Going The Extra Mile

Nine times out of ten, when I start my day, I see the following set of trash cans as I arrive to the office. I keep the trash cans under my desk on the right-most side, which is exposed to the hallway so that the person who empties the trash/recycling can access them easier. Every time I see someone hasn’t gone the extra one or two steps to put the bins back under my desk once emptied, amazes me. We all have jobs to do and when I get home I empty the trash, clean toilets, and do anything and everything needed like we all do. At work, I would empty my own trash, but a janitorial service does it for us (the task itself isn’t the point).

Always go the extra mile and take pride in what you do.

The Story of Johnny the Bagger | Barbara Glanz

“No one ever attains very eminent success by simply doing what is required of him; it is the amount and excellence of what is over and above the required, that determines the greatness of ultimate distinction.” – Charles Francis Adams

Hey Dad, That Lady Has Crazy Mean Eyebrows – Sigh

A few weeks ago, my son Tyler, my mother-in-law, and my wife were sitting together in a doctor’s waiting room. As we waited, Tyler spotted a woman across the room and, without hesitation, loudly asked, “Hey dad, why does that lady have crazy mean eyebrows?”

I immediately looked at her. She immediately looked at me. For a few heart-stopping seconds, it was just the three of us caught in a very uncomfortable triangle.

Thinking fast, I tried to steer the conversation elsewhere. “Hey buddy, they’re not mean. So, what do you want to do later today?” I said, hoping to redirect him before things got worse.

It backfired spectacularly.

“But dad, why are they so crazy-looking though?” he asked, even louder this time.

Truth be told, her eyebrows were definitely unique. But over the years, I have seen so many unusual things that I hardly notice anymore. Tyler, however, was experiencing life with a fresh pair of unfiltered eyes.

I gave the woman a sheepish smile. She gave me a sharp scowl and then looked away.

Once we left the waiting room, I gently coached Tyler. Kids do not automatically know all the unwritten social rules we live by. We pick them up slowly, sometimes too slowly, to avoid making someone else uncomfortable along the way.

If you have kids, I am sure you have had moments like this too. How did you handle them? Did your redirection work better than mine? I would love to hear your stories.

San Ramon Art & Wind Festival

Kites, wind, and a day of outdoor fun

Went to the San Ramon Art & Wind Festival yesterday. I didn’t see much art, but we loved the wind. Note to self: next year, bring a “real” kite instead of making the free one, and bring allergy medication.