About being ready
There are three “touchstone” days in my year – New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. I generally spend at least part of each of these days in reflection, thinking about what I want to accomplish both personally and professionally, and whether I need to modify or add to my goals.
This recent Memorial Day, I had a lot to think about. On May 15th, my condo building suffered an unpredictable electrical fire that damaged four units, including mine. The assistant fire chief told us afterward that if they had been called or responded a mere few minutes later – as little as 5 to 10 – we would have lost the whole building and everything I and my neighbors owned would be gone. Until I’d actually faced it, the possibility of something like that occurring to ME had never really been on my radar. It scared the heck out of me…I’d run out of my home with nothing but the clothes on my back and my two little Scottish Fold kittens cowering in their carrier. The experience showed me that for all my planning, I wasn’t ready for the unexpected to occur (trust me; that’s being remedied).
Why am I writing about this in our annual meeting blog? During my Memorial Day reflections, the fire and its aftermath hovered over me and got me thinking in new directions. The value of being ready for anything – personally or professionally – was an overriding theme. One thing led to another, and the idea of being “ready for anything” in Boston became quite attractive. What would that mean for me? What could it look like? What do I need to do in the weeks leading up to the convention?
So as I challenge myself to answer these and related questions, I challenge you: reflect for a time on what being “ready for anything” in Boston might look like for you. Think about why you registered (or why you haven’t yet). What do you want (or need) to learn to do your job more effectively? Who do you want (or need) to meet? What can you do in the coming weeks to increase your chances of making it happen?
Share your thoughts on the concept of being "ready for anything" in Boston…post a comment!