Extraordinary

I did a 23 mile run today and this was my last long run of the program. At this point I start to pare back on the miles in preparation for the race on October 18th. I can’t wait to come back to Denver! I was supposed to do 20, but I wanted to get as close to a full marathon as possible without doing something really foolish, like running a full marathon. This exercise served to break down any remaining doubts or fears I have about the race. I now know for certain—barring something I can’t control happening—that I can and will finish.

This has been a long journey, and it is not over yet, but today I called out my best effort and at the end told myself I had done something extraordinary. I’m not sure we hear that enough. I know I don’t say it enough to the people that I am in relationship with.

At work mistakes are often the focus. The missteps and fumbles are played up and spotlighted. If someone does something great there can almost be an effort to not make a big deal out of it because we don’t want to single anyone out. I see this frequently in big corporations. Rewards and recognition budgets go unspent each year because managers can’t bring themselves to acknowledge that they have extraordinary people working for them doing extraordinary things.

SIDEBAR: Some people get promoted to management not because they know how to work with people (the organization's most valuable asset), but because they have experience or technical expertise.  These things are valuable, but should be maybe 3rd or 4th on the list of management criteria.

I spoke with an HR manager just last week about her frustration with this. “I’m going to have to tell them they have to spend this money on their people and genuinely express gratitude for the big efforts they make, or they will get some other area of their budget for HR cut, like seminars and travel.” Managers love to go to seminars and travel around on the company dime, so she was going to hit them hard right in the professional solar plexus. Rock on Ms. HR.

Sometimes, like I did today, we have to validate ourselves, no matter what the endeavor. This is not egotistical, but rather a form of self-care. On Facebook I see status updates from friends who are doing amazing things all the time. One friend has three weddings to cater this weekend. He is an excellent chef and has such a great attitude about huge efforts like this. How do you juggle three amazing meals in a 72 hour period? Another pastor friend regularly performs weddings and funerals, so much so this year that I think he is on pace to break some kind of record this year. He helps people on a regular basis through wonderful and difficult life transitions. Another friend produces amazing metal sculptures that are in every sense of the word, extraordinary. I hit the ‘Like’ button regularly because there is no ‘Extraordinary’ button. Tell someone today you think they are or that they did something extraordinary. You won’t regret it.