Happy October! (a few days late)
Today (Tuesday) was my first full-day at my new gig. I left my previous gig last week, and then spent a couple days refreshing my mind & body. We spent a few days with some really awesome friends (The Weddles) in Indianapolis. Then yesterday we went to Kentucky Down Under & Dinosaur World as a family. Yay Groupons!
Anyway, I like to take time each quarter to reflect on the previous few months and then look forward to the next few months – and plan some intentionality into my life. If you recall, I started this year with My Three Words – a focus for how I want to shape the "wins" of 2010.
Let's start with Read – Here's my 2010 Reading List so far…
- The Servant by James Hunter
- Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey
- First Break all the Rules by Marcus Buckingham
- Good to Great by Jim Collins
- Tribes by Seth Godin
- Choosing to Cheat by Andy Stanley
- Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel
- Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley
- Outliers by Malcom Gladwell
- Purple Cow by Seth Godin
- The Big Moo – 33 authors, edited by Seth Godin
- The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel
- Switch by Chip & Dan Heath
- Basic Christianity by John Stott
- Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Bradberry & Greaves
- Fearless by Max Lucado (a quick re-read)
- The Me I want To Be by John Ortberg
- Silos, Politics and Turf Wars by Patrick Lencioni
- Vital Friends by Tom Rath
- What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
- A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller
- The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
- The Shark and the Goldfish by Jon Gordon
- The Go-Giver by Burg & Mann
- Holy Discontent by Bill Hybels
- Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordeiro
- Axiom by Bill Hybels
- The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel
- Plan B by Pete Wilson
- How Full Is Your Bucket by Tom Rath & Donald Clifton
- Habitudes #1 by Tim Elmore
- Habitudes #2 by Tim Elmore
- Habitudes #3 by Tim Elmore
- Habitudes #4 by Tim Elmore
- The Land Between by Jeff Manion
- Rework by Jason Fried & David Hansson
- Business / IT Fusion by Peter Hinssen
- Radical by David Platt (currently reading and studying @springdalecc)
- Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh (Zappos.com CEO) (currently reading)
My goal was to read 40 Inspirational / Leadership books this year. When I'm done with the two I'm currently reading, I'll have reached my goal. But I don't plan to stop & coast – that's not in my nature.
Moving on to Share – This has been a neat year for me. I've had the honor and opportunity to consult with some local organizations and also share a little bit about how I "do work" and "do life" with groups of IT Pros & Ministry people as well. Each week I get together with a local pastor and it's one of the highlights of my week. With my new gig, our meeting schedule with change, but I hope to settle that schedule here soon. I'm actively thinking about how I want to blog something I learn, or something I see, or just when I want to encourage others to "think differently" about something. I can say I'm focused well on "share" this year.
Now About Play – This continues to be a struggle for me. I'm doing more and more cool things with my family, but my stress level is toward the top right now. Picture one of those cartoon thermometers with the "red stuff" blowing out the end – explosion style. That's how my stress has been lately. I enjoy my kids and my wife and spending time together, but it's less fun lately. Just being honest. I don't know exaclty how to unpack that, or explain it, but even though we're spending some "family time" together, I'm on edge and things that should be easy – well, just aren't easy at all. I can say we're doing more things together, but my goal for 2010 was to be more intentional with "playing" with my kids. I'm not there yet. I'm somewhere north of tolerating, but yet somewhere south of "anticipating a great time together." I feel awful writing that.
Anyway, that's my Third Quarter checkup.
As for the Fourth / Last Quarter… I need to focus on Play for sure. Read – I'm good. Share – I'm growing and with my new gig, I'm sure more and more opportunities will arise. With Play, I want to travel much further North of "tolerating" – and maybe arrive at "anticipating"… or even pass thru that. Lots to work on.
How are YOU being intentional? How do you set your life, career, and family goals?
I envy the read list. I’ve read all the Seth Godin books and Rework. Fearless and Radical jumped out at me. I need to read those.
Also, dude I feel you on the stress levels and the somewhere between tolerating and anticipating playtime with the kiddos. Well worded. We’ll get there.
Great post!
Thanks for the comments Bryce! I am an avid reader, although things have been slowing down a little with my new gig. I’ll spin back up later in the year.
–DW
With the changes that have come your way-if you weren’t stressed I would think you were a Cyborg!
I know your feeling about family. I find it hard to concentrate @ work and when I get home, it’s nothing but a rat race and never seem to get anything done. If you figure out the secret to get out of the rut, let me know!