When Randomness Serves a Purpose

Ever see the movie "Magnolia?"


To give you the cliff note Wikipedia version;


The film is a mosaic of interrelated characters in search of happiness, forgiveness, and meaning in the San Fernando Valley.




Connections.

In life...you meet random people at every corner. Some stick around for awhile...some become your Facebook friends...most just drift away with the tide.

Every once in a while though, you meet someone who serves a purpose for you. Someone who changes the game. Someone who you will never forget.

Take time out today to take stock of the people who have come into your life and have made a difference. You are who you are because of them. If they are still in your life...let them know what they have done for you. If they aren't still in your life...remember them for what they have given you.

Your mission...(if you so choose to accept)...is to try and positively impact those around you. You might just be what they need at that time in their life.

Purposeful randomness. Try it. You might like it.

Tell me what it means to me.

Over the last week, I have been wrought with several different emotions and thoughts.

My concepts have been challenged.

My vision has been confirmed.




My successes outweigh my losses...but my losses did add up.

I have been at peace and in conflict all at once.

One step back...two steps forward...one step back.

I got to thinking about the concepts of respect, likability and fear. As leaders, we all have people who follow based on those three motivations.

"I respect your decision"
"I like working for you"
"I do as I am told because I am afraid what will happen if I don't"

Take my advice...

Aim for respect. I am afraid...people will actually end up liking you.

What a week. No wonder my back and neck are killing me.

Star Trek meets Talking Heads

Ever get in your car and start to drive and forget where you are going?

Ever go to someplace that is so familiar to you but feels foreign?

Ever step outside yourself and look back and ask the question that David Byrne made famous lyrically in the 1980's? "How did I get here?"

We all need to experience the comfort of a routine. It grounds us. It gives us direction. It gives us clarity of purpose. We all have a need and desire to go back to that "safe place."

Don't get me wrong...going Leonard Nimoy and going where no man has gone before is usually the way to go but sometimes...you have to take the old route to get to where you want to go to remind you why you went there in the first place.

You want to explore new worlds...not escape your current one.

If you feel yourself losing your way sometimes...take the old route. Take the familiar path. Usually you will find something you missed the first time.

How did I get here? Think about the path you took. That will usually give you the answer.