A Message from the CEO - July 2024

Ahh; the lazy, hazy days of summer.  Not.  I (and everyone else I know) am busier than ever.  I meet myself coming and going and soon, before I know it -- it’ll be fall.  So, my immediate goal is to understand and appreciate every single moment, which means I have to pay attention. 

I used to tell everyone that I was a great multi-tasker, but that was a lie.  I lied.  The truth is we only have 100% of ourselves to give. If I divide that up and do a lot of things at once, I’ll still only have 100% to start - the quality of the stuff getting done by the multi-tasker is less than the focused individual giving their all.  Lately, I’ve been driving a lot in Des Moines traffic.  As I look at other drivers and watch the road, I’m horrified to see that they are staring at their phones while driving at high speeds.  Yikes.  I always wonder what is so darn important that they are looking at their phones while going 70 miles an hour in rush hour traffic.  A new TikTok dance?  A Snapchat of a homeless cat?  This is worth potentially killing a lot of people in a major car pile-up?  Hmm …

Life is a series of choices.  What we choose to spend our precious, limited time on is totally up to us*.  It’s so hard to resist temptations, though, but in order to get the most out of life, it’s basically a requirement.  I tell people to schedule their priorities, don’t prioritize your schedule.  If it’s a priority to you then make time for it.  (If your life won’t be the same if you miss that homeless cat video - pull over into a rest stop and enjoy the heck out of it.)

Whether it’s exercise or eating right or diagnostic medical care … or sleep** or whatever is important to you - find the time to do it.  Unfortunately, we’re not getting younger, and soon it will be autumn. 

*Unless we’re in jail, and then we have other things to worry about.

**Good, quality sleep is soooo important.