What's better than a great defense?

Most of us have heard this question before. Many of us would answer that: "What's better than a great defense is a great offense!" We think this way because our focus is on sports. However, Dad talks of life, and always took things to the next level.

Dad wanted me to think ahead of needing to go on the offense and doing it well. In fact he wanted me to win long before an offense was necessary. "What's better than a great defense is not needing one", he would say. This was significant because it taught me to take the time to think things through before the time for offense or defense ever came. Although Dad never played chess, he taught me - like in chess - to think many moves ahead of my current situation, and that has served me well every time I have lived by the principle (as long as I avoided succumbing to analysis paralysis). Think about the decisions you are making, and ask yourself: Is it going to be necessary to defend my decision, or is their a better way so that no one can ever question my integrity?

Easy Come, Easy Go

Talk about FRUSTRATING!!!

Every time I was wasteful, or failed to appreciate what I had, Dad would offer his famous quote: "Easy come, easy go."

Although frustrating as a kid, I realize now the importance of working for what we have, and the value in earning something. More importantly, the value of knowing that it was earned. I recognize now more than ever the meaning behind this as I watch our politicians building their power base upon steeling from those that work for it just to give it to those that wish for it. Politicians and the people they give handouts fail to appreciate what it takes to earn. Never do they experience the long days and sleepless nights, hours of planning and preparation, working to actually be a producer, or they simply wouldn't come as a thief in the night to take what we earn.

As a child, my Dad was creating an environment - a microcosm of social interaction - for me to understand that when you are not the one earning, then you see no value in what it takes to earn. More importantly, though, he created an environment where I could decide whether I want to earn it or steel it.

When your only tool is a hammer...

I have repeatedly experienced the truth to this lesson. I usually understand it better after every new thing I learn. Have you heard the expression: "The more I learn, the more I learn I never knew"? What really makes sense about this is that the more I learn, the more ways I learn that I could have chosen to do things differently. However, this concept is a double edge sword. "When your only tool is a hammer, the whole world appears as a nail." Is a great testament to focusing on broadening and developing your skills so that you have the tools that required to respond to different situations. If you lack the skills to effectively respond, you will respond using only the tools you have. The point here is a keen focus in development, and a culture and lifestyle of learning. However, on the concept of the double edge sword is avoiding tackling a task just because you may not have the best set of tools. Settling with substandard tools is just that - settling. However always focusing on taking the best action possible with the tools that you have is being proactive and learning to adapt as required. Facing challenges head-on is how to build an arsenal of tested tools; fire hardened through experience.

I think I might expand on this lesson a bit if I have kids: "When your only tool is a hammer, the whole world appears as a nail. But, if a hammer is all you've got, then swing it like you mean it!"

Say Your ABC's Daily

A, B, C, D, E....

Well, that's a different kind of ABC's. How can it be different? The answer is simple, and so is this lesson, but likely the most important.

Sometimes, Dad let everything that life throws consume him. Caught up in distractions with work, family, friends and other responsibilities, Dad - as much as the rest of us - could at times lose focus. I remember walking with him one morning - Dad and Mom are both avid walkers - when he shared with me how he brought his focus back daily.

As I mentioned, Dad and Mom walk religiously; walking up to 4 or 5 miles nearly everyday, in Michigan, even in the winter, is well, nuts. I give them credit for their commitment, however, I tend to avoid that kind of torture. In the words of my friend and fellow pilot, David Jenkins: "I am plenty good at being miserable when required. I certainly have no need to practice ahead of time!" Sorry for the diversion from the main topic, but it was necessary to make this note.

Back to the walk I took with Dad on Rowe road - the place in Milford, MI where I grew up - where I learned the importance of re-centering on that which is most important everyday. Dad and I were walking; he was silent. Enjoying my time with my thoughts, too, I continued to walk beside him without a word. Several minutes into our walk, he asked: "Do you know what I do while I am walking every morning?" Of course I said that I did not.

"I say my ABC's every morning."

"Your ABC's? You have a Masters Degree; probably should have practiced those sooner," I said with a crooked smile.

"Not those ABC's. I start with A. A is for Attitude. Attitude is a decision, and I make a conscious decision every day about the attitude I want to have. When I move on to B, I consider my blessings. I think of all of the great things that God has blessed me with, and the positive influence that those blessings have on my life. Finally, I cover 'C'. Character. I can make a decision about my attitude, and I can count my blessings, but when those two thing fail to support the toughest of times, that's when real character is measured. I commit that no matter what, I will come through my challenges with character. Remember that the best defense is not needing one."