Year: 2011

During a recent panel discussion on entrepreneurship I was asked the question, “What do you know now that you wish you’d known then?”  It took me a while, but then I realized that one of the best insights I had was simply that “your idea is not crazy!”

Since realizing that I wanted to be an entrepreneur I have wrestled with idea after idea   and drafted business plan after business plan seeking to find the formula for my financial   freedom.  Over time I’ve had countless meetings, meals and phone conversations aimed at securing direction for my professional path.

Most of these conversations were encouraging in some way, but many more than a few told me to “hold up,” “go another direction,” “now may not be the time” or “I’m not sure this dog will hunt.”  One concerned friend made a special trip to my home to say “if you don’t have a million dollars in savings, you need to come on back to work at the bank.”  And of course, I’ve even heard “Dude, this idea is CRAZY!”

More than one of my more trusted mentors went so far as to verbally commit to investing in one of my projects and then followed up with a letter to withdraw from that commitment within a week.  I don’t think that my experience is entirely uncommon, but you can imagine how disappointing those trips to the mailbox were.
To be sure, some of the input that I have received over the years has been tough to swallow.  But, that doesn’t mean that it was all wrong.  Just because I wanted be be an entrepreneur doesn’t mean that I was mature enough, competent enough or financially prepared to execute on my ideas.

Over time my entrepreneurial vision (and the skill to go along with it) has become more refined, grown, evolved, divided, settled, boiled, regenerated and emerged.  Remarkably, in my case, from the first outline to the most recent executive summary, more than a decade later, the core objective has been the same.   In other words, my idea wasn’t crazy!

Neither is yours.
Like me, you just have to figure out how to get there from here.
I believe that it’s crucial that we are all required to go down a developmental path in order to execute and succeed.  But – that doesn’t mean that the idea that you know in your heart of hearts must be pursued is without merit.  You just have to be patient and impatient, and studious and hungry, and lucky (where preparation meets opportunity) and tenacious as you go down that path.
In fact, I believe that the best ideas are akin to a calling – something that you are compelled to do, even beyond what seems logical; something that won’t go away, even when you try to resist; something that keeps you up at nights; or that lives in the place your mind drifts to when your goal is to relax and forget it all.  If that’s the kind of idea you have; then I’d bet it’s not crazy – even if your friends tell you it is.
The best encouragement for us in this regard may come from the Bible.  Let me share some examples:
·        Joseph dreamed that he would become a powerful man.  His own brothers called him crazy and threw him in a pit… But eventually he became governor of all of Egypt.
·        Job was a righteous man.  When he lost all of his wealth his family encouraged him to curse God.  He refused and his wealth was restored twofold.
·      Moses demanded that Pharaoh let the slaves go.  Over and over again he appealed to the king, before eventually leading his followers across the Red Sea on dry land.
·       Joshua was compelled to initiate the Battle of Jericho by unconventionally marching around the city day after day.  They thought he was crazy, but on the seventh day the walls fell and the city was taken.

Each of these historical spiritual figures had a vision, a mission, a compulsion, a calling – and the people around them thought they were crazy.  You will also note that in each case, between the dream and the realization, there was one point of consistency – Pain.

 Joseph had to endure prison; Job did battle with the devil through prolonged physical illness; Moses suffered the scorn of his adopted brother and pressed on through numerous plagues while also dealing with the collective anger of the slaves whom he’d freed; and even Joshua couldn’t just go take the city.  He had to overcome self-doubt while leading the soldiers and priests through many hours of what must have seemed to be pointless effort.  Nevertheless, in each case their calling was fulfilled.

So, no, your idea is not crazy.  It may take some growing and some pain to make your dream come true.  But, stay true to your calling and execute!

 At first glance, the Occupy Movement which has invaded many US cities, infuriating local politicians, perplexing the press and bewildering many passersby, seems to have come out of nowhere and to have no direction. More than one article has asked, What do the Occupiers want?  NPR has featured guests on All Things Considered who have been available to speak on behalf of the Movement, but who have themselves acknowledged that they don’t have a leader and are still seeking to clarify their message.

But, if you stop to think about it for a few minutes (or just read this blog post) it will occur to you that the Occupy Movement has been a long time in coming, makes perfect sense, and we’d better pay attention.

Over the last several months we’ve witnessed populist uprisings in country’s far removed from our own.  Tunisia, Lebanon, Algeria, Jordan, Sudan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and, of course, Egypt, and Libya, among many others have each experienced marching in the streets, violence and/or complete seizures of the government.  More than 30,000 people have died for these causes – seeking freedom, opportunity, and equality.

What makes us think that the US should be any different?  Perhaps we live in the greatest country in the world (for now), but there are some important areas where others have us beat.

Back in the 1980’s, the decade of greed (i.e. the movie Wall Street’s Gordon Gekko: “Greed is good!”), 1% of Americans controlled about 12% of the country’s income and 33% of its wealth.  Now we know that this top 1% was just getting warmed up.  Today these titans control nearly 25% of America’s income and 40% of wealth.  Over the last decade, inclusive of the deep recession that we’ve been battling since 2008, the top 1% of income earners in America have seen their incomes increase by 18%, while those in the middle class have seen their incomes decline in real terms.
While countries in Latin America which have historically been bastions of income inequality, such as brazil, have battled to “improve the plight of the poor and reduce gaps in income, America has allowed inequality to grow.” This puts us on par with Russia and Iran for national income inequality. Imagine that!
But we’re not done.  Nobel Prize winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz, predicts that this trend will continue – “the underdogs will continue losing ground to the overdogs.”  Stiglitz further points out that we might see “our growing inequality as a quintessentially American achievement – we started way behind the pack, but now we’re doing inequality on a world-class level.”
Obviously, not a compliment, but it does matter… especially for those of us who are, or who aspire to be, among that top 1%.  Consider that an economy in which most citizens are doing worse year after year after year is not likely to do well over the long term.  “Growing inequality is the flip side of… shrinking opportunity,” which means, by definition, that many Americans, our most valuable asset, are not able to be productive or contribute meaningfully to society.
When wealth is concentrated among such a small group, so is power; and that power is used to keep wealth concentrated.  As a result, investment in education, technology and infrastructure dries up.  Sound familiar?

Despite the benefits that we now enjoy from investments in public health (biotechnology), technology (Internet) and infrastructure (interstate highways); congress (most of whom are among the 1% and financed by the 1%) can’t get their act together to pass legislation that will continue to make such investments.  This despite the fact that we are clearly falling behind emerging world economies in education, our bridges are crumbling and these investments will also have the effect of helping to spur economic growth, raise tax revenue and reduce unemployment rates.
None of this should come as a surprise.  “The rich don’t need to rely on government for parks, education, medical care or personal security – they can buy these things for themselves.”  Does this seem short-sighted?
When wealth is so concentrated, laws intended to create a level playing field will undoubtedly be changed to make it tilt; and before you know it a sense of common national purpose erodes.  Ultimately, it’s that sense of common purpose that creates the United States of America.
Occupiers are concerned that that sense of common purpose has already eroded too much.  (1)  On the one hand, brilliant financial engineers, at the top of the 1% heap, brought us to the brink of national financial collapse.  So we bailed the banks and the automotive industry out.  (2)  Now the government tells us that we have emerged from recession, corporate profits have risen to record levels, the Dow is above 12,000 and Bank of America, one of the banks that taxpayers bailed out, sought to impose a monthly debit card fee to allow you the use of your money.  (3)  Yet, on the other hand, property values, in some communities, are lower than they were 20 years ago, banks are slow to lend (and when they do it’s not against fixed assets – an incredible statement), job growth barely beats population growth leaving unemployment at 9%, and unemployment among recent college graduates and ethnic minorities is more than twice that.
So then, with all of this as backdrop, the Occupy Movement begins to come into focus.  These people are concerned for themselves and concerned about the future of our country.
But the 1% thinks that they don’t need to care.  They couldn’t be more wrong.

America prides itself on being the land of opportunity, where everyone has an equal chance of getting ahead.  However, with a widening income gap, the chance of a lower- or middle-class American making it to the top is now worse than many countries in Europe.  Persistent youth unemployment in the Middle-East has served as kindling for citizen unrest and a similar pattern here at home seems to be birthing the same.  In Yemen and Bahrain ruling families look down from their air-conditioned penthouses to wonder if their fate will be much different than the former rulers of Egypt and Libya.  How different is that from the way our CEO’s look down from their glass office towers?
Alexis de Tocqueville once described the genius of American society as “self-interest properly understood” or enlightened self-interest.  This is an important notion, as rather than the more narrow definition of self-interest: what’s good for me right now; de Tocqueville references the ideal that the common good is critical to my own ultimate well-being.  Rather than the concept of a liberal do-gooder, he views this as the highest order of “going for yours.”  In other words, the fate of the 1% is inextricably tied to the fate of the 99%.
Witness the 1960’s:  a tilted playing field will most certainly lead to revolution.  The revolution may have already begun – and it is being televised, posted on YouTube, shared on Facebook and tweeted on Twitter.
History has not been kind to communities and nations which hasten to serve the needs of the strong at the expense of the weak.  Wake up America!  We’d better pay attention to the disorganized efforts of Occupy [Insert Name Here].  We ignore them at our peril.
This piece draws liberally from articles written by Graydon Carter, editor, and Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize winner, in the May 2011 issue of Vanity Fair.

Last week, on the eve of Morehouse College’s homecoming weekend, I was invited to come to the school to speak on a panel about entrepreneurship.  It was one of the most inspiring experiences that I’ve had in a long time!
The room was packed, the panelists had great tales to account and participants asked thoughtful, questions.  But, more than that, the sponsors of the event blew me away.

A group of five recent Morehouse graduates decided that they wanted to support one another in achieving their entrepreneurial goals.To do that they have formed a firm called InHouse Group (www.inhouse-group.com).

While working full time gigs and attending graduate school, these brothers have also committed to invest capital into InHouse and to use those funds to invest in early stage ventures and to offer their expertise to emerging businesses for a fee.  Beyond that, they also made it a point to put together a well considered presentation on entrepreneurship and to bring it back to encourage Morehouse and Spelman students to begin now working towards their own entrepreneurial goals.
To drive the point home, they shared an example of an investment that they made in a company started by one of their partners.  This brother had been laid off from a company where he had done quite well, found it challenging to find a similar corporate professional opportunity and decided to start his own firm.  While having success in finding clients, cash flow was tight and personal savings depleted.  Up steps InHouse to provide strategic/business planning support along with a loan to prop up the fledgling business.
Fast forward three years and the business has been sold to a larger competitor, InHouse recouped their investment and made a tidy return, and the CEO of the startup now has an equity interest in his acquirer.  THAT is an impressive win-win!  And this example should be instructive for all of us.

hile there is no question that the Greek fraternities have each demonstrated a century’s long tradition of service, most of what the untrained eye sees was on display at homecoming – the gold boots of the Q’s, the pimped canes of the Kappa’s and the tight grips

of the Alpha’s.  Similarly, the hard work if InHouse goes on behind the scenes.  Yet the joy, the celebration, the results, of their fraternity is what is on public display.  The men of InHouse have demonstrated a commitment to their intellects, to service, to success, to giving back, to making a difference and to each other that matches or exceeds that of any Greek fraternity that I am familiar with.

Whether or not you pledged a fraternity in college, this is the type of group that you should be eager to connect with or to create.  Find some brothers or sisters who are like minded, share with them that dream that you have, commit to supporting one another and get focused on executing. (#DBTE)
I know that it could get complicated and frustrating (I’ve been there), but it’s a laudable ideal and it could yield impressive results.

I hope that the young men of InHouse keep it up!  We could all use their inspiration, benefit from their example and learn from their brand of fraternity.

Yesterday I celebrated a birthday.  The beginning of a new year of life; and I am grateful.
But ironically, what has moved me most this week has been death.  A reminder that life is fragile – not promised.  And that sometimes death doesn’t seem fair.

On Monday I chuckled as my son Harrison and I discussed his burning desire to get to Target to buy some Lego’s and Transformers with the gift cards that he received on his 10^th birthday last week – September 11^th.  His birth and enthusiasm serves as a salve for the pain of a day marked by death a decade ago.  Each year I am struck by the contrast and give thanks for this miracle.

On Tuesday I attended the funeral for RoseMary Hamer.  The event was unexpectedly emotional, draining, reflective and victorious – collectively exhausting.

Ms. Hamer was the principal of Bethune Elementary School, the school where Crystal teaches in the Atlanta Public School System.  She had become a friend to our family over the years by being supportive and present – in both professional and personal circumstances.  Lest I thought that our family had this unique privilege, the funeral proved me wrong.

Ms. Hamer was also tainted unfairly by the ongoing APS cheating scandal that became public at the end of the summer; and died of cancer before having the opportunity to set the public record straight.  (Not to worry, her friends and family made sure to clear that up during the service.)

Then the first call that I received on my birthday, Wednesday, was from Greg Burrell, a friend who owns a successful funeral home in Philadelphia and whose wife is also battling cancer.  As Greg and I moved past the pleasantries and onto discussing deals and making money, he stopped to say, “Hey man, nobody likes making money more than me; but I ain’t gotta make all the money!  It’s not that important.  I’ve seen lots of people make lots of money and they ain’t here to enjoy it.  What’s important is making sure my kids are educated and my wife is taken care of.”
Finally, as I went to sleep that night, Troy Davis was being executed by the State of Georgia.  Minimally it seems that Mr. Davis was in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing; but after 20 years on death row it also seemed clear that there was reasonable doubt that he killed a police officer. Nevertheless, our legal system decided that a lethal injection was equivalent to justice.
So, no wonder I spent my birthday this year happy, relaxed and thankful, but not really celebratory.  Death seemed all around me.

But what better reason to live – and to consider what living means.

My family and I went to Five Guys earlier on Wednesday evening for a lavish dinner of cheeseburgers and fries.  It was a cool September evening as we sat under umbrellas near the strip center parking lot.  We talked and laughed with our friend Savita, and the boys threw peanuts at one another and their buddy Jackson.  And as we stood to leave, Henry IV said, “Daddy, look at the horizon – its hot pink!”

Now that’s living!  Happy birthday to me!

I’ll bet you didn’t know that the cast of Glee had a movie come out – in 3D – recently! This epic occasion was at the top of my weekend list only because it was the #1 activity that Henry and Harrison were interested in.

I admit to enjoying the show. However I struggle with it too. The subjects often make me cringe! Death, substance abuse, disabilities, bullying, homelessness, religious tolerance and… sexuality are each addressed in vivid fashion.

Wow! Really!?

Perhaps these subjects are necessary to deal with – eventually. I guess that these are the issues that American families are facing with their tweens and teens. But some of this stuff hardly seems necessary to work through with even a high school senior.

Yet, the boys enjoy it and I think that it’s great to have talent and topical dialogue be the basis of a television diversion, rather than the train wreck (albeit occasionally enjoyable) that is reality TV. Further, Glee forces us to discuss these tough issues as a family.

I’m sure that it’s the open (hetero- and homo-) sexuality, which seems to creep into almost every episode, which causes me the biggest heartburn. This is just not a big issue at my house – yet. And I don’t expect that it will ever be the central theme or even a significant undercurrent of our family life. So to have my pre-teenagers deal with this stuff each week seems to be a bit much. Maybe they include all the sex to get us adults to watch.

Nevertheless, this show probably does more to remind my kids that “being yourself is the new cool” than I ever could. As I reflect on my primary and secondary school years I recall that there was only one “in crowd” – and I was generally on the outside of it. This group defined for everyone which shoes and jeans were cool, which hairstyle was flyy, the dances that were smooth, who would be invited to certain parties and even which sport we would play in the street or on the court after school.

Of course, being a little different means lots of different things. I always felt very well dressed at church on Sundays, but pretty clumsy during the week. I still remember begging my mother not to make me wear those green plaid pants to school, the sunny afternoon when a girl I liked asked me why my turquoise and red striped tube socks were pulled up so high, and the day that my brother and I FINALLY got some hi-top ProKeds!

These are the minor traumas of what was an above average childhood. Because I also remember, and now understand, that these types of things had absolutely nothing to do with the reasons that my parents reminded me regularly that they were proud of me. Too many children feel much more pressure than I did and are slow to realize that we’re actually all a little weird.

Maybe it’s because I now see the world through wider and more experienced eyes, but it seems to me that there is less of this type of pressure today. Diversity and integration of schools, restaurants, shopping malls and neighborhoods (every place except church on Sunday) may have created a world where everyone is freer to do their own thing and to be accepted or even celebrated for their uniqueness. As the cast of Glee puts it, “I’m on the right track baby, I was born this way!” or “Soon enough you’ll figure out you wanna be a loser like me.”

This two-season old TV show highlights the ideals of diversity and inclusion better than any other that I can recall. Several races, colors, creeds and religions are represented, people with disabilities have starring roles, people with quirks, idiosyncrasies and issues are supported and, of course, diversity of sexual orientation is prominent.

Are we moving towards becoming the beloved community, where our children can be “judged by the content of their characte rather than the color of their skin?”

While I might rather my kids be exposed to the complexities of some of these issues at 14 and 16 rather than at 10 and 12, Glee seems to suggest that we are. I hope that’s the case, but if not, I can at least take comfort in the Bill Gates quote, “Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.”
Come to think of it, the Glee 3D movie may have been the highlight of my weekend after all! Uuhhh maybe.

I was planning a gathering of friends once at a resort in another city, and when talking to my friend Hubert, he asked simply “Is it going to be well done?” It was the first time that I’d heard that phrase in that context… and it stuck with me.

Well Done (adjective) – a term used to describe an event or activity that is well planned and executed, intended to ensure the comfort of or maximize the experience of the guest or participant. No corners cut that would reduce the sense of excellence or completeness. May apply to events or activities large or small, elaborate or simple. May also be applied to other objects such as a device or outfit; or to express degrees of satisfaction or impression. (inverse, poorly done)

Have you ever been to a wedding where the flowers matched the décor, the gentlemen looked great in their tuxedos, the soloist was on key and it started on time – making the bride look that much more elegant?Well Done! And then attended one the following weekend where it started 40 minutes late and the reception food was cold? Not so well done…

If you’re with me so far, then consider that this concept can be applied to almost anything that we do. From the ensemble that we don in the morning (freshly pressed, colors popping vs. a falling hem and unflattering fit); to a presentation we give (bound color slides vs. unstapled black and white copies); the social gatherings that we plan (china plates vs. Styrofoam cups) and many other circumstances – the analysis we prepare, the restaurant we choose, the car we drive, the gift we give, the sermon we deliver, or even the person we date (the best advice that I ever got: (emphatically) “Only quality babes!”)

I hasten to add that this concept is not biased towards spending more money. It is, rather, biased towards getting the most value out of the money or the time that we invest in something. How many times have you or I done something in a barely adequate manner, only to discover that more was expected and have to go back and do it again – the right way this time!?

The idea here is that quality is much more important that quantity; and yes, quality may often cost a little more. But, wouldn’t you agree that a good pair of shoes will generally last longer and fit you better than cheap ones?  So, which is the better use of your hard earned cash and your precious little time?

The urban philosopher, Chuck Brown, actually said it best: “Whatever you do, big or small, do it well or don’t do it at all!” That’s strong!

Am I right?

Special Note: for another take on the same topic, please visit my friend Tracey’s blog at Vine2Victory.com

When I worked as an investment banker and as a management consultant I learned a valuable lesson about the importance of deadlines. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the pressure to perform, the long working hours and the all nighters were good training for me.

When a Managing Director says that he needs the offering memorandum by Tuesday morning and the financial model by Wednesday night – that’s when he needs it. And it’s your ass if he doesn’t get it.

When a client expects the data or the presentation at a certain time, that’s when they expect it. They’ve planned meetings around the information that you are providing. The next steps in their business are riding on your delivery.

You are given the tools to do your job. Excuses don’t cut it. You are expected to go past the extra mile. If you don’t deliver a high quality product in a timely manner there are no warm conversations about the personal obstacles that may have delayed you. There are no consultations about the importance of teamwork and the valuable contribution you can make. There are no DISC profiles completed nor executive coaches called in to offer support. Quite simply, you can and you will be replaced for missing deadlines.

In fact, the deadlines were so important that I was often given “false deadlines” – a deadline that was ahead of the actual deadline – to be sure that there was room to spare, time for last minute changes in pursuit of perfection, or just to make sure that I hadn’t screwed things up entirely. I hated false deadlines. I often missed weekends or changed personal plans to meet a deadline that turned out not to be a deadline after all.

I must admit though, that despite the pressure and because of false deadlines, I don’t recall ever missing a deadline. I must have missed one or two, but by and large no matter the sacrifice, my work product was where it was supposed to be when it was supposed to be there.

Even today I worry about missing deadlines big and small. If I can’t make a commitment I will go out of my way to let a teammate, friend or family member know when they can expect delivery (and on the rare occasion that I don’t do that, you can bet that I missed the deadline intentionally for some reason.) My stomach cramps and I can’t sleep at the thought of missing a deadline. Unfortunately, I often wonder if I am the only one who takes such commitments so seriously.

As my career has progressed I have come to discover just how rare it is for people to have had or remembered training similar to mine, and to take their commitments to meeting deadlines to heart. How many times have you been let down by someone not delivering what they said that they would, when they said they would do it?

Nevertheless, I try to avoid providing false deadlines to my colleagues. Rather, I try as often as possible to permit them to suggest reasonable deadlines that match their schedules. But all too often I am disappointed, saddened or angered when the person I am counting on misses an agreed upon deadline – often without so much as an email or phone call.
And when I do get a heads up, no matter how elaborate or dismissive the excuse for the tardiness, they all boil down to “I failed to plan properly” or “I didn’t feel like working hard enough to meet the goal.” Both pretty sorry statements.

I now understand even more clearly just how big a deal deadlines are. Not just because the boss wants it, or because the client needs it (although those are pretty good reasons), but because a deadline represents a commitment to whatever team you are playing on or working with. Perhaps more importantly, your ability to adhere to deadlines is a representation of your commitment to excellence and a hallmark of your character.

Whether the Heat or the Mavericks win the NBA championship this year will depend in large part on which teams’ players are most often in precisely the right place on the court at the right time – meeting the deadline. Navy Seal Team 6 was able to go inland to Abbottabad, Pakistan undetected to the compound where Osama bin Laden was killed without a single injury to American soldiers because everyone was in place when they were supposed to be – meeting the deadlines. Tax day is April 15th – a deadline that is not to be trifled with! And in business, contracts are won, customers are well served, equipment is maintained in operable condition, expenses are reduced and profits maximized only when deadlines are met. In short, without meeting deadlines the team will fail; and the greater the commitment to deadlines the more successful the team will be.

Dream Big Then – what? Drafting this note has reaffirmed my commitment to the notion that “you can and you will be replaced” if you can’t Execute. No team can #DBTE without meeting deadlines.

This morning I had the pleasure of taking my children to school. Uncharacteristically, after dropping Harrison off, we were running a little behind schedule. After two minutes into the second leg of the trip, Henry asked “Daddy, do you know a shortcut?”

This is a question that my namesake has been asking me regularly for all of the 10 years that he’s been able to speak. My reaction to his question is always the same.

1. 1. I am surprised!  Doesn’t my son realize that any self-respecting, red-blooded, American male thinks about the shortest distance between two points every time he picks up the car keys?

1. 1. I consider the question. Does he have a point? Is there a better or more efficient way of getting to where we are going? Given traffic patterns, the weather and my mood; have I chosen the best route to take?

1. Nine out of 10 times I respond: “Son, this is the shortcut.”

Today I was also reminded of the book “Oh The Places You’ll Go,” by Dr. Seuss. My friend Raquel gave me a copy more than 20 years ago and I’ve kept in on my bookshelf ever since that time.

When Raquel and I first met I was a brand new college graduate, and I was in a hurry!  You see, the world had been waiting for me to offer leadership and to claim more than my share of the American dream… and I could not disappoint.

Armed with a fresh new piece of lambskin, a navy blue suit from Boyd’s, a few custom-made French cuff shirts, a tie from Armani and shoes from Ferragamo; I had people to meet, places to go, deals to cut and goals to accomplish – yesterday! (I’m sure that I was the epitome of the saying that “you can always tell a Morehouse man, but you can’t tell him…”)

Raquel was a hot shot commercial banker with a venerable Manhattan institution. She had an MBA from a top tier school, an attitude to match and a salary that was at least twice mine. At that time it seemed that this woman had made it, while I was just getting started. Naturally, Raquel seemed like a good person for me to befriend in hopes that there might be something she could teach me about becoming a master of the universe.

Nearly two years after we’d met, I called my friend to tell her that I would be leaving the New York area to attend business school at the University of North Carolina. Happy for me, we set a date to have lunch to celebrate the next time that I was on the island.

When we met we spent time getting caught up on mutual friends, trading anecdotes of progress and challenges at work and discussing my expectations and fears for the ensuing two years. Raquel also gave me a gift – “Oh The Places You’ll Go.”

While grateful and moved by her thoughtfulness, I must admit that I was also just a touch underwhelmed. Why would someone give a grown man a Dr. Seuss book as a gift?  When I read the book, of course, I understood just how appropriate it was.  More impactful however, was the inscription that she added: “There are no shortcuts, Henry.”

Over time these words have proven to be profound in their simplicity.

I’ve found that life’s road is neither simple nor straight. The path to successes has, in most cases, taken longer than planned and been more challenging than anticipated. Hard work, dedication, tenacity and excellence in whatever I am doing have yielded the best results, and invariably when I thought that I’d found a legitimate shortcut it proved not to be. Life simply doesn’t offer many shortcuts worth taking.

So today, after I got young Henry to school on time, I turned to him and said with a smile, “There are no shortcuts, Henry.”

Maybe tonight I’ll read the boys a Dr. Seuss book before they go to bed.

And guess what my favorite graduation gift is? The book may not be what is expected, but I hope that my inscriptions will make a lasting difference.