While it may have taken me 28 years to pick this one up, I’m glad I did. It’s been on my list for awhile and perhaps it was a good idea to wait. I say that because when I was speaking recently with a friend about it, she responded that she should probably read it again as she has grown a lot since the last time she read it. I didn’t understand that at the time, but now that I have finished it, I do.

The book, if you haven’t read it, it very well written. The writing is superb. It kept me, a mind wanderer, focused on the characters. It included great foreshadowing and while I wasn’t around in the 1930s in the South, it felt like I was there. It felt like I was living with Jem and Scout and Atticus.

“[...] librarians across the country gave the book the highest of honors by voting it the best novel of the twentieth century.” While I don’t agree with that statement, I am glad I read this.

The book showed how three people can not only have a certain image of the world they live in, but also have an image of each other and over the course of time, the events in their lives change who they are. Or perhaps, it helps them become who they were meant to be.

I can’t say for sure and I have never been one to interpret literature properly, but I do believe that Lee created a world of change. Of growth. A situation where bad things happen and through the experience of life in the South, Jem, Atticus, Boo and Scout all become new, and perhaps better people.

To Kill a Mockingbird is definitely a classic and I will always recommend it, if for no other reason then you can identify with someone in this book. Try it. Sit in the courtroom while every waits with baited breath … you’ll feel the tension and yourself changing right along with the characters.

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Richard’s Thoughts…
Since this week’s lesson is about life being short and encouraging you to tell the people around you that you care about them and love them, that is all I am going to say. Go. Tell them. Now.

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I have been asking myself this question a lot lately. I also used to think that I was a person who wore his heart on his sleeve. It turns out perhaps that has not always been the case. Maybe I was more guarded than I thought. That has to change.

This is scary to me. I know it is scary to others too. But it has to change. Too many mistakes in my life, and in the history of the world, occur because what we are thinking and feeling doesn’t get expressed.

You’re with me right?

It could be a meeting with your boss. You’re fired up about something and you go in with an agenda, and you get scared or nervous – both natural emotions – but you don’t do what you set out to do. You didn’t listen to your heart.

I also wish I had a grand way to not let that happen. When I do figure it out, I will give that advice away for free.

But I found that quote from Winston Churchill and I’m constantly reminding myself of that this past week. We can only worry about the next chain, not the 15th link. It is the now that matters. It’s in the living that we make the life we want. Planning is good, but execution is key.

Where do you want to be in five years? Who the hell cares. Live for today and build the framework for tomorrow. Tomorrow you may find a new passion that drives you completely in a different direction. That is not a mistake. That is an act of personal heroism.

But, for me, I now know how to limit the possibility of a mistake occurring:

Speak Up
When I feel or think something, I now either write it down, or at least verbalize it to someone. When you keep thoughts inside, you don’t really hear them and it is difficult to analyze the emotions behind them.

Listen
Along with speaking up, you have to listen to yourself. Sure, if you’re talking with someone about something you should listen to what they say too. But almost more importantly, listen to yourself. Are you excited? Angry? Does it even make rational sense?

Act
The greatest misfortune in life – in my opinion – is not acting on something that you want. If you want to be a writer, write the shit out of that journal! If you want to be the next Mark Zuckerberg, start creating great stuff! If you love someone, tell them the next time you see them! Wait, tell them right now!

A mistake is only a mistake if you don’t learn from it, and try to re-execute better the next time. It doesn’t mean you change the goal, but try a different tactic. Re-think how you got to that place. There is a way out. There is a solution.

The only mistake is not trying.

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Richard’s Thoughts…
Happy (early) Valentine’s Day! Whether you are celebrating with your significant other in the coming days, the lesson this week centers on love as an idea. That’s really all it is.

When you care about someone, friends, siblings, co-workers, competitors, and strangers,
there can be a sense of love and compassion. We can create relationships that are win-win,
both in life and in business.

We can all strive, each and every day to show love, to share love, to give love and to express compassion, be compassionate and live compassionately. To me, that is what Valentine’s Day is all about. Share and spread love and compassion.

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Don’t get me wrong. I am all in favor of busting my ass and making dreams happen, but I recently had a conversation with someone about a client of theirs. She was explaining that she would have a tough time enjoying the fruits of the labor because she works and is at the office until ten or eleven every night. (That is after going in at nine in the morning, at the latest.)

And it got me wondering … why? Seriously … why? What is the end goal?

I am not against hard work. In fact, I work my ass off, but why? That is at best, a 12-hour day and at worst, a 14-hour day. Every day. For five days a week. Plus more on the weekends. And I ask again: For what?

I believe it is one thing if you are building your own business, or you are a lawyer with a big case coming up, or a doctor who works in the ER and has 12-hour shifts four days a week. But this person is doing this each and every week. Non-stop.

There is more to life than work. You have to play. You have to read. You have to relax. And you have to take care of yourself. If you don’t, not only will you burn-out, you’re not going to be producing much work anyway.

So, why is this happening?

Is it a result of an employer asking too much? Bad time management skills? A combination of both?

My guess is that it is a combination of both. I’m not the world’s best at time management, but I know I don’t need to work 12-hour days to get my work done. Not only is that not sustainable, it is not healthy.

No matter how passionate you are, there is good hustle and there is bad hustle.

Which one are you?

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Richard’s Thoughts…
By the time you open this message, we will know what the prognosticator of all prognosticators Puxatony Phil had to say about the upcoming spring. This day always reminds me of the Bill Murray movie in the name of his funny holiday, Groundhog’s Day.

We all have funny and sometimes tears-streaming-down-your-face funny events happen throughout the day, but rarely do we allow ourselves the joy of experiencing those moments. We stifle the laughter because we’re in public or with friends who may not enjoy laughing in the moment.

But life needs laughter. Our day-to-day lives need laughter. If you feel a laugh coming, let it come out. You will be glad you did!

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I did have a moment recently where I posted a piece of political news about a candidate I like on my personal Facebook profile and someone was being less-than “adult” about their opinion and while I engaged back once, their reply did not deserve my time. That was a personal thing.

I was reading a story the other day from eMarketer where this was said: “At the same time, nearly 28% said they understood that companies don’t have time to respond to each consumer.”

That comment I must say, bothered me a bit. For a few reasons.

Let’s just pretend that Facebook, Twitter and all the other social networks didn’t exist and companies only had phones to deal with customer issues. In those situations, would that person make that same comment about a company not answering and responding to their phone calls? I’m sure the quote would look something like this: “I can’t believe a company would be in business if they are not going to answer their phones! I’m never shopping with them again!”

I think this person has it wrong. If a customer takes the time to communicate – positively or negatively about your company – they deserve a response. It doesn’t have to be much, but they deserve it.

Perhaps it is my personality that I do sincerely enjoy talking to and listening to people. In the end, a company exists because they have a passion, be it a product or a service. They have a passion. And with that passion comes a responsibility to treat others with kindness, to produce a good product or service and to act with kindness. I don’t think in the 21st Century that is too much to ask for from a business, or a person.

So, I must ask: How will you treat your customers, fans and friends today?

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Richard’s Thoughts…
Commitment. That’s the key to success. Well, that an a few other things like faith, passion, a dream, energy and of course luck. But I do believe one of the keys is commitment. I have begun to track my progress of training for my marathon in written posts and videos. Why?

Because I am committed. My first goal is to finish. But I also want to do well. I don’t believe I will be breaking the four-hour mark, but I’m shooting for 4:10 – 4:20 for my finishing time.

Here is my latest video:

I made this video last weekend during my run through a snowstorm here in New York City. I did it to prove a point for this week’s lesson: I am committed to being 100-percent prepared. There is no other way to go after your dreams. Commit, prepare, and succeed.

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All in all, this is a fantastic resource. The book covers everything you could ever want to know about running in and training for a marathon. It is no easy task.

The great thing about the book is that is covers mostly the best ways to train. That’s where a lot of people get tripped up. (Full disclosure: I’m not doing one of Higdon’s programs due to my own physical limitations and injuries.)

Throughout the book, Higdon details how to go through your daily and weekly runs and how to allow yourself adequate recovery time. Littered through the book, the 4th Edition, are stories of success. Not everyone had it easy, but success is paramount.

Aside from all the training advice was the information on eating; especially pre- and post-marathon. For me, that has been my biggest concern and focus, aside from the running itself.

All told, this book seems to be a great guide for the new-to-marathoning runner. And for someone (me), who only plans on going on this adventure once, this book is a great guide on how to do it right.

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Richard’s Thoughts…
We all know emotions are a tough thing to deal with. They can drag you down and sap your energy and passion for life away. That’s where offering your own experiences up as proof of coming through to the other side is vital.

Not only to that other person, but also yourself. For instance, if you talk someone else through a difficult experience or moment or decision that you too have either gone through or are going through, you are exponentially able to gain perspective for your own situation.

It is a priceless act of caring and compassion that I recommend you do. You can also get this same experience through volunteering which I also do through The Trevor Project. I do believe Barbara is right: give back to others. You’ll make the world a better place.

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