Moments — the power and beauty of bookclub.

The reason most people do not accomplish more is that they do not attempt more. The boy who does not read good books, who does not embrace every opportunity to extend his general knowledge, has no advantage over the boy who cannot read books and who does not have opportunity to extend his knowledge. 

                                                      "Bulletin” of the National Association of Corporation Schools July 1915

Somehow I found myself part of a "bookclub" that reads business books. We get together after each book is read to discuss its major themes and what we gleaned from it — we also drink wine and beer, have something to eat, and discuss the merits of the latest superhero action movie.

The group consists mostly of people working on their MBA part time — although we are not all doing that. We are all there to learn, share our perspectives, meet new people, and build upon the opportunities that come with all of this.

Our last book club involved the merits of "discomfort" for personal growth and development (the book was The Beauty of Discomfort) — we also discussed our dreams for the future, the possibly of moving to China, the serendipity of common connections, a trip to Germany, and how the blockbuster superhero movies of 2018 will be amazing.

These were the conversations of people attempting to do more.

I'd like to thank Adrian, and Laura, and Victoria, and Behnam, and Renée, and Jenn, and Doug, and Robert — I am richer for the opportunity of book club.

iamgpe

Moments — opportunities

I have always found a serenity with being in a church; a quiet that calms the soul. Why this is, I really don't know — it may be what a church represents, or the expectation that it's a place for quiet reflection, or maybe it's simply a symbol of something bigger than ourselves.

Recently I sat quietly on a back pew and supported a great friend (and his family) as they said goodbye to a mother, a wife, and a member of that very church. I was an observer of the human condition — the joy, the celebration, and of course the grief. It offered insight into a life lived, and an opportunity to ponder my own.

"You are born and you die, and everything is in-between". I heard someone say this once, and I could not help but reflect on the "everything in-between" as a woman sang Amazing Grace. 

Big and small, common and unique, easily attained and difficult — these are the types of opportunities that come our way each and every day, and make up our life; this is the "everything in-between" that he was talking about. As I left this borrowed sanctuary, I could not help but acknowledge that this life will not last forever, and that I should never shy away from any and all opportunities — no matter how unfamiliar and unlikely they may seem.

You never know where they will take you. And isn't that what life is all about?

iamgpe

The Golden Age... a result of this very moment.

"It never used to be like this", he said.

He then went on to say how he could remember what it used to be like and how it was much better... as well as other self aggrandizing perspectives of an age gone by. To be honest I started to tune him out (which I recognize was rude but I quickly got over it), and then I was reminded of a conversation that took place a number of years ago.

We were into the second year of a large and complicated merger that brought big step changes to the new organization... people, leadership, product offering and go to market strategy to name a few; the growing pains were challenging but we were heading in the right direction. I was talking to a senior leader who was lamenting that everyone was wrestling with the changes, the perceived problems, and how many were suggesting that everything before the merger was wonderful.

"Way back when, everything was great."

To that I said, "Everyone wants to think of it as the Golden Age when everything was perfect. Although, I can remember when there were really bad manufacturing problems, back orders, poorly launched products, and pricing that made it difficult to capture share." I went on to add, "People seem to conveniently forget the bad things and just want to remember the best of times"

To that he said, "I know"

We didn't fault anyone in our observation; it was more a commentary on the human condition and how it is just a byproduct of people managing though change. As I look back on the conversation and the situation (with fond memories I might add), I find myself considering something that had never occurred to me before. If by definition a Golden Age is a nicely edited retrospective of a time that offered peace, prosperity, happiness and where everything you did was at it's pinnacle, isn't is fair to say that creating a Golden Age is just an issue of time. 

I mean, given enough time, isn't this very moment part of some Golden Age yet to be defined? 

I should point out that "this very moment" I speak of only applies to a moment that is new or different, and not just an iteration of some bygone golden age moment; they need to be moments moving forward, not backwards. Moments building on moments; all colliding into one another until one day you find yourself looking back fondly.

The question that needs to be asked is, "Have you started building your new Golden Age?"

iamgpe