(From 12/29/04) – The Too Hard Way – I was out looking for cell phones today to replace my camera-less one. I went to several stores and none had the phone that I wanted. Long story short, it turns out that my second choice will actually work better in the application that I have. Our normal response when things become difficult is to find a way to beat them down. Maybe if things are really hard, it’s a sign that you are on the wrong track. If plan A becomes too hard, we might need to start looking for another plan, even though we have a lot invested already. (After all, it was us who came up with Plan A in the first place.) Are there things in your life where you are doing it the Too Hard Way?

(From 12/25/04) – Prophetic Message – I want to share a passage from a book that I read. I am not the first one to report this, but I found it interesting and want to share it with you. The book I read last Christmas Day was “Here is New York” by E. B. White. It is a slim, 54 page volume that was first published in 1949. E. B. White was a writer for New Yorker magazine and is also famous for writing “Charlotte’s Web.” Mr. White, in his book about New York, details the nuances of living in and experiencing New York City. But near the end of the book he notes a now ominous warning. Quoting from his book, “The subtlest change in New York is something people don’t speak much about but that is in everyone’s mind. The city, for the first time in its long history, is destructible. A single flight of planes no bigger than a wedge of geese can quickly end this island fantasy, burn the towers, crumble the bridges, turn the underground passages into lethal chambers, cremate the millions. The intimation of mortality is part of New York now; in the sounds of jets overhead, in the black headlines of the latest edition. As dwellers in cities must live with the stubborn fact of annihilation; in New York the fact is somewhat more concentrated because of the concentration of the city itself, and because, of all targets, New York has a certain clear priority. In the mind of whatever perverted dreamer might loose the lightning, New York must hold a steady, irresistible charm.”

It 's amazing that this was written over 50 years before 9/11/01. I don’t have any ideas to share today, just an amazing book to recommend to you.

(From 12/19/04) – Mission Credible – I went to the mall today and they had planned in advance for a heavy shopping day. To avoid parking lot traffic problems, they closed off areas so you couldn’t turn left, they directed certain traffic to the parking garage, other traffic to different lots, etc. I was directed to the parking garage, but it was full. Because of traffic barricades, my only option was to leave the parking lot completely and try another entrance to see if I could find a parking space there. After I left the lot, I just left. I decided it wasn’t worth the hassle. You have heard the phrase “Mission Critical” which means something that absolutely has to be done to accomplish the mission. I’d like to introduce another phrase – Mission Credible. The main objective of the mall is to sell products. The parking lot’s normal function is to provide easy access so shoppers can complete the buying process. In this case, the parking lot became the end in itself. The important goal was to smooth the flow of traffic. But the issue wasn’t parking – there were plenty of parking spaces available. You could see them, but you couldn’t get to them. Not only was the traffic plan not Mission Critical (the mission is to sell products), it wasn’t Mission Credible. It forced people to leave the parking lot. If you are perceptive, you will see this happen frequently, where fixing a side issue will derail the attainment of your original objective. So when you are doing something that isn’t Mission Critical, make that that it is at least Mission Credible. And if it isn’t Mission Credible, you probably shouldn’t be doing it.