Month: February 2015

Thought on the day

Carl Setzer

Thought of the day: It’s preferable to learn from the mistakes of others than to make them yourself. The whole purpose of an event like Family Reunion, and education as a whole, is to pre-learn the mistakes great minds have made, and avoid the pain and costs they incurred. Really, someone taking the time to explain anything they’ve learned is a gloriously generous gift. I’ve long known that, but have really deepened my appreciation for those that generosity. 

Oh, The Challenge Of Stillness

Carl Setzer

One of my challenges: sitting still. I love getting stuff done. This week, though, is about learning, preparing; not about acting. For action without planning often is empty, or worse, counterproductive.

I don’t spend enough time planning. Sadly, it’s very easy to confuse action and activity with progress. I need to add “focusing time” into my day. Thus, I shall act rather than react. And ensure my efforts build something, not just spin my wheels needlessly.

I’ve known about this weakness for awhile. Yet, it’s really being driven home this week. If I learn nothing else this trip, my deeper understanding of this is worth it all.

Thoughts from the road

Carl Setzer

Is been quite some time since I’ve had a day full of air travel. This was a remarkably easy trip. We actually made it to Orlando about 1/2 hour early. Life in the future is grand. I loved having charges in the seat. Hit the ground with everything charged and ready to go.

Geek moment: I won the bomb material swipe lottery. Watching the samples getting analyzed, seeing the spectrometer on the screen, just made me giddy. Ah, I heart the sciencey goodness.

I love the sensation of takeoff. Rather like a reverse rollercoaster. A young boy in front of me had his arms raised as we ascended. It was perfect. Well, nobody whooped. That would’ve been perfect.

Now I’m sitting in a hotel room, fighting off sleep for a bit longer. I don’t want to adapt to eastern time well. A week from now I’ll be back home. I’d rather not be too messed up by that.

And the journey continues…

More Travels

Carl Setzer

Tomorrow, dark and early, I head off to Seatac airport for my next journey: off to Orlando and Keller Williams‘ “Family Reunion“.  TLDR, it’s a convention for real estate agents part of Keller Williams. However, it’s apparently, much more. This company’s agent enthusiasm has been amazing, and it will be on bold display. I’m both excited and, well, displeased.

I absolutely hate air-travel anymore. Fortunately for everyone, my motion sickness is nicely managed by Dramamine. The masters of misery, a joint collaboration between the TSA and most major airlines, have crafted excesses of discomfort rarely seen this side of a crimes-against-humanity tribunal. Gloriously, I get to donate about 16 hours of my life over the next week to this exercise in packed unpleasantness.

More powerfully, I loathe time away from my family. My absence distresses my son. Hopefully, the boost in grandparent time will compensate.

Now, after all that, the surprise: I’m excited to go. I’ve meant to dive deeper into the company, but time has always been at a premium. Now that’s the focus of the next few days. Additionally, I’ll have the opportunity to dive deep onto the cutting edge: my favorite place to be. Ultimately, I love opportunities to learn. And then there’s networking. People from all over the world, of many calibers and skills. Great opportunities to learn and connect.

So, it’ll be a week full of learning, and change. Excitement!