“Hey, how is it going?” I asked. It seemed an innocent question.

“Oh, man, it’s rough. Our biggest competitor just lured away our Project Manager. The price of raw materials is going through the roof. We had a glitch in our computer system last week. I don’t know. I guess things are okay,” replied Marshall.

I stopped in my tracks. On the surface, it seemed like small talk. An innocent question. A little commiserating.

But words mean something. You are what you think. The only way I can tell what you are thinking is to listen to the words that you use. How do you describe yourself? How do you describe what is happening around you?

You are what you think. What you say is who you are. But take it one step further.

What you say is who you will become. How you describe yourself is who you will become. How you describe the world around you, is the world you are destined to live in.

“Hey, how is it going?”

How will you respond? -TF

The pictures look mangled. Well, they are mangled, at least the buildings are. Okay, so are the boats, and yes, there is also a mangled airplane.

I remember an essay about survival of the fittest. It referenced a scientific study, constructed somewhere in Minnesota. What survives?

What survives is not some eloquent species, particularly suited to a harsh element, drought or temperature. What survives is diverse adaptability.

The study focused on some ragtag patch of soil and plants that made it through a variety of conditions that killed off everything else. The surviving flora was distinct only through its diversity and its adaptability.

Power poles don’t adapt much.

“That which does not bend, shall be bent out of shape.”

Hurricane Wilma reminds us what it will take, not just to recover, to survive, but to take hold and thrive again. It will not be some super strength, but our diversity and our adaptability. -TF

Mad Max, the movie, provides an insight to the past few days in South Florida. Bands of people, patch together technology to manage a life which can oddly be called normal.

One week after Wilma, half of all schools are still without power and will remain closed for at least two more days. The proliferation of generators has created lines at gas stations by people on foot with gas cans. Others quietly wait by candlelight, taking cold showers and depleting their stock of canned goods. Even this blog has existed by virtue of a power inverter and a dial-up line strung through the window of my car.

“South Florida is nice,” explains a line worker, who has just descended from a power pole. “At least here, when we restore the power, people still have a home to hook it up to. They are very appreciative.

“Four weeks ago, in Mississippi, we would heat up the line, but there were no homes left. No cheering. No hoots and hollers. No dancing in the streets.”

Much to be thankful for. -TF

I spent some time with a group of firefighters. Their life is often described as periods of serenity interrupted by frenetic chaos.

But, during the serene time, I observed a great deal of activity spent in buffing and polishing their equipment and vehicles. It seemed more than mere maintenance and it peaked my curiosity.

“Why the extreme attention to detailing and cleaning, almost overboard, at times?” I asked.

One of the young guys on the crew spoke up, “What appears to you as extreme, for us is simply discipline. You can visit any firehouse, and the way they keep their equipment is the same way they fight fires. If they are sloppy in their maintenance, they will be sloppy fighting a fire. They will make poor decisions and will ultimately cost property, even lives. A team always plays the game the same way it practices.”

———-

As Hurricane Wilma passes overhead today, everyone be safe. -TF

“But, it is like pulling teeth to get them to change the way they have been working. They get started, but after a couple of days, things are right back to the way they were before.” Matt sighed one of those Manager’s sighs. “I just wish my team was more disciplined.”

“Matt, discipline is nothing more than routine. Discipline isn’t harder than any other way of getting things done; it’s just not what you are used to.” I had spied a workroom on my way in. It was a small room with some simple tools and a work bench, good lighting. It was where people took things that needed fixing. Not broken things, but rather, product defects. The seam didn’t line up quite right; there was a burr on an edge. Rather than documenting the defect and looking for a solution, the team had, over time, assembled this little “fixing” room.

“Tell you what, Matt. Hide the tools and put a padlock on the room.” I could see his eyes grow wide. “Then, have a meeting and tell everyone that the fixing room is off-limits for 21 days. During that time, have meetings twice a week to talk about the new documentation process. After 21 working days, you should have a new routine. Discipline is just a different way of getting things done.”

Matt was nodding, “So, after 21 days I can take the padlock off the “fixing” room?”

“No.”

Tour notes – Lance back in yellow.
Wearing the yellow jersey carries an unspoken behavior to defend the jersey. I am not sure Lance wanted it this early in the race, but the way the tour has unfolded, it just came sooner rather than later.

After four stages, Lance Armstrong carries a :55 second advantage over George Hincapie, his own teammate. The nearest non-team competitor, Jens Voigt, of Team CSC is :64 seconds behind in third place. The strategy at the moment for Team Discovery is to keep Lance safe from harm. Gaining more time will wait for the mountain stages to come later in the race. Read detailed coverage at www.olntv.com.