Mike’s Lone PEEK Summit!!

As the first year of “my next 50 years” comes to a close I would like to note that the more things change the more they remain the same. As has been chronicled in our newsletter change is inevitable. It generally is a good thing and helps to keep us vibrant. Change is like the tide it just keeps coming and we must learn to ride the waves.

In the first year of “my first 50 years” I caught pneumonia and was told it was life threatening. A new drug called tetracycline helped save my life but also for ever more changed the color of my teeth. All in all it was a worthwhile change.

In this my first year of “my next 50 years” my business caught a bad economy that continues to impact many of us. In response we have and will continue to change. We purchased another distributorship this year. We opened a complete new division marketing to the needs of Community Banks on a national basis. We have added to our service mix and now are offering a line of marketing services to better help our clients in these difficult times. We hope these changes will make all of our businesses stronger.

In the early years of “my first 50 years” I was an active kid who rode his bike everywhere to do everything. I logged many miles but alas at that time there were no bike computers to count them. I rode my bike to my first job as a caddy where I fell in love with golf which left no time for biking. Caddying helped pay for my tuition, afforded me the opportunity to become a pretty good golfer, and eventually earned me a full scholarship to the University of MN. All in all a worthwhile change.

In this the first year of “my next 50 years” I played less golf then ever and started riding a bike again. My computer said I logged almost 2000 miles. I managed to change my weight distribution without changing my beer intake. Unlike past years I only played in one major state golf event but had my best finish ever. 2^nd in state! All in all a worthwhile change.

Somewhere in the middle part of “my first 50 years” I took up skiing, became interested in girls, and was lucky enough to figure out a way to combine the two. Like most young men I eventually settled down, met the girl of my dreams, got married and had 3 incredible kids. How kids change never ceases to amaze me. By far it was the best change I had made to date.

In this the first year of “my next 50 years” My skiing style has changed from mere survival to adventurous big mountain skiing. The girl of my dreams wanted a change and moved out this year but thankfully all three kids remained with me at home. Change for yourself is one thing but watching how change can affect those you love can be the hardest. Happily all parties are getting along fine and I’m settling into being a single dad. Change that does not kill you will only make you stronger!

Anyone of us could tell endless stories of change in our businesses, in our careers, and surely in our personal lives. It is my humble opinion that since change is so inevitable it is not really the change itself that is so important. It is how we deal with that change that is vital. My father was a good role model. He just kept putting one foot in front of the other always focusing on the attempt to move forward! 

Mike

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is rapidly fadin’
And the first one now will later be last
For the times they are a-changin’

Bob Dylan, Copyright © 1963