HMM … THIS STUFF WORKS
Saturday Dec. 13, 2014
Some things change our afternoon.
Some change our whole day.
Some things change our entire outlook on life.
We’ve all heard cliché statements involving old dogs and new tricks.
I’m old enough but never think of myself as old. But I’ve learned the value of learning new things – not trick or tricks of the trade, as much as mindset and practice changes that have altered me. Or maybe they’ve returned me to who I really was in the first place.
Deep down, I don’t think a course or a book or some advice change core principles or character – but they can certainly improve practices, effectiveness and return on efforts.
This week, more than any other in recent memory, has brought some important lessons into a very clear white light. Don’t worry readers … I’ve not seen ‘the white light’, but my fervor is no less profound.
Some clients and younger friends call me old-school because I’ve been a slow-adopter of scanners and GPS.
But what is the oldest school of all? Right, people skills. We all need work in that department – and I credit Ron for his urging, Larry and Don for the training and fellow Ninjas for their support: this stuff works!
Strange things happen when we least expect them. That’s been my experience – not with the laws of physics or realities of economics – but with how people behave.
Interesting things unfolded in the last two days. Two deal crawling across the finish line. Yay! A new client moving along nicely. Yay! A get together with an old client that may result in three new pieces of work. YayYayYay!
Back to the first two. And the third. And the fourth. Those clients, those decision makers – though their businesses, their projects are four individuals are as widely diverse people as are their projects (residential, office, condo development, warehouse and land acquisition assignments) from A to Z, they are all engineers. Cool. Interesting.
Hmm …
Makes me wonder. Makes me glad. Reminds me of important lessons/new tools from my time in Colorado in July. In short, these projects prove to me more than anything that shifts in my mindset and sticking with the discipline of what I learned is paying huge dividends. Sure, it is always nice to bask in the glow of completed projects, always nice to reach the stage where we keep score (real-estate-speak for count the money), but especially nice when it is gratitude that begins and ends each day. I know that sounds sappy, but I am profoundly grateful for days and weeks like I’ve just had, and really thankful for the help/support/collaboration. So, thank you Ron, Larry, Don, JP, Brad, Daryl, Morgan and Grant. You’ve making me happy, you are validating for me a new way of doing business which is transforming my life. I’m better for it, on many levels, and grateful for all of you being in my life.
Mark Kolke
column written/ published from Calgary, AB
morning walk: 2C/35F, steady wind, raining .. yikes it’s slick .. snow and ice returning any hour … to the chagrin of shoppers driving to malls but this will make those white rabbits happy. Gusta romping, soggy, happy …
Reader feedback:
Hi Mark, have you read the Emerald Tablets of Thoth? I think they would interest you, RD, Calgary, AB
