes our reality tomorrow. We become supplicants on the altar of what we perceive to be important. We live for it, through it, or because of it.
Time marches forward. What is of impact today is soon forgotten in the string of tomorrow’s disappointments and successes.
As we approach year’s end, take time to reflect. Get away mentally, if not physically. Think on past accomplishments and find the connection from those achievements that can bring you increase today. Seek and create a larger scope and scale of success in the future. But, know this: you need to take care of the vessel that will drive you “Always Forward!”
The vessel, is you.
