Your best just got better

Wow, what a cool note to read tonight!

As some of you know, I spent "one of my careers" as a high school teacher here in Ojai, California. Well, via Facebook, I'm reconnecting with many of the students who once worked with me in good 'ol room A-3 at Nordhoff High School. Here's a note I read this evening...(And, you know who you are, thank you for taking time to share this with me. There are just a few teachers in my own past that I wish I would have reached out to to say "thanks." This kind of a note means a lot...so, thank you!)

Mr. Womack,

Or is it appropriate I can call you Jason now?!? How are you? Things seem to be going well. I just checked your website, very nice.  You were always one of my favorite teachers, not only at Nordhoff but throughout my education. So thank you, your enthusiasm in teaching I thought was incredible.

I just wanted to drop you a note to say hello.  Things are well for me, Iam actually getting married this year.  Seems like yesterday I sat in your classroom. Wow does time fly!!  Anyway, all the best. Hopefully I bump in to you sometime.

Regards,

E.W.

Scientific American..."Mind Games"

Just a few weeks ago, I sent a note out to some "soon-to-be" participants in our Mastering Workplace Performance Seminar (in Zurich, Switzerland). In this preliminary letter, I introduce our company, our goals for the seminar, and links to our website.

In addition, I ask if there are any special topics people would like me to address during the presentation. Well, I got a note from one gentleman asking about "creativity in the workplace." So, I replied and said I would do a little research and bring what I could with me to Zurich.

Well, the day before I left for Europe, I saw this issue of one of my favorite magazine series yet...Scientific American Mind. I brought the issue, and while I was there in the office, he made a photocopy of the article. It was a neat way to be "of service."

Anyone out there have a question or prompt I could write a blog post about? Let me know!

A photo from the Bicycle Tour of Colorado - Flowers at a rest stop

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The landscape of Colorado is amazing. I stopped about 13 miles outside of Telluride, CO for a few minutes. As I was about to start riding again, I looked to my right, and here's the view I saw. (Click on the picture for a larger view...)

The "official" tour is just about over...

Well, here is the last "mobile" post about this year's BTC (www.bicycletourcolorado.com).

I've landed at the airport, all my checked luggage is in hand, and my bike will be sent out of Durango towards Ojai in tomorrow's FedEx shipment!

So, just a few reflections on the trip:

- I really enjoy this sport... Sitting in the saddle, watching the landscape roll by at 6-27 miles per hour is stunning.

- Interesting thoughts come together when there is "space and time" to put them together. (I wrote about that extensively a few days ago).

- The mind can help or compromise performance. I know I knew this, but cycling (especially a 3.6 mile climb at a 16% grade - pictures to come) proves it beyond a doubt. Just try and loop into a stressful, negative or tiring thought process and see what happens to your own performance!

- There is more to life and work than "doing." I read through two very powerful books in the past 10 days - both of which make a sound case for slowing down, and being in the being of now.

- And, finally, I am more than adequately inspired to begin speaking publicly about the intersection of personal and professional performance (after competing as a triathlete for 8 years, earning a personal fitness trainer designation, and spending +200 days on the road each year speaking on "workplace performance") I realize now more than ever, it's possible AND it's necessary to speak on these topics.

* these topics are: Fit and Effective

Comments ALWAYS welcome!

Do you know a "young" leader? Please pass this book along

For a limited time, Christopher Scott is making his newest book - Young Leadership: How a young person can make a difference in his organization and community. - available for FREE! Just click here, read all about it, and download, print or forward a copy to a friend!

Day 7 - BTC - Cortez to Durango (our last day, going home tomorrow!)

Well, and all good things need to come to a close...for now! So, I'm off to CA in the morning.

June 28, 2008
45 miles
Cortez to Durango

Heading home! After yesterday's long ride, today is shortest day for 2008. We will be passing by Mesa Verde National Park. The BTC, as a "bicycle tour", is unable to enter the Park because of the Park's stipulation: "No bicycle tours allowed in the Park", so, if you decide to go into the Park, you are on your own. Then, onto the place where the BTC began just the week before, Durango, to enjoy the tour-end celebration. You did it!

Our century ride of the Bicycle Tour of Colorado

First of all, it's beautiful here. We rode through some amazing country today. I'm amazed by the MILES of clear views, prairies leading to foothills, foothills leading to mountains!

Second, the "actual" route was 97.68 miles (according to my GPS!); so, when we got into Cortez, CO, Nathan and I decided to keep going until we passed the 100 mile mark! (See the picture of my Garmin 305 GPS watch.)

Third, physical action-oriented exertion does wonders for the creative and innovative process. My brother ( www.thenewlongterm.com ) and I both developed some new ideas for coaching and seminars.

So, stay tuned to the website www.FitAndEffective.com, as you'll see some new levels of what I'll be engaged with this fall!

Day 6 - BTC - Naturita to Cortez

Oh, wow...a long one! I'd imagine it'll take a good 7 hours to ride this (ok, maybe 8 if we stretch our mid-morning coffee break!).

June 27, 2008
95 miles
Naturita to Cortez

Uncharted territory for the BTC. Ride on (and on and on)! Today's near century ride is the longest day of the 2008 BTC, but you might want more miles when the day is done. We cross Gypsum Pass at 6,100', a 4-5 mile climb, ride through dramatic slick rock canyons, and pedal past the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. When you get to Southwestern Colorado's westerly town of Cortez, your riding day is done.

What's in YOUR way of engagement?

Well, today was a very easy day. Compared to Day One of this vacation, today was like a day hike on a fire road!

With the ability to breathe easily (my heart rate was a low 130, and we were below 8,000ft for most of the day) came some space to think.

The question I formulated, and gave myself all day to bring in and out of my focus, was:

What gets in people's way of full engagement?

Right then, while reading and journaling before "lights out," I put together these words:

Anxiety, stress and negativity diminish power.

I am NOT saying that those three concepts are not powerful; in fact they are, more than we may now know! But, as we address these three issues, we will identify the "space" and time we need to advance.

The physical nature of something like riding a century (a one-hundred mile bike ride, like we'll do Friday) goes a long way in eroding those three "power-takers."

Question: What are YOU anxious, stressed or negative about?

Bonus Question: How do you want to "be" in/to/with the world.

Here's something I've found valuable:

Practice short bursts of being fully here, now. The carry-over effect may surprise you!

Day 5 - BTC - Telluride to Naturita

It's all downhill from here! (For today, anyway...)

June 26, 2008
56 miles
Telluride to Naturita

Loads of fun. Today we start at 8,750' but finish at 5,431' with a good four mile climb up Norwood Hill, part of the 120 mile bicycle race route from Telluride to Moab. We roll along Highway 145, one of Colorado's scenic and historic byways, to the small Southwestern town of Naturita.