Stuart R. Crawford

Reflecting on my “Think Day” in Daytona Beach

Saturday was a day I invested in my own personal development.  Taking time to relax, study, catch up on blogs and get some additional work done.  I settled in on Friday at the Hilton Ocean Walk in Daytona Beach prior to heading home to Calgary for a few days.  It was an awesome day in Daytona, managed to squeak in a swim in the Atlantic Ocean, a hot tub and a sit in the sun (got a little pink).

There is a lot happening in my life right now and a day to reflect is critical.  One of the things I did today was watch the Verne Harnish video from the ConnectWise conference.  I didn’t attend ConnectWise directly, elected to golf with Dan Hay instead.  However, I did accomplish a few goals and meet with some of my friends in the IT media.

One of the things Verne speaks of is something which Bill Gates practiced at Microsoft and also as part of his foundation is the “Think Week”.  Now, my day in Daytona Beach is not a “think week”, more like a “think day”, it is still critically important for all of us just to get away and think about the items which we need to accomplish, catch up on loose ends and look into the future.

When was the last night you took a time out and just thought a year or two into the future?  How about longer term?  I strategized on what my life will look like 10 years down the road and also how my family will be.  It is important you look at all aspects of your life:

• Family
• Friends
• Financial
• Career
• Community

Who will be at your funeral?  Why don’t you start looking at this now, what is stopping you?  For me it was fear for the longest time and perhaps just a little bit of cockiness thinking it would never happy to me.  Guess what, I am at the age where people have heartaches and all kinds of weird stuff, so yes it just may happen to me sometime.

The Dr. Phil book I am reading right now says it is never to late to start.

Are you looking into the future or are you just looking barely over the hood of your car as you drive your life?

My plan is to work with businesses as a business coach by the time I hit 50, this is 10 years from now.  Do I need to start planning now?  I believe so, what does this look like today, basically it is just reading and working on my own skills but the important thing is your life is planned.  Can you tell me what your long-term plan for your life is?

With HTG we are challenged to come up with our life plan?  This starts the creative juices flowing for business owners, having a plan around your life, what legacy you want to leave and who is impacted is critical for your own well-being.  How does your life look?  What is your legacy?  How will you be remembered?

I am already looking forward to next year’s “think day” in Florida….I will come back to Daytona again.