Today I begin a month-long speaking tour at kickoff events around the country, 5 events this week. As I pack my bag for this 6500 mile trip, I’m feeling excited, optimistic, energized and nervous.
“Cock your hat. Angles are attitudes.”~Frank Sinatra
I believe in large team “kickoffs” to inspire, energize and align. We pull together all 500-1000 people in each location to share vision, strategy, and goals. Each one is a bit different. There’s always strategy and slides but each team takes a unique spin to recognition, costumes, dancing and songs. it can get pretty interesting.
Serious silliness inspires and motivates.
But there’s always the downside (see Face Time or Face Time). Time away from family, complex childcare, airport food. Each week we have choices with our attitude. We can view our life as an adventure or an ordeal.
The Attitude of Adventure
This week is an adventure because…
- It’s a great platform to inspire leadership at all levels
- We will touch many hearts and minds
- We get to talk about strategy and how folks fit in
- My team and partners are working hard
- Silliness at work is fun
- Creativity begets creativity
- We will learn much, and each kickoff will improve
- Every kickoff will be different
- Recognition matters
- ? TBD
The Attitude of Ordeal
It’s an ordeal because…
- A gazillion hours on airplanes
- Everything stuffed into a carry-on for tight connections
- Missing parent’s day at school
- Getting 5 am childcare, when my husband has overnight firefighter shifts
- Airport food
- Finding time to sleep or exercise
- I’m worried about my mom
- My “day job” carries on there will be much work to do on airplanes, evenings, and weekends
- ? TBD
The truth is every day has elements of adventure and ordeal.
Attitude matters.
I’ll post updates of the adventure on the Let’s Grow Leaders Facebook Page
Have fun and travel safe. When you have time, you should check out Choosing to Cheat by Andy Stanley. It’s a great book that speaks to this premise. I’m constantly choosing to cheat. Either my family or my career. I don’t believe in balance by the month….but we work are hardest as a family to balance by the year.
Again, safe travels. If you meet a flight attendant named Bernie, consider yourself winner. I’ve been looking for a flight attendant by that name for years…no luck. But, it gives me something to look forward to for each flight. The possibility of meeting Bernie the Flight Attendant.
I have a list like this of things I do to help pass airport and travel time. Let me know if you get bored, I’ll rattle of a few more.
Eric, still looking for Bernie.. will keep you posted.
I love that idea- adventure or ordeal. It’s a great way to break everything down. And if we start off our days (or week or national tour) with the mindset that it is an adventure, we’ll be predisposed to see more adventure elements than odeals. Have a great adeventure!
I totally agree with you Regina!
I’ve been on these before and your mindset going into it can affect or infect the whole thing!
Good luck out there Karin!!!
Thanks Bob, I appreciate your thoughts… so far so good.
Regina so far so good. A great first day in Freso, CA. Inspiring leadership and growth. Awesome team. Long day, but worth it. Up at 4 am again tomorrow with a flight to Boise.