“CATCH OF A LIFETIME” By James P. Lenfetsy

 

"CATCH OF A LIFETIME” By James P. Lenfetsy  

He was eleven years old, and went fishing every chance he got from the dock at this family’s cabin on an island in the middle if a New Hampshire lake.

On the day before the bass season opened, he and his father were fishing early in the evening, catching sunfish, perch and worms. Then he tied on a small silver lure and practiced casting. The lure struck the water and caused colored ripples in the sunset, then silver ripples as the moon rose over the lake.

When his pole doubled over, he knew something huge was on the other end. His father watched with admiration as the boy skillfully worked the fish alongside the dock.

Finally he very gingerly lifted the exhausted fish from the water. It was the largest one he had ever seen, but it was a bass. The boy and the father looked at the handsome fish in the moonlight. The father lit a match and looked at his watch. 

It was 10:00 PM—two hours before the season opened. He looked at the fish, then at the boy.
“You’ll have to put it back   son,” he said.
“Dad!” cried the boy.
“There will be other fish,” said the father.
“Not as big as this one,” cried the boy.”

He looked around the lake. No other fisherman or boats were anywhere around in the moonlight. He looked again at his father.

Even though no one had seen them, nor would anyone ever know what time he caught the fish, the boy could tell by the clarity of his dad’s voice that the decision was not negotiable. He slowly worked the hook out of the lip of the huge bass, and lowered it back into the black water. The creature swished its powerful body and disappeared. The boy suspected that he would never see such as great fish 

That was thirty-four years ago. Today, the boy is a successful architect in New York City. His dad’s cabin is still is still there on the island in the middle of the lake. He takes his own son and daughters fishing from the same dock. And he was right. He has never again caught such a magnificent fish as the one he landed that long night ago. But he does see the same fish—again and again—every time he come up against a question of ethics. 

For, as his father taught him ethics are simple matters of right and wrong. It is only the practice of ethics that is difficult. The decision to do right lives fresh in our memory. Not about how we had a chance to beat the system and took it, but how we did the right thing and were forever strengthened.

Why It’s Vital for Leaders to Cultivate Mindful Moments During the Daily "Whirlwind"

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little. " --Jon Kabat-Zinn

Most of us think we are too busy. Probably we are, but also the way we think about the topic matters. When I was in third grade, the minute hand on the large round clock moved incredibly slowly as I awaited the two o’clock dismissal bell. 

Summer vacations seemed to last forever. Now time flies by, and vacations never seem long enough. What happened? There are still the same twenty-four hours in every workday, which means the feeling of “not having enough time” doesn’t align with my objective reality.

What happens is that I am caught in a time-driven, scarcity mentality or tumbling unconsciously from one moment to the next, I become a prisoner of my thoughts. I get trapped in a jail of my own construction. And I don’t even realize that the cell door is not locked. I have only to choose to open it.

Cultivating mindful moments isn’t about adding another task to your already too-long to-do list. It’s a choice—a choice to be alert, to bring your attention to this moment. Multitasking is a myth that only serves to seize our attention and exhaust us. At the end of the day, it is neither enjoyable nor productive. Let’s face it: none of us have that superpower; we can only live one moment at a time.

As a result, we end up addicted to busyness. We confuse slowing down to be mindful with non-productivity and laziness. “No time to waste!” we chide ourselves as we race from one activity to the next. Yet we do it all in a continuous state of partial attention, imagining we’re accomplishing more, when in reality we are living less.

The smartphone, our most constant companion, is a shining example of this mentality. A recent survey of Houston residents found that on any given day, most people interact more with their devices more than they do with other human beings. Half of the people surveyed admitted to using their phones to escape social interaction, and nearly a third said they felt anxious when they didn’t have access to their phones.

Remember when computers were sold to us based on the idea that they would create more leisure and greater human connectivity? I want my money back.

There is a common phenomenon among people newly diagnosed with cancer. Ange Stephens, a longtime therapist to people with life-threatening illness, calls it “a secret gratitude.” After the initial shock subsides, many of her clients quietly express relief. “Now I can say ‘no’ whereas I always felt obliged to say ‘yes,’” they tell her. “Now I can finally rest.”

Do we need to die before we can rest in peace?

Well-being is found when we are present instead of letting our minds wander aimlessly through the hallways of fear, worry and anxiousness. Peace of mind comes when we don’t let the things that matter most get crowded out by the things that matter least.

Cultivating mindful moments is not an indulgence or a vice so much as it is indispensable. Nearly all plants go dormant in winter. Certain mammals hibernate, slowing their metabolism dramatically. All are guided by inner clocks to emerge again in the fullness of time, when conditions are right. This period of rest is crucial to their survival.

We, too, need to heed our instincts and cultivate mindful moments. Living out of touch with the primal rhythms of life takes it toll on us.

Everything we do can be used in the cultivation of mindfulness: driving to work, eating lunch with a coworker, taking a walk, raising our children, being with our beloveds. We can learn to integrate it into every aspect of our everyday lives. But like anything else worthwhile; it takes deliberate practice.

Check out these related posts:  

Busy is A Four-Letter Word

How to Say No When You Can't Say No

How Mindful Listening Can Expand Your Influence As a Leader

Be here now.

Peter Mclees, Leadership Coach, Trainer and Performance Consultant

SMART DEVELOPMENT

email: petercmclees@gmail.com

Phone: 323-854-1713

What Leaders Can Learn from A Safe Driving Program

 

 

 

 

Recently, I was reminded of the Smith System – a safe driving methodology designed to reduce the chance of major accidents. I was taught this system before I received my company car, and I still remember the five key ideas. In reviewing that list – from memory – 25+ years later, I realized those same points could help us be better leaders. What if we had a leadership system that helped guide us to better results?

Here are the five ideas from the Smith System applied to our role as leaders.

Aim high

The first rule of the Smith System is to aim high.  Since our eyes are designed for walking, not driving speeds, we need to look further ahead to anticipate and react to hazards.  Just like drivers shouldn’t look at the end of their hoods, leaders must be looking into the future.  By keeping your eyes on your vision and desired destination you are better able to stay focused on that destination, while noticing obstacles that lie between you and that destination that might cause problems or delays.  Make sure you aim high and stay focused on your destination.

Look at the big picture

While you are looking 15 seconds ahead, the Smith System says you should be scanning around you and behind you as well – checking at least one of your mirrors every 5-8 seconds.  As a leader you must be consistently aware of what is going on around you as you lead towards your desired destination. Make sure you are doing what you must to be aware of your organizational culture, economic conditions, the situations of your internal and external customers and more. Desire and focus alone won’t get you to your destination.  A keen sense of your surroundings and environment are needed for you to help our team navigate to your desired success.

Keep your eyes moving

Focus is good, until it isn’t. the Smith System teaches that staring at any object for too long creates a trance-like state. The best leaders know their destination and see the big picture, but don’t develop tunnel vision. While the desired destination may not change, the route to get their may need to.  By keeping your eyes moving you remain alert to unexpected situations and opportunities.  After all, too much focus on one approach blinds you to new options and alternatives.

Leave yourself an out

A cushion of space around your car allows you to better adjust and avoid a hazard.  Imagine leading like a driver who is always on the rear bumper of the car in front of them.  Their sense of urgency, translated to leadership might be admirable, but the approach can be disastrous.  “Leaving yourself an out” gives you flexibility and the chance to adjust while moving forward.  As a leader creating a team that is agile and flexible will allow for greater adaptability and maintain speed of execution.

Make sure they see you

The final principle of the Smith System is to make sure other drivers see you. As you might expect this involves trying to make eye contact as well as using your blinkers and horn.  As a leader you must be visible. Leadership isn’t about making yourself the center of attention, but being available, supportive, and willing to help.  Accessibility and visibility are important traits for leaders to develop if they want their teams to reach their desired destinations safely and efficiently.

Having a a safe driving system can help you get to your destination more consistently and safely.  As a leader we want those same things – to predictably reach our desired destinations with our team intact, safe, and ready for the next leg of their work journey.  Hopefully, these ideas can help you build a leadership system that will help you lead more effectively every day.

To your greater success and fulfillment,

Peter Mclees, Leadership Coach, Trainer and Performance Consultant

SMART DEVELOPMENT

Take the Next Step... 

Interested in learning how leadership coaching and training can help you create a high performance culture and drive results? We begin with a collaborative discovery process identifying your unique needs and business issues. To request an interview with Peter Mclees please contact: 

Email: petercmclees@gmail.com  or  Mobile:323-854-1713

Smart Development has an exceptional track record helping service providers, ports, sales teams, restaurants, stores, distribution centers, food production facilities, title companies, wealth management firms, third-party maintenance providers, nonprofits, government agencies and other businesses create a strong culture, leadership bench strength, coaching skills and the teamwork necessary for growth. 

Having worked with several companies throughout their growth cycle, we have valuable insights and strategies that would help any late stage startup, small or medium sized company achieve sustained growth and prosperity.