Have you been around a group of preschool children in the last few months?  One of the things you might observe is a significant difference in how the children approach problems.  In one group, you’ll see the children working diligently to build a block tower.  The tower may fall, but they will stay with it until they have built “the highest tower in the world.”  When other children knock down the tower, these children will diligently work to rebuild.  This process may include a few bruises or crying children, but these kids will keep working at it until they feel they have ultimately conquered their block challenge.

On the other hand, you will also see children that are not so diligent.  For some, their attention span is simply not very long.  However, for others, whenever they experience an obstacle or challenge, their first response is either to cry or to run to the nearest adult and plead for help.  In other words, these children feel that only an adult or someone else can solve their problems.  And, if that doesn’t work, they cry, fall to the floor, or give up.

In the first group, you see children that are developing confidence.  When they see a challenge, they face it and keep working until they are successful.  Thus, they become more confident.  In the second group, the children feel they are helpless to solve their own problems.  Thus, the challenge appears hopeless unless they get someone else to solve their problem. 

I’m sure you know where this is going….  We can see the same characteristics in the workplace.  Some individuals have “never met a challenge they couldn’t defeat.”  They are unaffected by roadblocks.  When they need an answer, they will be persistent until they get the information they need.  Thus, by getting things done, they become (and are perceived as) more competent.  Lack of information is no excuse to these individuals.  When they see that something needs done, they are relentless in doing it.  They help others, as well.  The confident & competent individual is one that will not sit idle and wait for someone else to answer an e-mail, return a call, or give them permission to accomplish a needed task.  They simply do whatever it takes to achieve results.

On the other hand, the hopeless & helpless individual is easily defeated.  I heard an individual recently say something like, “That has been a problem for us for a long time.  We keep hoping that someone will do something about it, but no one has yet.”  Certainly, we cannot solve every problem ourselves.  However, when someone comes to me and says something like that, my response is likely, “So, tell me all the things you have done so far to solve this problem.  Who have you talked to about this?  What steps have you taken?  What have you tried that did not work?  What do you think your next actions should be?  Who else have you worked with to solve this problem?  Why did you come to me before you have exhausted all other possibilities?”  As leaders, we absolutely want to serve our team.  We want team members to be successful.  We want to help solve problems.  However, we do individuals no favor when our first response is to take control of someone else’s problem that should have solved it on their own.  We should not accept hopeless & helpless. 

So, which group do you most often fit in to?  Are you more likely to see obstacles as challenges to conquer or issues to elevate?  How would your teammates or supervisor classify you?  As a leader, is your first response always to attempt to solve everyone else’s problems?  Could this be a wake-up call?

 

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American poet that lived and worked in the 19^th century.  Though Emerson had many struggles in his life, those challenges led to a number of important quotes attributed to him.  Many of these can apply to us.  Everything we attempt is not successful.  Often, our very best plans need to be modified because something has changed.  Our attitude might be our most important predictor of success in work and in life.  We can see these themes coming from Emerson’s work.  Let’s take a look at a few of his quotes today to see how they might help drive us to a successful new FY’16:

1. “What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” – Emerson is clearly saying here that our attitude, motivation, drive, desire, and persistence are more important in our success than the circumstances that occur to us.  Notice also that Emerson minimizes those things in the past (we can no longer influence those things, so why dwell on them) and the future (no one can predict or control the future).  He is simply saying that our internal make-up is far more important that the events of our lives.  Our ability to persevere and strive to the end makes all the difference.
2. “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” – Who has never failed at anything?  No one, that’s who.  If we never fail, we are not taking enough risks or we are not aggressive enough.  Emerson is saying that an important character attribute is in how we react when something negative does occur.  Are we the kind that lets something negative drive us down and keep us there or do we look at failures as a chance to learn.  Getting up quickly demonstrates our drive and ability to learn.
3. “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” – There you have it… another quote on kindness.  Here, though is a new slant.  Emerson is assuming that we will desire and behave kindly to others.  He is simply emphasizing that we mustn’t delay doing what we know we should.  I saw a photo recently of a little boy looking at things in his late grandfather’s garage.  You could see him remembering the things they had done together and the good memories they had made.  The photo reminded me again that a day will come when my own grandchildren will only have memories of me.  Will those memories be happy ones of us playing and working together?  Or, will they be negative memories?  Will my grandchildren tell stories to their own kids some day of the escapades they had with their grandfather and the things we did together?  Will any of those stories survive even to their children?  Am I doing what I can now to make those happy memories because you never know when it will be too late.  Please don’t assume that your friends, your coworkers, or your family members will always be there tomorrow.  Perhaps you need to express a word of thanks or an act of kindness today because “soon it will be too late.”
4.  “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – I guess I don’t have a patent on “this could be our best day yet.”  I never realized Emerson said this until just recently.  Emerson, though, is emphasizing our attitude again.  We need to simply assume that today is special and that it could be the best day of the year.  Make this a habit and your life will change!

So, how does your attitude stack up to these quotes from Emerson?  Do you have that drive and persistence within that makes a champion?  Are you cherishing today as though it will never come again?  Are you valuing those you love as you should?  Are you looking ahead to 2016 with optimism and enthusiasm?  Has Emerson said anything to you today?

Have a terrific day!  And, remember, this could be “the best day in the year.”

There was a discussion this past week with a number of others looking at data comparing performance data from one company with others (e.g., benchmarking).  They were looking at probably 20 – 30 metrics.  In some cases, one company compared very favorably with others, while faring poorly in others.  The discussion in the room eventually came down to this, “What is needed to do to turn all of these metrics to ‘green’?”  In other words, there was a feeling that to be considered “top quartile” or “best-in-class”, they needed to perform at the top of the scale in every metric.  However, fortunately, another view was eventually voiced that essentially stated, “Why do you think you need to be ‘green’ in every category?  You haven’t even decided yet which of these metrics truly adds value.  First, decide which elements, if done well, would make a difference and add value to what you do.”  Presto!  This was a perfect example of “the perils of perfectionism” — that feeling that we will never measure up unless we do everything perfectly, regardless of whether it adds value to us as an organization or us as individuals.

Perfectionism can also be a plague for us as individuals.  We can never, as human beings, achieve perfection.  Yet, many individuals spend their entire lives striving for that impossibility.  I have included several quotes below on perfectionism that describe these perils much better than I ever could, so please take the time to read them.  Certainly, we should strive for continuous improvement.  And, we should endeavor to be the very best that we are capable of being.  This applies to us as individuals and to our efforts as teammates.  However, we can reach the point of diminishing returns.  Let me illustrate…  Let’s say that you can achieve the 95% level of performance for $100.  However, it will cost you $1,000,000 to move to 96% and $10,000,000 to move to 98%.  Thus, you need to determine whether the value of moving from 95% performance to 98% performance is worth the additional cost.  The pursuit of perfection can paralyze us into inaction, indecision, or the feeling of inferiority.

Many individuals never experience a level of satisfaction in their work or lives because they never feel able to achieve the level of perfection they believe is necessary.  The questions we need to ask ourselves are, “Will the effort required to achieve perfection for this activity be value-added?  By spending extra time and effort on this activity, am I forfeiting the opportunity to complete other tasks or spend time with my family or friends?  What level of perfection is actually needed?  If I don’t know, perhaps it would be time well spent to ask that question.  How can I make the most of the time and resources available without compromising or getting things out of balance?”

This probably does not apply to everyone, but, for some of you, the quotes below may challenge you to view your approach in a different way.  Have a fabulous day!

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Quotes on Perfectionism

“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a crappy first draft. I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won’t have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren’t even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they’re doing it.”
― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

 

“But I am learning that perfection isn’t what matters. In fact, it’s the very thing that can destroy you if you let it.”
― Emily Giffin, Something Borrowed

 

“Perfectionism is a self destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this primary thought: If I look perfect, and do everything perfectly, I can avoid or minimize the painful feelings of shame, judgment, and blame.”
― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

 

“Healthy striving is self-focused: “How can I improve?” Perfectionism is other-focused: “What will they think?  Perfectionism is a hustle.”
― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

 

“At its root, perfectionism isn’t really about a deep love of being meticulous. It’s about fear. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of disappointing others. Fear of failure. Fear of success.”
― Michael Law

 

“Good enough is good enough. Perfect will make you a big fat mess every time.”
― Rebecca Wells, The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder

 

 

 

 

Today, Eldon’s Porch looks at some quotes from A. A. Milne, the author of Winnie the Pooh books.  I am a rather new fan of the sayings contained in Winnie the Pooh.  Had I known the wisdom contained in Milne’s books, I would certainly have exposed my own three children to them.  But, I have another chance with my grandchildren, so they will be getting a steady dose starting soon.

Milne’s quotes apply very well to life in general and the things we experience in our world.

1. “People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” — When you enjoy what you do, it does not seem like work.  In fact, our work, especially when things go as we plan, can be fun and enjoyable.  It can also seem that we can easily work hard all day, yet accomplish nothing.  Some of the greatest inventions or greatest works of art required years of day-by-day progress.  When it seems that you are not making progress with our transformation, with compliance, with continuous improvement… whatever the task, remember that progress occurs item-by-item, day-by-day, success-by-success.  Don’t give up!

2. “You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” — I hear individuals say to me at least weekly, “I sent him/her an e-mail and need an answer before I can go to the next step.”  Sometimes, you make greater and faster progress when you go see the person face-to-face.  As Pooh says, “You have to go the them sometimes.”

3. “It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like “What about lunch?” — Don’t overuse the language.  As someone once said, “The best solutions are often the most simple ones.”

4. “If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.” — Patience is a virtue.  It is easy to jump to conclusions about someone – that is, until you know what they are going through in their lives.  Before you place blame or become frustrated with others, first put yourself in their shoes.  When you know the real story, their actions may be totally understandable.

5. “When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.” — We are all in a Great Adventure at our company.  It can be an exciting time, but there are challenges occurring every day.

The question for today is, “Will you put on your Big Boots or will you go hide in the forest?”

Have a very productive and wonderful day!

 

 

 

LinkedIn has become a very interesting place to find information on people, companies, technical information, and leadership attributes and approaches.  Though there is quite a bit of worthless information, once in awhile, there is something that really matters or makes an excellent point.  This past weekend, I saw a very simple comment that said, “Be a warrior, not a worrier.”  Simple, but so very important.

Why is it important to be a warrior versus a worrier?  For one, a worrier impedes progress.  This type of individual always wants more information, needs more discussion, requires additional data, etc., etc.  This individual also is typically negative and brings others down.  A warrior, on the other hand, is usually willing to take on the impossible.  A warrior also helps us envision more than what we can see, rather than limit us to the details we can see and touch.  In short, we need warriors!  We need individuals that are not afraid to march into the unknown.  Certainly, we must never forge ahead without proper caution, but the point is, we need less worry and more action.

What are the characteristics of a warrior?  Do the characteristics identified below ring true for you?

Comparison of a Warrior with a Worrier

Characteristics of a “Warrior”	Characteristics of a “Worrier”
Is not afraid to take a measured risk	Is risk averse – very reluctant to take any action unless all risks have been identified and eliminated
Asks “why not”	Asks “why”
Is energized by a challenge	Is often defeated by a challenge
Recognizes that failure may occur, but every failure represents an opportunity to learn and grow	Is afraid of failure and will avoid it by avoiding action
Looks for ways to make something happen, even if there are obstacles	Is blinded by any potential obstacles that might be perceived
Has an action default and becomes impatient when we do not make progress	Has a “let’s discuss it further” default and becomes impatient when others want to go faster
Is concerned that he/she will make the mistake of not doing enough	Is concerned that he/she will make a mistake by doing something
Is the person you always want on your team with you	Is the person you always want on the other team

So, are you a warrior or a worrier?  Are you the person others want on their team?  Are you making a difference for your team or your company?

People often ask, “What are the things I need to do to ensure that my career will be successful? What training or development activities will make a difference? Will an MBA degree guarantee my success?” If you visit a book store, you will find complete rows of books on this subject. Everyone wants that “silver bullet” that will guarantee that they achieve career success and ultimate happiness or fulfillment. What is the answer?

To me, a career has many pieces… very much like a jigsaw puzzle. You remember jigsaw puzzles, right? There is only one piece that will perfectly fit each spot. Many of the pieces look the same, but only one will work. Each piece is unique. No two people have the same “method” for completing a puzzle. Our careers are very much like this with many pieces being available. Some of these pieces include:

• Training programs or courses
• Good bosses
• Mentors
• Bad bosses
• Project assignments
• Finding a new job
• Education
• Conferences and seminars
• Self-taught activities
• Keen observation of behaviors
• Successes and failures

All of these pieces work together to create the perfect you. No one is exactly like you. No one else has the same combination of education, experience, skills, abilities, personality, drive, and motivation that you do. So, is there any “formula” or “key list” of things common to all successful people? Once again, no two people would have the same things on such a list. Take it for what it is worth — some of this may become a piece in your own career jigsaw puzzle. Before starting, however, it is important to define exactly what career “success” looks like. To some, success equates to a title, salary, and office with a view. I contend that career success is essentially equal to career fulfillment. Being satisfied or fulfilled in your career, work, or life defines success – not a title, salary, or office location. If you chase a title, you are destined to be disappointed. Chasing a salary can drive you to make poor long-term decisions. Chasing fulfillment, however, has no downside. So, here is my list of six components that, if done consistently, are guaranteed to result in what you will deem a “successful career.”

Six Key Components to Career Success (e.g., Fulfillment)

(Note: Career Success = Career Fulfillment… success cannot be defined in terms of title, salary, or responsibilities, but as a measure of fulfillment in your own life)

1. Relationships – Career fulfillment always begins with those essential relationships we build. Nothing is more important in a fulfilling career. Who could possibly say that their career was fulfilling if they did not develop life-long friendships along the way? Relationships are also important in growing our careers. A significant percentage of individuals hired and/or promoted can attribute this to a direct or indirect relationship. Relationships drive many business transactions, can make the difference in whether or not you make the deal, can define how successfully an inspection goes, and on-and-on. Relationships are vital for our success and critical to our overall happiness. Take the time to care for others and nurture those friendships you have!
2. Intentionality – Many individuals I know have gotten to the end of their careers and had many regrets. They regretted not taking career risks. They regretted waiting when they should have charged forward. They regretted not using their skills, not connecting with others, and, simply, not doing more to manage their careers. They saw others get the promotion or the big assignment they wanted and wondered why they were not the choice. Much of what we gain in our careers is because we were willing to step out and take risks. Taking action when others were unwilling often makes the difference. We must be intentional about identifying important career steps and charging forward to grab the brass ring. Don’t get to the end of your career and regret not being more active, taking more initiative, or doing more.
3. Value – Individuals that have the most fulfillment in their careers are ones that learn the importance of “value.” Value can be defined as creating benefits for a reasonable cost. When you learn that the company most cherishes employees that can discern how to provide value, your career will take an entirely different turn. When you learn to seek value, you become one that provides a return on investment that cannot be ignored. A person that understands value, does not waste time or resources; gets to the point quickly; does not major on the minors; and drives toward results, not activity.  In another sense, you gain career fulfillment when you learn to add value to the lives of others. You become a “giver” not a “taker”. You seek ways to make a positive difference for others. You look for ways to turn a bad day into a good one for others. When you live in a way in which you intentionally (there that word is again… intentional) seek to add value to the lives of others, you gain fulfillment that exceeds anything your actual job can provide.

4. Excellence – You automatically increase the fulfillment you get from your career when you become an individual that constantly seeks excellence in everything. Colin Powell once said, “If you are going to achieve excellence in the big things, you develop the habit in little matters.” When you can consistently say to yourself when you walk to your car at the end of each day that you have done your best in all matters, you have achieve an attitude of excellence. When you become known as the individual that will always complete the work on time, in an high quality manner, and with no drama, your career will advance and you will gain a sense of fulfillment that goes beyond those tangible benefits you might receive.
5. Return the favor – You will never look back on your career with fulfillment unless you took the time to return the favor. Most of the individuals I know that volunteer to serve as mentors do so because someone took the time to mentor them earlier in their career. When you pass along those things you have learned and share the positive (and negative) experiences you have lived, you pour yourself into the life or career of another. When you volunteer your time to better the life or career of another, you are paying back all those that took the time to make your career successful and better.
6. Serve – Few things in life provide more fulfillment and satisfaction than serving others. By putting others first, you demonstrate a level of leadership and sacrifice that can erase many feelings of career stagnation. When you feel that your career is not moving as you desire, begin serving others and see what difference it makes. When you put yourself on the line to make a difference for others, there are returns that cannot be measured by dollars, titles, or anything else. If you adopt an attitude of service, the details of your career will take care of themselves.

There you have it. If you do all six of these well and consistently, I guarantee you will find fulfillment in your career. (Yes, I give you my personal guarantee that this is true!) These six items, if done well, can yield RIVERS (an acrostic for each of the points) of satisfaction and achievement. To put it another way, someone once said the following of excellence (but, I have changed it to career fulfillment):

“Excellence Career Fulfillment can be obtained if you:
…care more than others think is wise;
…risk more than others think is safe;
…dream more than others think is practical;
…expect more than others think is possible.”

When you achieve this, your career fulfillment will exceed even your expectations!

 

Most of us desire to become an employee seen as having “high potential” for the future – and, the increased responsibilities and pay that come with it.  So, I thought it might be helpful to list some of the factors that can help drive your potential for advancement and that differentiate top performers.  In general, top performers:

1. Consistently exceed expectations for results – needless to say, a top performer must be an individual that gets things done.  It is not enough to barely attain job expectations, you must go above and beyond to achieve what most others would not or could not have attained.
2. Consistently demonstrate and model key behaviors – results alone do not define top performers – how they achieve results is also very important.  It is virtually impossible to be a top performer without demonstrating engagement, competitiveness, collaboration, high-performing approach, and trustworthiness.  Top performers not only exhibit these hallmarks, but they serve as the model to others.  In other words, these individuals are the ones you point to when you are describing what the hallmarks mean.
3. Consistently exhibit appropriate professional behavior – in additional to exhibiting the proper behavioral attributes, top performers also behave professionally.  This means that you treat others with respect, display the appropriate demeanor, respect the time of others, exhibit appropriate language, fulfill obligations, etc.  In short, professional behavior means to act the way your mother hoped you would.
4. Volunteer for challenging assignments – a top performer is often the first to volunteer for a difficult assignment.  He/She does not shy away from challenges and will do whatever it takes to meet a customer need, solve a compliance issue, and support the team.
5. Understand and exhibit the concept of “adding value” – a top performer would never “confuse effort with results.”  A top performer understands that our driving attitude must be one that adds value.  In other words, this individual makes our company better, improves patient experience, reduces costs, improves productivity, reduces risks, enhances systems, improves morale, etc.
6. Exhibit flexibility (or the ability to readily shift to other roles) – in most cases, individuals deemed as top performers have the ability to serve in more than one capacity.  I have often heard someone say of another, “That individual would be successful in any role they were assigned.”  Developing multiple skills, being flexible, learning transferrable skills, etc. are important attributes of top employees.
7. Demonstrate adaptability or willingness to try something new – it is very typical that top performers readily shift outside their comfort zone.  Being willing to shift to the unknown makes an employee more valuable to the organization.
8. Are consistently connected with successful activities – one way to identify a top performer is to look for successful operations.  Top performers are usually known as “winners” – that is, they are connected to success because they help drive the success of the team.
9. Are consistently viewed as the “go to” individual in the group – top performers are usually individuals that understand more, know more, can explain better, are more willing to help, and work well with others.
10. Develop good relationships with teammates, colleagues, and others – and finally, top performers are individuals you want to work with.  These individuals are wanted by others and they promote collaboration simply because they work well with others.

In short, top performers are those individuals you would choose, if you were starting your own business.  These are the individuals that provoke a response of “amazing!” when you ask, “What kind of company would ours be if every one of our employees was just like him/her?”  These are the employees you would want your son/daughter to model.

So, the bottom line is this… If you want to be considered a top performer or high potential employee, how many of these ten attributes do you routinely exhibit?  Which of these represents the greatest opportunity for improvement for you?  How can you differentiate yourself like the top performers you work with every day?

Yes, I’ve been known to say that from time to time.  The effects of stress are well known: harmful health impacts, poor decision-making, lack of decision-making, strained relationships, inefficiency, etc., etc.  In addition, stress has a way of making work more like “work.”  So, what is the remedy to stress?  Is stress really self-inflicted?

Here are a few hints that I’ve gathered over the last three or more decades about dealing with stress in the workplace.  And, keep in mind that I am not typically a nonchalant individual.  My mother used to call me hyperactive (a term that had not even been invented yet).  My wife used to say that I started getting worked up at the 4^th of July before a road trip we planned for the winter.  So, let’s just say that I’ve learned a thing or two over the years.  This is my list of things that can help deal with stress:

1. Don’t speculate – Stop and get the facts.  Sometimes, the issues that are causing our stress are really not all that serious, but we can’t slow down long enough to really consider the facts.  Is the situation real?  What is the worst-case scenario?  Is it truly a risk?  Get the real facts and deal with it with composure.
2. Keep a proper perspective – Understand the relationship between things I control and things I cannot control.  We often stress most over those things we have no control over.  If we can get ourselves to focus on what we can control, we have a better chance of dealing with it and making better decisions.
3. Prioritize – Decide what is most important.  We sometimes get stressed simply because of the workload or myriad of things hitting us at once.  If we can work on the most important first and get that handled, it may help relieve our overall stress level.
4. Err on the side of action – Whether you choose to do the hard things first or easy things first, just do something!  Don’t become paralyzed with inaction.  Get up and get going!
5. Prepare – Making a list often has a soothing effect on me.  Putting things down in black and white so that I can see the list often helps me see more clearly what to tackle, how big the task is, and which things come first.
6. Delegate – Have someone else do it.  We often try to take on too much ourselves and, as a result, pile on the stress.  Allowing someone else to take on some activities can both help them and us be removing items from our list.
7. Consider the what if’s – Consider alternatives and contingencies.  If there is something truly significant that is causing stress in our lives, it often helps to look at ways around the problem or at least to plan for the impacts that will occur to us.
8. Diversions – Music, chocolate, take a walk, pet the dog, watch a movie.  Sometimes, enjoying an activity like this can help clear our mind and allow us to make better decisions around the problems we face.
9. Share the burden – Talk it over with someone else.  Often, it helps to take our burdens and at least voice them to someone else.  The other person may actually be able to offer suggestions or support that will help us face the issues.
10. Prepare to learn – Look for the lessons.  Sometimes, the best thing we can do is to know that what we learn may help someone else in the future.  This is called experience.  The things we experience can help us with similar events in the future or they can allow us to help someone else when they face future issues.

That’s it… stress-free in ten easy points.  Yes, this is easier said than done.  However, you might pick something up from this list that can help the next time you find yourself up to your ears in problems.

 

Not long ago, a one of my good friends asked me if there was any band or person, dead or alive, that I would pay $1000 to see in concert.  Of course, he was probably thinking of the all-time greats, such as Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, etc. when he asked the question.  But, my answer was quick and easy… yes, I would pay $1000 to hear my Dad sing “Little Brown Jug” or “Jimmy Crack Corn” one more time – but this time to one of my seven grandchildren.  If fact, I would pay a whole lot more to see that.  My father has been gone now for over twenty years and I still think about him and the influence he had on my life every day.

I am often known as the individual that says, “This could be our best day yet!”  You might be thinking that a “best day” would be the day you finally receive that promotion you’ve worked so hard to get.  Or, you could be thinking this is the day you win the lottery.  Or, the day your son or daughter achieves something truly big.  Or, the day you attain that world-wide recognition you deserve.  Or, that day you finally finish a project that has been nagging you for months.  Sure, any of these could contribute to a “best day.”  But, for me, when I think of my very best days, they are days spent with the people I love.  I think of days filled with fun and laughter.  Or, I remember good times with good friends, some no longer in my life.  I think of winning, and celebrating, or just enjoying the beauty of the world around me.  I think of every new day with my bride of almost forty years.  I think of those I wish I could speak to just one more time.

So, remember that you might look back tomorrow and say that today truly was your very best day yet. Don’t take today for granted. So, have a good one – perhaps your very best yet!  And, take the time to give your love to those special people in your lives.  Never take times you have with them for granted.