Thank you for the
congratulations and good wishes on the early success of our Behavioral
Presentation Coaching business. It means
a lot!
Tomorrow never knows
We often plan our
‘tomorrows’ and then wake up in the morning and follow that plan. But there’s
no telling what may happen ‘tomorrow’ that could change our lives.
Even when heading out the
door to go to the same place and job that we’ve been going to for years, a
magical moment may be waiting for us right around the bend. So how do you know??? The simple answer is – you don’t. If you’re open to what the Universe has in
store for you, then you know it’s always possible …
I believe these are not
chance happenings…they are part of the master plan. As stated in this excerpt from The Holstee
Manifesto:
"Some opportunities come only once, seize them. Life is about the people you meet, and the things you create with them so go out and start creating."
When the Universe conspires to give you the chance to seize an opportunity – just do it! We probably all look back from time to time and say to ourselves, “shoulda, coulda, woulda,” and goodness knows I have my share of these moments. But it’s a great feeling to ‘go for it’ when we have the chance and it’s right in front of us, within our grasp.
The U.S. Open
This week, the U.S. Open
Tennis tournament began in Flushing Meadow, New York. On Friday, some friends
and I watched a day of qualifying matches - players who were competing to be in
the main tournament draw. We had a great
day, saw lots of inspired tennis and couldn't wait until the next time we got
on the court ourselves.
In the matches where an
American was playing, even an unknown player, the New York crowd rooted for
them. The beauty of a global sport being
played in NYC is the diversity of the audience. Players from different parts of
the world all found local support in the stands.
Every match on Friday was
singles. The players are out there – on the courts, on their own – trying to
get to the big show. It can be a lonely
game; the competitors are alone, with just their racquet, skill set, and
mind. The difference between winning and
losing can often be attributed to the mental game. Internal chatter can
sometimes make or break the match.
Players do have supporters
- family, coaches, friends - in the stands to turn to from time to time for
encouragement. We all need that to lift
our spirits when we’re down ‘Love-40’ in the crucial game. People to cheer us
on with a smile, a fist pump, or simply a nod. These moments of connection can help get
someone out of their own way.
I’ll be watching the U.S.
Open looking for these players that we saw making their way through the
tournament. And, having observed their
battle last week, I’ll be rooting for them too!
Fire Island
Last week I was invited to
Fire Island, a barrier island located off the south shore of
New York’s Long Island. Taking
the ferry to my destination made the short get-away seem like a real vacation.
Fire Island has been a
well-known ‘summer share’ location with singles and groups, many unrelated,
renting a house together and enjoying the summer beach environment.
As you might imagine, Fire
Island suffered serious damage in last fall’s Hurricane Sandy. Seeing building sites where houses once stood
was difficult. But many folks, like me,
just get a glimpse of the devastation and are not living the experience on a
daily basis. Noticing boarded-up
residences and commercial buildings with lots of construction going on was a
vivid reminder. The recovery and
rebuilding efforts will still take years to complete. Oh, the power of Mother Nature.
Allowing myself to shift
perspectives, while standing on the sand and looking out at the ocean, it’s as
if nothing had changed. The beach itself was gorgeous.
We swam, played Kadima and
a little beach volleyball. A new group
approached the court after we were all warmed up. I immediately thought, ‘Gee,
here come some real players intent on kicking our butts!!’ We accepted their challenge and quickly
discovered they were not the hotshots they resembled but rather people playing
on par with us who were just looking for some fun and friendly competition (btw, we won the best two out of three
games!).
It’s funny sometimes, how
the mind works. At one moment, this new
group looked like a bunch of ‘ringers’, perhaps having played competitive
volleyball in college. In life, our imagination
can run wild when we let it. Living in the
moment, it’s nice when we’re pleasantly surprised!
Enjoy the Labor Day
Weekend
Early Friday morning I’ll
be on the road driving from New York to Asheville, NC to visit my son, his wife
and their two sons.
To all of you in the U.S.,
enjoy a happy and safe Labor Day weekend.
Congratulations
Jim Hime, CFO of USAA
On the Road…
Sept.
15 – 17: NAREIM (National Association of Real Estate Investment Managers),
Executive Officers Fall Meeting, New York, NY
Oct.
10 – 11: Cornell Real Estate Annual Conference, New York, NY
Oct.
23 – 24: PERE (Private Equity Real Estate) Summit: New York 2013,
New York, NY
Oct.
28 – 30: PREA (Pension Real Estate Association) Annual Investor Real
Estate Conference, Chicago, IL
Nov.
13 -15: NCREIF (National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries),
Fall Meeting, Miami Beach, FL
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