It’s said that it is the journey that fulfills us, not the destination. But, is that really true? Or is it the accomplishment or the challenges that we over come or is it the finish line?

Croix Sather speaking in Texas during his 2011 Run Across America

Out of luck, or was it fate, that I was organizing my office today and came across an envelope from the run. Inside were business cards, mementos, thank you cards, newspaper articles, and letters. After reading the cards and the letters and holding the mementos, I find myself in extreme state of gratitude because the effect of the journey was far greater than I ever planned or imagined.

I received many letters and notes during the run and a year later I still receive emails of gratitude. They all had the same theme – A thank you, the person’s story of challenge, and how they are inspired to become more than the experiences of life. And every one of them brings joy and tears. Tears because the stories are heart breaking. Nobody should ever experience abuse, accidents, rape, and torment written on the tear stained papers. Joy because they all have found a way to be strong and “shake it off, and keep moving forward.”

One of the mementos was a small gold star that you pin to your lapel. It was from the Warrior in Transition division of Ft. Dix military base in El Paso, Texas. The little star is to remind me of the day I spoke to ninety troops heading back to civilian life after injuries from the Iraq war. That night they lit the 365 foot star on the mountain in my honor. When they presented the honor, I filled with tears, just like I am now as I recall the moment.

The biggest part of life is the journey. Is not only the journey because the destination is what will often drive us to work so hard, do so much and accomplish amazing things. The most important parts of life are the moments that take your breath away and the impact you have left on the world and a person’s life. That’s what we will remember. That is what will fill our hearts and bring us to tears. Those moments and the impact we have made during our journey is what others will remember us by.

Those moments aren’t just big things like having a star pinned to your lapel, but also those little moments like holding someone’s hand, playing in the park with you child, or stopping everything else to speak to someone as if they are the only person in the world.

A year later, I am still in awe of my run across America (especially because a year earlier I was a casual runner) and what I have accomplished. Today, I am also as driven as ever to do even more amazing things in this short life.

29,200!
That’s how many days we have to live IF we live to 80. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. How many of your 29,200 days took your breath away? How many of those days did you make a difference in someone’s life?

[Please leave your comments and thoughts and memories]

I had too many bags to carry so left my room and went to the front desk of the hotel to ask for a cart. The bellhop said – “I can help you with that. What time would you like me to come get your bags?” I gave her the time and she said, “I will call you before I come to make sure you are ready.”

I just wanted a cart. Typically I am hesitant to ask for help because I don’t like waiting. And often service is slow or nonexistent, even in nice hotels. This time I HAD to depend on someone else. Someone I didn’t know, someone that is often overlooked or even dismissed.

I get the call exactly on time, “Are you ready Mr. Sather? … okay I’ll be right there.” Rosie showed up with her luggage cart with the most cheerful “good morning.” Even though the only words she said was good morning, what I heard was – today is an amazing day. You are an amazing person and I am happy to a part of your life and help you rock the world.

I was taken back and said, “Wow! That is a cheery good morning. Thank you.” I was also thinking, this lady is a bit crazy. Who is really this happy? As we talked walking out to the hotel lobby, her exuberance increased. It made me happy. It made me want to be just as ‘crazy’ as her.

Rosie waited with me until my ride showed up. I told her how great it is to be met by someone who is so happy and how much I needed it. I said, “Today is a very important day for me. I am speaking at an event called TEDx Calico Canyon. It is a great honor to be a part of a TED event and the video will be streamed worldwide.” She was very happy for me (no surprise, she seems to be happy about everything) and then Rosie told me a story about why she is happy no matter what.

Rosie finds a way to be happy in every situation. And she is truly living it. Not just talking about, but truly living it. She is authentic, she is Rosie no matter what and this makes her amazing.

It surprises me that hotels and other service organizations do not have more ‘Rosie’s on the front lines. The bellhops are just as important as the registration or server staff. Just as important as any manager and maybe even more important. Who is the first person and the last person you see at a hotel. Often the bellhop, right?

Every person in your organization needs to be a Rosie. If not, you’re not giving your clients a reason to stay then you are giving them a reason to leave you. If you are not giving clients a reason to remember you, then you are giving them a reason to forget you. Then you are not giving your clients a reason to brag and to become raving fans. Rosie is what makes this hotel great. Was the room great? Sure. But there are lots of great rooms in lots of hotels in Vegas at a similar price. Rooms are commodities. Rosie is the experience. Rosie is what made me feel special. Because of Rosie, my day rocked and my success on that day is in a big way, thanks to her. Anyone who can teach me to be happier (I’m a pretty happy guy), is a rare gem and an angel.

You might say so what? You met a happy person, yeah for you. It goes way deeper than that. Any interaction can set the day up for success or failure. Remember the last time you had someone tick you off and it ruined your day? A slow cashier, someone cut you off on the highway. Next time you interact with someone, make sure you do something that makes them feel like they are the most important person in the world. You may just set them day up for the best one in their life.

This past weekend we celebrated my son’s 4^th birthday. Right after birthday cake and right before opening presents he starts to have a meltdown and he gets argumentative. A few minutes later he is over it and happy as can be. It is most often this way with children. One minute they are mad as can be and a minute later they are laughing and running around playing. Children instinctively know how to let go and move on.

When you are going through hell, let go and move on. Ask yourself, ten years from now, will this matter? When this is over and you are past it, will it matter?

Most of the time your answer will be no because it really doesn’t matter in the long run. People say, “one day we will look back at this and laugh.” Why not laugh about it now?

Children are born with an amazing ability to get over something very quickly. Most of the time it is because they turn their focus to something that brings them joy like a toy or play time. Why do we loose this as adults? We should take this lesson and incorporate it into our everyday lives.

For most people, going through hell means other people are putting them in that hell. When someone is making you mad, sad, discouraged, or knocking your self-worth, walk away and play with someone else for that day. If the same person does it over and over, you need to tell that person, “hey, when you do/say that it makes me feel sad (mad, discouraged, etc). Please don’t do/say things like that to me.”

If somebody is consistent in making bringing you down and dragging you into a hell, you need to separate from that person all together. This may be your boos, co-workers, friends, and even family. If someone is constantly abusing your value and self-worth, they don’t deserve to have you as part of their life. And you don’t need them. NOBODY is worth keeping in your life that tears you down

When you start purging your life of the dream-killers, you may find yourself with only a few friends. That is perfect. You then start building your life with a peer group that brings you up and encourages you. A team that believes in your ideas and goals and says, “Go for it!”

Find friends by going to like-minded groups and associations. There are many power groups on Meetup.com that are all about empowerment, success, relationships, spirituality and networking. Try a few and find people and groups you like. Toastmasters (speaking and communication) groups are filled with fantastic people

What about when you are going through a different kind of hell that isn’t as easy as walking away from someone? Like a divorce, accident, illness, or financial struggles? Here is the strategy for that …

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Why does it feel most difficult right before you succeed? Like the phrase, “it’s darkest before dawn,” your success can seem so far away when it is just around the corner.

I have to remind myself of this when I have been working on a project for what seems like “forever” even though it has actually been a short time. When you are doing something that you have never done before and you want results faster than you are getting them, it is easy to want to quit. And that is what a lot of people do. They quit just short of the tipping point.

Croix Sather running through California dessert during 2011 run across America

Malcolm Gladwell defines the “Tipping Point” in his book as, “the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point.” At 211 degrees water is very, very hot. Without the persistent addition of heat, water will never reach its potential and become a force of its own. You have to keep giving heat for it to rise one degree. At 212 degrees Fahrenheit water boils and creates steam. Steam can power a 100-car train across the country.

Imagine walking up a long seesaw. As you walk up it requires effort. When you get to the top, the seesaw begins to teeter. If you keep one foot on each side of the pivot point it will tilt back and forth as you shift your weight. The moment you bring your back leg forward to the other side past the tipping point the seesaw will tilt down and you can walk down the other side with ease. You are still making forward momentum, and now it is so much easier and faster.

The risk is that you turn around and go back down before you cross over the tipping point. It feels easy because you are also going down hill, but now you are going away from your goals, your dreams, and your happiness.

Remind yourself when you are ready to quit – If it were easy everyone would do it. If it were easy everyone would be a movie star, a singer, best selling author, a doctor, a CEO or a self-made millionaire.

Seth Godin calls it “the dip.” The difficult part that weeds out the wanna-be’s and the talkers. Those who are only half-in and have not made a commitment to succeed no-matter-what it takes.

Go, go and keep going forward. Your dreams and success are on the other side of the tipping point. Push through the dip because that is the part of the journey that is going to define you. The journey is what you are going to be most proud of when you reflect back.

I wasn’t going to write blog posts any more. They take a lot of time and the return on your investment of time and energy is minimal (for most people any way).  And yet, I feel compelled to write because today we are reminded how short life can be and that death has no boundaries.

Steve Jobs was the definition of leading a LEGENDARY LIFE. He pioneered the tech industry for decades. His leadership and visions have forever shaped technology. He was not afraid to take risks or knock out inferior competition. In doing so he set a standard for how companies are run and how innovation and design should lead the way.

There are two aspects of Steve’s life that I admire most. First is his ability to take a complex concept and make it tangible. Like no other, he could relate the complicated to everyone. My favorite example is for the iPod, “1,000 songs that fit in your pocket.” Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant. He didn’t talk about ram, memory, processing or any other techno-jargon. He related technology to every day life in a way that your grandmother could understand.

The other aspect of his life that impressed me was his desire to help humanity. Steve’s life was so more than creating the best computer in the world. It was about caring, helping, and showing others how to live by leading by example. His famous commencement speech will be listened to and shape the thoughts of millions for many generations. Steve taught us that “education” and success can occur outside of the hallowed walls of an Ivy league university.

Steve led his life with a resolve to live up to his potential. To expect more out of himself and his teams that anyone else thought was possible. And that is how he created a life and shaped the world that will never be forgotten.

How are you leading your life?
What do you do each day?

Does it raise you up and bring you to greater and greater heights and successes?
Or does it keep you in the status quo?

How will you be remembered?

Thank you Steve Jobs for showing us what is possible and for showing us that it will never be like 1984. And thank you for saving us from the frustration of working with one of those other devices that only vaguely resemble a computer.

Steve Jobs famous commencement speech