A Sunday Morning Reflection: How Did I Get Here?

It's a lazy Sunday morning and as many of you head to church and brunch for Easter Sunday, I find myself being overly reflective thinking about the last few years. I resigned my position as president of Rangefinder and WPPI exactly four years ago tomorrow. It's been quite a journey!
 
Many of you thought I was nuts. I had what appeared to be the greatest job in the world and nothing was hotter than WPPI and Rangefinder Magazine. I had the condo in California, lived less than a half mile from the beach, drove the sports car, the whole nine yards, but I wasn't happy. I was having to fight for things I deeply believed in virtually every day. Then one day it simply happened - I decided if I was honestly going to grow as a manager, a writer and a person, it was simply time to see if I could walk the talk.

I remember Sheila, now my wife, asking me, "What are you afraid of?" My answer was just one word, "Failing!" I got the lecture of my life for the next hour and the word "failure" in that context has never been used again.

So, the journey continues and I am literally doing what I love most. I dive out of bed every morning with the enthusiasm of a six year old on Christmas day. I can't wait to see what's going on in our industry. I can't wait to decide what I'm going to work on.
 
Even now, at this very moment, I'm doing a Sunday morning post for SCU with the biggest smile on my face and it wouldn't happen without the support of some amazing people in my life and especially my wife Sheila and my good buddy, Scott Bourne. Sheila's always believed in me.  No matter what you're working on, you need one person who simply listens, comments and helps you trust your gut instincts. Shelia helps me down that path.

SCU might be my baby, but it wouldn't have happened without Scott's push over dinner one night. I was feeling frustrated over a whole series of projects that just weren't coming together. I'll never forget his question to me, "What would happen if you put all your energy into just one thing? Stop spreading yourself so thin and trying to do a dozen little projects when you can focus your energy in one singular direction!"

So, with the driving force of those two cheering me on, so many of you have played a role and you know who you are. You've made suggestions...you've sent me emails and called me...at every turn of every project you've been there with honest feedback, both good and bad.

I know exactly how I got here - it's thanks to all of you, new friends and old, along with some amazing people who blazed a path of inspiration for me over the years...Don Blair, Dean Collins, Monte Zucker, Bengt Forssbaeck and Mike Bowen all come to mind first. You may no longer be a phone call away, but you're the best team of angels I could possibly have.

"I am convinced that material things can contribute a lot to making one's life pleasant, but, basically, if you do not have very good friends and relatives who matter to you, life will be really empty and sad and material things cease to be important." David Rockefeller

Wishing all of you a safe and happy Easter weekend. As I wrote the other day, remember to hug your family and friends..."to thine own self be true!"