Happy Birthday to me...

Upfront I’d like to say that if you insist on getting me a gift I am truly grateful but you should make a donation to your local food bank instead.

For those who struggle with my age, it’s somewhere between thirty-seven and eighty-four — if you want something more exact it’s probably easier to just pick a number and move on (it’s only just a number). I will admit it’s always nice to receive birthday wishes but I really like this day because it offers a natural moment to reflect. Now that I’ve turned somewhere between thirty-seven and eighty-four, it would make sense to reflect on a life lived (so far). Maybe it’s because I believe I’m at an age that I’ve achieved some semblance of wisdom and wanted to share, or maybe, just maybe, this is a poorly veiled attempt to get some birthday wishes and a donation or two.

Reflections so far:

• There are few greater emotions than a parent’s love for a child — I love you very much sweetie.

• Look after your health. Just assume you aren’t as healthy as you think and step up your game. Health is all about the long game — healthy today is also healthy tomorrow; not so healthy today, is definitely unhealthy tomorrow.

• Protect, cherish and work at your relationships. They are only as good as the effort you put into them — it’s best to surround yourself with diverse, smart, caring and interesting people, and get to know them.

• Leadership is defined when times are difficult: with vision, decision making, and ownership. This applies to character for that matter.

• Be curious and never stop learning — new and different is always better than old and the same. Listen to people, particularly when you don’t agree with what they say. The moment you stop listening and learning is the first step to becoming irrelevant. And irrelevant is a very lonely place to be.

• Nothing is accomplished unless you do something — and the moment you do something is when you will be judged. Experience has shown that many times those who judge don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about (so keep that in mind). Choose your influencers well, because ironically, you need constructive feedback to progress and grow.

And one final thought — Memento mori. One of my trusted influencers reminded me of this the other day when he said, “Don’t waste what little time you have left on things like that.”

It was very good advice. Happy Birthday to me

iamgpe

PS: Yup, I’m a Capricorn

Celebrating this time of the year...

This timeline may not be particularly accurate, but I believe it’s directionally sound and I’m almost certain we’ll land on something worthwhile — Jól leads to Yule, which leads to Yuletide, which finds its way to Christmastide; then Christmas, which finds its way to a massive year end commercial celebration we call, “The Holidays”. Rooted in the winter solstice, Jól marked the shortest day of the year and celebrated each day onward getting longer, making way to summer. Something that, when life was hard, was worth celebrating.

And we have been celebrating ever since.

Childhood memories of the smell of the Christmas tree, my grandmother’s perfectly wrapped gifts, turkey and my mother’s desserts keep the ghosts of Christmas past at bay and make this my favourite time of year. I still like to have a nicely decorated Christmas tree, turkey on the table and spend a slightly obsessive amount of time on wrapping paper. I also enjoy reflecting on what I’m celebrating.

I very much celebrate; the winter solstice*; telling my daughter I’ve yet again made her the perfect stocking; the wonderful circle of friends I am blessed with; my health; the generosity and kindness of the community I live in, and that the world is still full of wonder and possibility. In the spirt of this celebration, I want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday with family and friends, and if you find yourself alone or in the dark, remember we’ve all been there, you aren’t alone, and the days are getting longer.

Light and love.

iamgpe

*It’s because I’m part Viking and I have the phenotypic marker to prove it.

Entering the post COVID world ...

In my part of the world the COVID-19 pandemic has become manageable and the normality of working alongside the virus is settling into the public psyche. What I just said may be a little contentious for some, but it’s safe to say we’d all agree managing through the last eighteen plus months has left its mark and will definitely echo through the next couple of years. I’d like to suggest many of us have become a little feral because of our isolation and our coping mechanisms — you can see it in personal styling, how people figuratively bare their teeth more, and how we’re all a little hesitant to venture outside. Many are still quite content to stay in the little nest they created to weather the storm.

For me I am trying to get back to some sense of normality in the post COVID world but admittedly still keep everything rather small and routine. I will get there. I had a craving for Italian the other day and found the whole concept of a menu foreign but eventually worked through it. All this had me reflecting on myself, what’s important, and how I can live a satisfying life. I’m a big believer in having a plan, reviewing that plan periodically and course correcting to move forward — it was an obvious time for me to to revisit what I’m doing and what guiding principles resonate with me as I continue my way.

I kept coming back to three ideas that have been rattling around in my head for some time, and if the internet is to be trusted, have been around for quite a while. As I venture into this post COVID world I believe these will serve me well.

gnōthi seauton Know thyself.

Aut inveniam viam aut faciam I shall either find a way or make one.

Memento mori Remember that you die.

Each has big meaning and an interpretation that I suspect has been debated over the centuries, and for that reason alone I like them. I was then reminded of my last post COVID consideration which came when a book* was recommended to me and I was introduced to this quote:

“I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” ― Etienne de Grellet

esto benignus Be Kind

On my web site I position myself as “an accomplished Sales and Marketing Leader with a reputation for effective strategy, creative problem solving and execution; highly experienced in sales and marketing management with a number of awards. Brings a wealth of cross-functional skill sets in product, price and marketing management as well as sales management and development” or as “a simple journeyman of life interested in the human condition and the stratagems along the way”. I think COVID has shown me that I am that “simple journeyman”, which I am content with because all the other stuff is all part of it anyway. Definitely the journey is going to be more interesting with my new signposts.

We will see where it takes me.

iamgpe

* The book is by Robin Sharma called “The Everyday Hero Manifesto”. If you are leader, or fashion yourself as one, his books are a must read, particularly “The Leader Who Had No Title”.