Road Trippin’

I just got back from a 1200 mile road trip to do some rock climbing at the City of Rocks in Idaho. Road trips have a great way of teaching you many wonderful lessons. Here are some things that I learned from this past week that I need to remember when it comes to work:

1. It’s all about context – I used to drive a VW Eurovan. It was a great vehicle for camping. After having one for 15 years, I was used to the sneers I’d get from truckers and locals driving across states like Wyoming. Now I drive a Sportsmobile, which is a Ford E350 van. At the first truck stop we stopped at this trip a mean looking trucker sauntered over as I filled up the van with diesel. He gave me a big smile and said, “Now, that’s a cool Ford!” I also noticed how many truckers will give me a smile as we pass motoring down the highway. What I find quite ironic is that I run biodiesel in it, when I can find it, and have a big Blue Sun Biodiesel sticker on the back of the van.

Now driving the Big Rig (as my boys call it), I’m more of an enviro with the exterior of a redneck! It’s all about context and the ability to bridge those gaps with people who may be very different than you.

2. Let go of your ego – I love to climb. But, having two four-year-old boys, I can’t always think about trying to test myself on the hardest climbing route I can find. Instead of getting frustrated, I’ve accepted the fact that helping the boys push their plastic trucks off small cliffs can be just as gratifying as climbing a hard route. Remember, you are where you are. Enjoy it while you can.

3. Engage in your environment – Having climbed at the City of Rocks several times, I love the fact that you are completely out of touch with the rest of the world, that’s a rarity for me these days. By getting out of my day to day existence I feel a new source of creativity. If your job demands creativity, you have to find ways to engage in environments other than work to renew your passion.

4. That what scares you makes you stronger – The thing I like about climbing is that it scares me. Sitting below a route, getting ready to climb, I always get a bit nervous knowing that I am going to have to stretch my self both mentally and physically to attain the top of the climb. Satisfaction is always dependent on how much the route tested me. Likewise in business, I try to pick goals that will test me both mentally and physically. They are always so much more satisfying.

Comments

[making biodiesel]

I totally agree! gr, remcowoudstra