“Have you booked it yet?”
Three years ago, I met one of my favorite people to be around. His name is Keith. At first, I liked Keith because I could just tell he was a “good guy.” Every time I saw him, he had a smile on his face and either offered a handshake or a wave as he walked by.
Then, I got to train him alongside his staff and it became clear that everyone loves Keith. He loves people, the little ones and the big ones. He speaks highly of the people with whom he works. He’s funny. He loves life. He’s the kind of guy who genuinely gets excited when good things happen for other people, a quality all too often overlooked in today’s world. I learned all these things as our relationship grew.
Now, we get to talk about all kinds of things that are important to both of us. Most importantly, I’ve learned how deeply he loves his family, that his boys are his world, and how he lights up when he talks about his wife.
In the midst of one of those conversations, we were talking about vacations and the importance of trying to find balance in life. I expressed my regret about not finding more balance as an educator and how thankful I am for it now that I’ve found it. That resonated with him. He replied by sharing how he and his wife always talk about getting away, but never do. My challenge to him that night was simple: “Just book it.”
When I saw him a few weeks later, I asked him, “Have you booked it yet?”
The answer remained “No,” for longer than either of us would have liked, but that answer changed a couple of months ago. It was fun to see and hear the joy in his face and voice. I can’t wait to hear the stories that come from it.
I’m sharing this with you because I just got back from a vacation with my wife, Kasey, and our dear friends, Mauricio and Cassie. It was a trip we’ve been talking about for years, and eventually decided to “just book.” We spent a week chasing delicious food, new experiences, and unbelievable scenes across the north of Italy. I’ll cherish it forever.
As leaders… scratch that… as people… we all need to get away and fill our bucket from time to time. More often than not, we put them off for longer than any of us would care to admit. When we get to do them, a common theme I hear in the stories is, “I wish we had done it sooner,” or “We’re already thinking about when we can do it again.”
I’m grateful we didn’t wait longer.
I’ve also had a front row seat to folks who never got to take those trips. They put them off, believing they would have time for all of it in retirement, only to pass away within months of their retirement date. These stories are as common as they are heart-wrenching.
So, my question to you today is this: “What’s something you’ve dreamed about doing that you keep putting off?”
Whatever your answer is, here’s my encouragement: Book it!
#ChooseToBeGreat
Angelo
CHOOSE TO BE GREAT 