Golf and Friends

Over the past few weeks I have been playing golf with a couple friends. Not only is the time that we spend very valuable the spirit of competition brings out the best in all of us. Golf is a game of mental and physical strength and you have to have each one of them working if you want to be successful.

Paris

The city of love held true! My wife and I had an outstanding time in Paris enjoying the sites of the Eiffel Tour, Arc, Notre Dame, Louve, and Versaille. The food was incredible and we were able to connect on so many levels. Truly a great time to reflect and enjoy each other's company.

Mothers Day

Tomorrow is Mother's Day and if there is one thing I truly appreciate is having an outstanding mother. Sure growing up I thought she might have become a little protective and over bearing but now that I look back on it I know that was just her way of showing us her love. I hope we can provide the same environment for our children once we decide to make that commitment. I love my mother and am grateful for everything she has ever given me.

Whoa

Well this week has been an emotional roller coaster filled with ups and downs. I am glad I have a great wife who is supportive we make a great team and can be each other's rock.

Bike

Over the past few days I have been looking at purchasing another motorcycle. It never fails that the spring time brings the excitement of hitting the open road and relaxing. Riding provides a great time to think and reflect.

Shopping

Tonight my wife and I went shopping and spent some time together. We really have had some good discussions lately and we have valued the time we are spending together.

Project

Tonight my wife and I worked on a project. This was fun and frustrating we are so different when it comes to our professional outlook. What makes us different is what makes us great.

Easter Sunday

Today I was able to spend the day with my family and my wife's family. We concluded the day by visiting my parents camp ground where they go each weekend. It is great to have a place to escape. Easter has a very religious meaning as someone made the biggest sacrifice of all which was dying on the cross for our sins. I am thankful and will continue to make myself a better person!

Opening Day

Yesterday I had a chance to go to opening day with a few friends. The weather was terrible but the excitement of being at the stadium was awesome. We had a lot of fun and were able to make the best out of a bad situation.

Success

Today my wife had an outstanding conversation with her boss about her career and direction. She has an outstanding work ethic and I am glad to be part of her winning team. She is just one more successful person I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by.

Tonight

We are having some friends over to watch the OSU game and have some fun. It is a great time to get back in touch with friends that were from college.

A Former Employee

A former employee stopped in today and we were able to discuss her new career opportunity. She is really excited about the opportunity and I truly wish her the best success.

Spring

Spring is knocking on our door and I am ready to let it in. Baseball is about to start, golf is beginning to explode and soon my wife and I will be thinking about boating.

Busy Day

Today was a busy day at the office. These are the types of days I really enjoy as the pace is quick and energizing for the entire office. Once I came home I was able to have dinner with my wife and then began working on a project for my MBA. Very productive day!

Weekend

Over the past weekend my wife and I spent a ton of time with our families. My mother celebrated a birthday on Saturday and then we had her family over on Sunday for dinner. We are very fortunate to have such loving parents and a great family that supports us.

she's back

My wife came back from her trip in Arizona. Great weather wish we lived there but family is here. Although this not the greatest place to live when it comes to weather, opportunity to quality of life there is no price you can place on the value for family.

49

49 for the 1st 9 holes of the year. Not great but at least it was sunny and I know what I need to work on over the next couple of weeks. Golf is great because it has the freedom of the open area and the challenges of long day at work within a couple hours. A very humble sport.

1st day

Today I had an employee start her first day with the organization. It is amazing to see the transformation that is about to take place in the office over the next couple of weeks.

Last night

Last night my wife and I went to a birthday party for a friend who I am in school with. Ironically my wife actually works with him as well so she was able to see some people from work there. It was a really good time to bowl and casually meet other people. 5 years ago I would have never attended an event like this as I would not have put myself in a situation where I did not know anyone this is part of my personal growth.

Dinner

Tonight we had dinner with my in laws and talked about future investments. They are truly great people and I am lucky to have married into a great family.

Building

As I think about success I think it is important to think about where you are and where you could be. Every opportunity presents opportunities and challenges and it is what you make of it.

Puppy

Tonight my wife and I went to look at a new puppy for our family. He was awesome but since we have some upcoming travel we have decided to hold off for a couple of months. I hope we can find another one like him soon.

65 and Sunny

Yes it was 65 and sunny today. I was in Cleveland today and I was able to grab lunch with a close friend who just returned from a small ski trip. I remember trying to snowboard once I almost broke my neck. Worst of all I was being mocked by 11 year olds. I am not sure what hurt worse my head or my ego. Nonetheless the weather today was great and I was able to hit some golf balls tonight. I am looking forward to Spring!

Conversation

Today I spoke with a variety of people who I have not connected with in the past couple of months. It is a great feeling to think through problems and come to solutions. Each person is unique but very similar. They key is to be very positive when making decisions and outlook on life.

Golf

Today I was able to walk out and play a few holes of golf. Although the weather was only about 45 degrees the sun was shining! It was great to take advantage of a beautiful day. This is a sign spring is almost here.

Poker

The game of poker presents challenges and excitement. At any given point you might be willing to risk it all to see one more card. At this point you have to make a critical decision hold or fold. Poker is a great game to play for recreation but the real enjoyment is spending time with friends and having great conversations.

Dinner and a Movie

Tonight my wife and I had dinner and a movie. Although the movie was great I thought we had one of the best conversations we have had in a long time. It was great to spend time with my wife and just have a truly engaged conversation.

Insight

Tonight I had a few drinks with a former colleague. I really enjoy spending time with him as he constantly brings new insight about things that are going on. It is great to spend time with people who genuinely care about getting better at what they do.

Development

Today a former employee of mine was promoted. This is outstanding and well deserved! I am very happy that he had finally earned his spot. I look forward to watching him grow and develop into his new role.

Weekend in Review

What a great weekend, I was able to learn a tremendous amount in my MBA class about leadership. My wife and I then traveled to Cleveland to spend time with one of my best friends and his wife. I really enjoy hanging out with them and consider them family. It was finished by today hanging out with my wife and preparing for the upcoming week.

Bravo

Last night my wife and I were able to have dinner with some friends from college. They are great people and we really enjoy the time with them. Over the years our friendship has grown and I value the time we spend with them.

Meeting

Today we had a meeting at work in which we were discussing some strategies. I really enjoy these types of meetings and it really is my passion. It has been challenging over the past year as I have not been involved in these types of meetings. I have also officially launched a new business now it is about gaining clients.

Business Expo

Tonight I was able to attend a business expo in which business owners were showcasing their products. It is great to see the energy that people have when opening a business. Their passion and pursuit of excellence is second to none and is an example of how others should run their lives.

Presentation

Today I was able to give a presentation to about 45 people. I really enjoy these types of situations as it prepares me for future endeavors.

Rest and Relaxation

Today my wife and I were able to spend the day at home together and really relax. There are days that it is good to just relax and enjoy each others company. These days have not happened lately so I am glad we were able to spend this time together.

Babysitting

Tonight my wife and I babysat for a close friend. The child is only 6 weeks old but she is growing so fast. It is amazing how each baby is different on so many levels. My wife is outstanding with children and very caring, more than I will ever be. Soon we will be having our own and creating our own little miracle.

MBA Group

Tonight I finished working with my MBA group on our presentation that I will be giving. It has really been an outstanding experience working with each of them. We are each very diverse when it comes to professional career, however we have all worked very well over the past 8 weeks.

my wife returns

Today I am really looking forward to my wife returning from CA. She was recently out of town for business and it makes for a very lonely home. I really enjoy being with her and hope we can spend some quality time together over the weekend.

Thinking about the Future

Today I spoke with a few people who made me really think about the direction that I want to take my career in the future. I am still a relatively young when it comes to business experience but I know I can handle any type of environment. My passion is to develop as an executive coach and change the way people think about how to lead people and their organizations.

Busines Owner

Today I was able to spend sometime with a business owner who gave me some insight about how to form a network. I took one thing away from him as he stated, "Brad you need to build a network of young professionals as these will be the people that you can grow old with." I have never thought about this before but now more than ever it is important to begin this process.

Brother

Today my Brother, Sister in Law and nephew came over for dinner. It seems like my little nephew is growing so fast. It is amazing at how smart the little guy is it is a direct reflection of the time his parents have spent with him. I really enjoy seeing my brother when we were kids we did not always see eye to eye but today we are great friends.

Flemings

Tonight I took my wife to a nice dinner north of our house. It is really nice to enjoy a great evening with my wife and engage in great conversation. The food was excellent and the service was outstanding. We really need to make more time to enjoy nights like this.

Big

Tonight I watched the movie Big with my wife. It is great to have fun and act like a child sometimes. Too many times we are acting so serious and get caught up in the stress of our lives that we forget to have fun. Smiling, Laughing and having fun are nearly always lost in day to day lives but I am dedicated to having fun each day. Today is a great day to be alive.

Valentines

My wife is my best friend and without her I am not sure where I would be today. She definitely keeps me grounded and I am lucky to have her. Gifts are nice to have but seeing her smile is better than any gift money could buy.

Elements

Today my wife was faced with a challenge to drive through some really adverse conditions. This is very concerning for her but as she completed the task there was a sense of confidence that was displayed that I do not see very often. I love to see her happy and this was a time that she truly shined!!

Friendship

Today a friend of mine interviewed at my organization. I really would hope to see him as part of the team; however, he has to make the right move professionally and personally. I hope he makes the right decision and I will support him in whichever direction he decides to go.

Friday

I finished my first week with the new team, they are great and really want to do well. The weekends bring joy to spend time with my wife. It is nice to see my wife with less stress and she has a tremendous motivation to exercise. I am glad she has committed to this new found lifestyle, I love her more than she knows.

Trust

Today I had a conversation with an employee and she is beginning to build confidence in our relationship. I have already noticed that she is bringing new ideas to the table and is beginning to feel valued. I really enjoy building these relationships as they will have an impact for years to come.

Small Success

Today I was able to meet with a business owner who I will be securing as a client soon. It is great to have the ability to help local businesses purse their goals. The experience that I am gaining cannot be measured as relationships are built over time not over number of accounts opened.

Super Bowl

Yesterday we spent the day with a collection of friends from all different backgrounds. It was an outstanding event and I really enjoyed the time and company. I look forward to times like these as the more you can connect with people the more you can learn.

Faith

Today I was fortunate enough to meet a gentleman that has devoted his life to the lord. It amazes me the sacrifice that people will go through in order to fulfill their dreams and faith. Regardless of a person faith denomination the passion that these people carry with them each day is incredible.

inspired

Today I went to see Chris Gardner as he gave a public speech at a local university. I thought the topics were outstanding and his story was very clear. You can do anything that you want to do but you have to have the knowledge and willingness to learn to be effective.

Making the connection

Today I was able to connect with some old colleagues who are doing very well in their new careers. It is amazing to think how fast time goes by it is good to take time to reflect on the past as it will give perspective on the future.

Parents

Yesterday I was able to have my parents over to my house for dinner. This is something that I do not do nearly enough. I think I am going to try to coordinate this so I can meet with them at least once a month and have dinner and catch up on what might be going on in the family. I have wonderful parents and sometimes I take them for granted.

Friends

I had a great lunch with a close friend today. It is a great feeling to connect with old friends and peers. I was also able to secure reservations at an outstanding restaurant for valentines day dinner for my wife.

Hall of Fame

Today I was able to spend time with my former college baseball coach who was recently inducted into the Malone College Hall of Fame. As an athlete he was one of the best that has ever played at the college and as a coach he has already led his team to a National Championship. He is a winner and I am honored to have known him.

Lunch

Today I went to lunch with a couple of my current team members. We shared great ideas about leadership and what it takes to be successful. I really enjoyed working with these individuals and they have the ability to be successful in any role they might take on.

JA for a Day

Giving back to a group of children was outstanding today. I will keep it simple giving back to those who are not as fortunate is an experience that everyone should at least once a year.

Great News

Today I found out that one of the people that used to work for me is having a baby. This is outstanding and I wish them the best of luck in NY. Over the course of time although he was an employee he definitely became more of a friend. Congratulations to their entire family.

Lunch

Today I had lunch with a very close friend who recently had his 1st child. It is amazing to see the transformation of a man who I never thought I would see tired and beat up. He made comments like he loves his baby girl, loves holding her and talking to her. I find this to be an incredible transformation and I am glad to be witnessing it first hand.

Phone Conversation

Today I was able to have phone conversation with an outstanding individual about an opportunity that might be coming up. We discussed many things including future plans, leadership etc. It is great talking to people who understand the big picture.

New Baby

Today I was able to visit with a close friend who had their first child. This friend was actually my first boss out of college and since then we have worked hand in hand on different projects. Over time we have grown to be very close and I was excited to see this miracle happen in their lives. The baby is beautiful and will be a great addition to their already excellent family. I look forward to watching her grow and watching this dynamic change their lives for the better.

Communication

Today I had a few very good conversations with my staff in regards to career planning. I also was able review goals and plans of action for 2007. Today was a good day even though I had to deliver news about my leaving the office. The team took the news very well and will move forward with out any problems.

New Offer

Today I was offered the opportunity to change branch locations and work in a market that I know very well. This is an outstanding opportunity to showcase my talent and take on a leadership role within our organization.

Great Conversation

Today I had an outstanding conversation with my new manager. She brought some very valuable feedback in regards to role clarity and future possibilities. It is times like these that I find this type of leadership outstanding.

Exercise

Today I was able to maintain my diet amongst the temptation of breaking down and walking across the street for a snack. I also spent time with my wife as we worked out this evening. It always make you feel better when you exercise seems to reduce stress and overall create relaxation.

Happy New Years

Over the past 2 days my wife and I traveled to Times Square for New Years. It was an outstanding experience, we were able to spend time together, have fun, and eat at some great restaurants. Watching the ball drop was a once and a lifetime event and the anticipation and energy that took place in the last 30 minutes was incredible. Happy New Years!!