Gypsy Blood, Rolling Stones, and Selfish Acts

"There's a race of men that don't fit in, 

A race that can't sit still;

So they break the hearts of kith and kin, And they roam the world at will.

They range the field and rove the flood, 

And they climb the mountain's crest; Their's is the curse of the gypsy blood, 

And they don't know how to rest." 

— Robert W. Service

Happy Thursday, you made it. One more day and you get to relax. So just between us, how’s it going? Are you rocking or rolling? Are you killing or dying?

In the past two days, I’ve had a board meeting, did some “transition planning,” had a management meeting, and am balls deep in updating our electronic billboard. I’ve also met with multiple new and existing clients and have another full day today.

A rolling stone gathers no moss. I challenge you to find a spec of moss on my body or the body of my team.  We roll, we rock, and that’s what makes us unique.

We don’t wait for the phone to ring, we make the calls. We don’t sit and wait for the world to move, we move the world. We do not wait on others to move; we do the moving.

If you wait on others, if you rely on others if you choose to wait on the rest of the world to help you reach your goals, you are doing life wrong. You will be waiting a long damn time. It’s up to you to move, shake, dance, sing, shout, and jig to make your dreams come true.

We had drinks and appetizers with a beautiful couple last night. They were asking how we did life. How did we plan our days? I responded I get up at 5:00 am, pen a few thoughts, my Queen gets up about 6:00 and we plan our day.

At this hour of the day, right now, I don’t know where I’m going or who I will see. I don’t know if I will take the car or Uber today, which planning will happen in about 47 minutes. Right now, I’m doing my own little personal therapy. I’m writing words I need to hear to get my day rolling. 

I think I have seven appointments today. I know that my first meeting starts at 7:30, I know I have a conference call with a “new/new” client, an audit, a review, and dinner with a dear friend. I’m sure there are other meetings I’m missing, but I’ll review my calendar soon, making sure I know where I’ll be when I supposed to be.

I set my calendar a week or two out. Many of the meetings I’ll have today, I set last week or maybe two weeks ago. I work two to three works in advance to plan my calendar so that every day I have 5 to 7 appointments.

I’m not bragging; this is my life. This is the framework that helps me build a successful life. Plan and execute. It’s not that hard.

I had lunch with a referral partner yesterday. We started talking about people we had worked with that went south. My lunch date had a partner that became a booze and drug hound, and they had to fire him. I shared a couple of stories about some of the fewer desirables we have had in our company. A quick reminder, you are what you tolerate. No matter the money ones make you if they are not moral, ethical, and a solid individual, fire them, remove them from your team. The longer you wait, the more impact the “turd” will have on your company.

Tomorrow we fly out to Cincinnati. We’re meeting a few friends, going to see the Foo Fighters.  We scabbed a ride with some of our Indy friends; soon we will be back in Indiana, hugging our kids, spending time with our parents.  Not all that wander are lost. 

In the past month, we’ve been to Aspen, Fort Lauderdale, Vail, Vegas, Boulder, Indianapolis, and Denver.  We have been all over the country spending time with family, friends, and clients.  We have traveled thousands of miles for a reason. 

Quit sitting in the same spot. The world is big; the world is there for you to explore and make connections with other humans being. The world is here for you to connect with other like-minded people.

I had breakfast with a few folks yesterday. “Becky” shared she read my blog most days. I thanked her for her kind comments, but shared “I don’t’ write every day for others, I write for me.” It’s a selfish act that occasionally gives others a little mental boost.  I do this daily for me, to help me stay on track, to remind myself of who I am and what I believe. 

When I walked into the restaurant, I saw a friend. He came up and hugged me and said: “keep writing.” He reads my stuff daily, I know these words help others, but honestly, they help me. The words I write are not for you, the words I write are for me. It’s a selfish act that kicks off some positive dust others can choose to breathe in to make their life a little richer, fuller, or maybe recognize they are not alone.

Word soup folks, that’s what I give you every day. Some like it, some frown, but these messages of love, joy, and inspiration will continue until I die.

Join me, write, share, shoot positive messages out into the world and as you do, know that the world will respond in kindness.  The more positive energy you share, the more the universe will return the favor. 

I have to run. I have to clean up email, send some encouraging notes to friends, family, and wait for my beautiful and amazing Queen to open our bedroom door and say “Good morning lover!”. 

Until then, high five, get up, get out, and change the world. I do, I did, and for me, it was made all the difference.

"There's a race of men that don't fit in, 

A race that can't sit still;

So they break the hearts of kith and kin, And they roam the world at will.

They range the field and rove the flood, 

And they climb the mountain's crest; Their's is the curse of the gypsy blood, 

And they don't know how to rest." 

— Robert W. Service