A Message from the CEO - December 2024

I’m reflecting on 2024.  Another interesting year.  I’m personally satisfied with myself - I did a lot of stuff and most of it was good, except turning 60.  Last night I was going through some old videos from 2020, and my end-of-the-year video talked about the harrowing experience that 2020 was.  That is the goalpost.  Covid2020 is the marker as to what a bad year looks like (in my mind).  In conversations as of late - the reference point a lot of times is “pre- or post-COVID?”  Time was kinked then - it redefined culture.  Our way of living was forever changed.  “Moving beyond the emotion.” “Grace above all.” “Do Good. Ride Hard. Live Well.”  These sayings (post-COVID) became my mantras as to how to live my life.

A book I’m reading right now by the high priestess of culture, Brene Brown, says nice is overrated.  She says that we default to nice when we want to avoid the (sometimes ugly and honest) truth.  She said truth-telling takes courage and confidence and when delivered with grace and care, can be so effective.  This is a tough pill to swallow for us nice Iowans. 

I’m often reminded of the kid’s story, “The Emperor’s New Clothes”.*  No one will tell him that he’s naked because they are scared of offending him.  They’ll let him walk down the streets naked, but tell him?  Nope (please tell me if I have spinach in my teeth or worse).  How often do we let someone go about their day with their zipper down or their sweater on inside out?** Or worse, having an issue that will potentially lead to a bad health outcome? (Too much of something, or not wearing a bike helmet or not wearing their seatbelt … ?)

Maybe as we reflect on 2025 - a good goal would be to be gracefully assertive.  Help those who need guidance behave differently.  Will it be tough?  Will you get pushback?  Will you potentially offend someone?  Yes, yes, and yes … but will your honesty help them lead a potentially better life?  Yes.