The whole staff went to Santa Cruz today and we spent a couple of hours just sitting out at Natural Bridges park on the ocean.  I sat out on a rocky point and just watched and listened to the waves crashing.  Great way to start a day!

I rode my bike to work today.  It’s a Victory Kingpin, designed by the infamous bike designer, Arlen Ness.  I have Arlen Ness signature mirrors, pegs and throttle covers also.  It looks cool.  One of the great things about moving to San Jose is that Arlen Ness’s shop is about 20 min. from my house in Dublin.

 This morning, this younger guy walked up to me at Starbucks and asked if “that was a Ness”, speaking about my bike.  I explained the connection with Victory and Arlen Ness, all the while he just smiled and nodded.  He asked where I get it serviced.  I told him I hadn’t needed service yet but would probably drive it up to Arlen Ness’s shop in Dublin….”you know that it’s up there don’t you?”.  He explained then, with a smile, that he was Arlen’s nephew.  We talked for awhile and I got his name and number.  Super nice guy!

Small world!

In his book, The Great Bridge, David McCullough talks about the impatience and remarks of the general public as the Brooklyn Bridge was being built. Apparantly, they were commenting on how the Brooklyn Tower was going up so much faster than the New York Tower during construction. The chief engineer remarked, “To such of the general public as might imagine that no work had been done on the New York tower, because they see no evidence of it above the water, I should simply remark that the amount of the masonry and concrete laid on that foundation during the past winter, under water, is equal in quantity to the entire masonry of the Brookline Tower visible today above the water line.”

So many time we forget how much work is needed on the foundation of an endeavor that we desire to outlive us. We all want results and we want them quickly. The quicker things “look” like they are improving, the quicker we’ll hear applause from those that are watching the work. The question becomes, “are we willing to do the slow work, where the work is not seen, below the water line, and save the visible results until the foundation is laid?”

In church, our leaders become the masonry and concrete that we pour. As our congregation, our budget, our programs and our vision scream for forward, visible momentum, we have to remember that the important work happens where the public doesn’t look…..below the water line. Patience and persistence along with proper construction of leaders will lead to results that last.

The Brooklyn Bridge was built in 1872. It is still a major thoroughfare today!

It was reported today that the three top executives at Google will again take salaries this year of only $1.00 apiece. Granted, they are Billionaires, with their stock options, etc… but in a time where CEOs are taking huge paychecks in addition to huge stock option payouts, this is quite a statement! They did give top executives below them big pay raises. With the success of Google and the status quo of CEO salaries, no one would blame them for taking even $400,000 apiece. But that is not the statement they have chosen to make:

It’s an interesting statement to me in that it tells me some real important things:
1. They love what they do and WANT to be there doing it.
2. It’s not about the money
3. They are aware that there are many external things that speak volumes about their leadership and values
4. They realize that the Team is more important than the status quo of their position and what it’s “supposed” to look like.

I respect leaders that live and lead with concern for the team and the organization. I respect leaders who are less concerned about title, status, rewards and perks of the title and more concerned with the mission. I really respect leaders who are willing to make statements about what they believe with real actions……actions always tell you more about someone’s values than what they say or write.

Buy Google!

Well, today my 7 year old, William, turned 8. Wow, how time flies! He has been such a joy to have as a son and he has one of the sweetest spirits I know in anyone. This week has been and will be a big week for him. He got his purple belt in Karate last night, today his grandmother arrived to surprise him for his birthday, he turned 8 today, and Sunday I get the honor of baptizing him. What a week to remember! I’m proud of you William and am so happy that you are MY son! You are a gift from God.