Think Week

Rarely does one get the chance to emulate greatness, but this coming week, I have another opportunity to do that.  Out of all the characteristics of Bill Gates, the one that I found I could identify with was his passion for his "think week".

I remember starting out as a junior developer, I did not know where I would end up, but I did know that I had one thing in my favor, I had the power to try as hard as I wanted.  This was reinforced in no small part as the result of my father and family, but probably to a greater extent, as the result of the advice of a member at the club where I was a golf pro's advice to me on the night of my "retirement" party.

I had the opportunity to have a drink with Mr. Harnett at the bar during my "retirement" party, and I mentioned to him that I did not know if changing careers at 30 years old was a good idea.  He said something to me that truly changed my direction.  He said, I know you will succeed. I asked him, how can you say that?  He said because you will try...  At that instant, I figured I had a chance.

At some point later on, I read about Bill's idea about a "think week" and figured that, given all the resources that he had, if he thought it was important, maybe it wasn't such a bad idea for me.  It was my chance to try.. and I aspired to emulate.

So many years on, I begin yet another "think week".  As time goes on, I find myself looking forward to this week all year.  It's "my" week.  The week I work for myself.

I am not chairman of a giant corporation, or rich beyond dreams... but I do have this... my week to improve and explore what I can achieve.  I feel grateful for being shown the path.  Even if you can't achieve all your dreams, you can try... and it's because of this that somehow life has greater meaning.