I think one of the keys to leadership is recognizing that everybody has gifts and talents. A good leader will learn how to harness those gifts toward the same goal.
American neurosurgeon, author, and United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Ben Caron, was born on this day in 1951.
Ben Carson is certainly one who has learned to harness his gifts and talents. You may disagree with his politics, but we’re talking brain surgeon here.
I’ll just leave that where it is.
It’s Monday and, in full confession, I’m writing this in a coffee shop on a Sunday afternoon.
New from Historic Occasions (click the pic)
It’s a bit of a writer’s dream.
At the same time, maybe it’s the latte on top of the already three cups of coffee I’ve had this morning, but I’m very much feeling the stress of the upcoming week.
“How can this be?” you ask.
I’m asking the same question.
I mean, after all, didn’t I quit the weekend job so that could have time to do all the things I need to be doing?
I believe I did.
But then I’m sliding right into what is turning out to be one of the busiest weeks ever with the day job.
No, seriously.
I’m not sure, in my twenty (may God have mercy) years with this agency that I’ve ever felt the stress like I’m feeling regarding this upcoming week.
Not to bore you with too many details, but it involves multiple meetings, travel, and a host of other things.
I’m stressing over the week already and that’s not even considering what I have lined up outside the office, which includes the writing (the daily 1000, the blog, the script), learning lines for a one act going up in two and a half weeks, learning a monologue for an audition before that.
Don’t even talk to me about the yard. I got it mowed last week. That may have to suffice until spring. After all the leaves are already falling.
I jest.
Partly.
So, whilst I’m feeling the stress (and the caffeine) here at the cafe, I am reminding myself that I can only do so much.
In fact, I told myself that yesterday when I was feeling much the same.
If it gets done, it gets done.
If it doesn’t then perhaps people at the office need to realize how much they’ve dumped on my desk.
The things I’ve dumped on there are not really up for discussion although, truth be told, I’ve put some things on the back burner as well.
I pride myself in my ability to multi-task. I know that I’m at my best when I’m busy and have multiple things going on
But, just as I learned with trying to work seven days a week, I can only do so much.
Darn it.
And so, that’s how I’m approaching this week.
Those of you who need to deal with it probably aren’t reading this blog.
You’ll still have to deal with it.
Maybe this feeling is coming because we didn’t get our annual week of parking my behind on the beach. I’m still hoping for a day or so of that in October (feel free to hit the tip jar on your way out).
Maybe it really is the caffeine.
I don’t know.
What I do know is that I’m going to work very hard this week about not stressing over how much there is to be done.
I shall also endeavor to not stress about not stressing.
We all need to do that every now and then.
I’ll be taking some time to ask myself what the worst is that could happen if some things don’t get done.
I may not like the answer. And, for some things, that may not be an option.
But, along the way I’m going to take some time to breathe.
And, maybe switch to herbal tea.
FIVE THINGS FOR YOUR MONDAY
Hurricane Maria following Irma’s path Yahoo! News
Maria became a hurricane Sunday as it barreled toward the storm-staggered eastern Caribbean with 75 mile (120 kilometer) per hour winds, the US National Hurricane Center said, on a path similar to that of mega storm Irma earlier in the month.
PRAGER: Leftism Is Not Liberalism The Daily Wire
…the left is leading the first nationwide suppression of free speech in American history — from the universities to Google to almost every other institution and place of work. It claims to only oppose hate speech. But protecting the right of person A to say what person B deems objectionable is the entire point of free speech.
Here’s What Really Happened to Hillary The Wall Street Journal
And so the party nominated perhaps the only Democrat in the country who could rival Donald Trump in unpopularity—and beat him in untrustworthiness.
Northam Continues To Feel Like Bailout; Gillespie a Serious Investment The Republican Standard
When you add in the resources of the Republican National Committee against a moribund and listless DNC? Gillespie’s calm in the face of Northam’s bailout has all the hallmarks of a comedy reel.
AND, FINALLY
American singer and actor, Frankie Avalon, was born on this day in 1940.
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kilometer) per hour winds, the US National Hurricane Center said, on a path similar to that of mega storm Irma earlier in the month.
