The Christmas/holiday season often causes people to spend extra time reminiscing of times gone by.  It really doesn’t matter how old you are…we all think back about special people, special times, special gifts and special events.  The result is that we attempt to remake our “today” more like our yesterdays.

Well this final 2017 TRIPLE III TIME message is not intended to lessen the value of those memories…but to encourage you to consider the following TOP 10 thoughts as incentive to keep a FUTURE FOCUS!

1. When you are at a family gathering instead of asking “How is it going?” …ask “What’s your game plan for 2018?”
2. As you are traveling locally or for a greater distance…stop at a “home-town store” …just to see what’s out there.
3. As you think about years past…try to pick “Just 1 Thing” to carry forward and customize it as a new memory.
4. Be the leader that preaches making new special traditions that will be memory-making.
5. Quietly understand that your opportunity to grow older and gather “futurisms” …is a privilege.
6. Don’t spend much time wishing things were like the past…TIME can never be retrieved.
7. Focus on appreciating all the gifts you received and family/friends you connected with…and NOT all the stuff you wish or should have done.
8. Pick one person from your past that is your hero…and make a plan to make them HOLIDAY PROUD of your FUTURE FOCUS.
9. Memories can make you smile and feel warm inside…but can’t make your tomorrows FUN…so??!!
10. Finally, begin keeping a MONTHLY MEMORY LOG. No, don’t keep a diary…rather at the end of each month identify one cool thing that will be worth “Memory-Reminiscing” at Christmas time 2018.

Thank you all for staying my blog friends this past year…and get ready for 2018!

A great friend of mine recently let me know that one style of explaining my TRIPLE III TIME messages that he really enjoys is what he labeled “Milkhouse Moments”.  Simply put my Milkhouse Moments were true learning moments that usually came from my Dad while we were milking cows each morning and night.  Well…this week Let’s Talk “Consistency” is a Milkhouse Moment that came in the form of a work expectation example from my Dad…rather than in words.

Let me explain.

Recently I was complimented by another great friend about my TRIPLE III TIME Blogs and 2017 start-up of my monthly Inspiring Innovations – Learning Moments Podcasts.  I was very thankful for the compliment but I was equally thankful when she said that “their  success is largely due to the commitment to Consistency…so readers and listeners always can count on you being there.”

Well…I can assure you that I really didn’t think I was learning a valuable life-long lesson when I had to get up early…or leave a few afternoon parties in order to be on time to help with important farm work responsibilities (my Dad would call them chores).  But as I thought more about my friends compliments and the ever-growing number of colleagues that read-listen-share the messages, I realized that my Dad’s work expectation example of Consistency…has benefited me personally and professionally for all my years.

And today maybe he helped a few more…with another Milkhouse Moment.