On Trees and Shower Heads

“Wow. Look at the trees!” I said to myself as my flight descended on final approach into Raleigh-Durham International airport (RDU) two weeks ago.

I looked out the window grinning like a little kid on his first flight. Yet instead of marveling at the miracle of flight, I was completely captivated by the lush trees that blanket our region in North Carolina.

The previous two weeks had taken me to opposite extremes in terms of environment. I spent a week in Scottsdale, Arizona, teaching pricing at a conference for entrepreneurs. It was hot. Over one hundred degrees, even into the evenings.

There are no trees. Well, a few, but thin, wispy trees that grow only in the desert.

Then I flew from Phoenix straight to Iceland, where I spent a week leading a retreat for the high-potential leaders of a mid-market multi-national company. It was cold, wet, and rainy most of the time.

There are no trees. All of Iceland is pretty much one big lava field, with volcanoes, glaciers, and water everywhere. Completely amazing, but no trees.

Flying back into RDU, I was thrilled to see the trees. I was even amused by my own sense of wonder and excitement.

Driving home from the airport, around every turn, I noticed the trees. By mid-July, the trees in our yard are full and thick, providing a total barrier to our surrounding neighbors. I spent several minutes just appreciating the trees in my yard (see photo) before I went into the house.

As soon as I got my luggage inside, I wanted a shower. After schlepping through cattle chute lines of security, passport control and customs all day (Iceland to NY JFK to RDU), taking the AirTrain to the domestic terminal at JFK, then going outside on the ramp to board the regional jet to Raleigh, I was grimy.

That’s when I noticed the shower head in my bathroom.

Pathetic. Minimal water pressure. A weak trickle.

I looked up to investigate. Calcium deposits all over.

How long have I been tolerating that shower?

Months or years, apparently.

But in contrast to the outstanding plumbing fixtures that I had just experienced at the Fairmont Resort in Scottsdale and the Hilton in Reykjavik, I could now clearly see the problems with my shower. It was pretty crappy.

What else was I tolerating? I started making an inventory of my house, my office, my business, and my physical conditioning.

Since I’ve been home, I’ve been on a slow and steady rampage to multiply and amplify those things that I appreciate, and to identify and eliminate things I’ve been tolerating. It takes a lot of conscious effort and energy, but the rewards are well worth it.

Most people go on vacation and then complain about getting back to the grind. But they miss a huge opportunity that a real vacation gives you — the opportunity to evaluate your environment from a distance.

When you come back, don’t just step right back into the grind.

Eliminate the grind. Create something entirely new.

As CEO/owner of your company, one of the highest leverage actions you can take is to shape your environment. Yet it is difficult to see the opportunities from inside your environment.

So get out of your environment and come to one of my intensives or work with me live in person.

I’ll help you clearly see your biggest opportunities.

I’ll help you multiply and amplify the best and eliminate the rest.

Your profits and happiness will soar.