Last month, while in Memphis, I promised to write about rendezvous. Other stuff took priority and I am starting it now (I MIGHT add comments later or I might just let this post simmer):

My rendezvous have included:

- Sitting on the plane next to a director at Bush Brothers & Company who introduced me to a fabulous book entitled Triple Bottom Line (I’ll report on it later)

- I also had a rendezvous at a rib place called rendezvous (it just doenst’t get any better than that!)

- I had a rendezvous with my client, the Memphis VA. The leadership there is simple amazing (particularly their CEO). She is one of the best leaders I have had the pleasure of knowing.

Now, I am off to have a two rendezvous with nature at one of my favorite places - peaceful lake house in central Florida not far from Ocala National Forrest. I’ll be writing a lot, thinking, praying, reading, enjoying my family, and … who knows. When I come back, things will be different… this blog, my thinking, and my life. Happy New Year.. we’ll “talk” soon!

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund and co-founder of the Jeffrey Roth Cycling Foundation. Click here for more information on professional speaker Tim Richardson.

At the beginning of each year, I try to get away and plan for the coming year. This year I had the luxury to accomplish that personally and professional. I’ll write about the experience over the next few days. I started the process by closing my eyes, humming Kumba Ya, and “centering”. Okay, actually I just stood in front of a sliding glass window looking out at the Atlantic Ocean. I took three post it notes and wrote STOP, START, and CONTINUE . Then I asked my self the following questions:

- What do I need to STOP doing that has impeded my past success and accomplishments?

- What do I need to START doing that I am NOT doing that might help contribute to accomplishing my 2008 plan?

- What do I need to CONTINUE doing that worked in the last few years?

Then I just let the ideas flow writing one per Post-It until I could barely see out the window. Along the way, I pondered past years and themes “Back to the Basics, Do Less Better, and Eat Mor’ Chicken (just kidding about Do Less Better). Then I started thinking what does 2008 rhyme with - late, mate, date, bait, separate…nothing there. Then fate, gate, hate….Finally it came, GREAT. My theme is GREAT in 08. Here’s the acronym:

G - Getting Ready

R - Referrals

E - Excellence

A - Attitude

T - Talent management

Mor’ Chicken later…

I love it when “chance” meetings happen. Last week, my son and I were walking on the World’s Most Famous Beach (or as I called it in high school - the World’s Most Vagrant Beach) and I “accidentally ” bumped into a wonderful family from Israel. While the mothers English wasn’t perfect, we could easily communicate. Her daughters and their friend spoke excellent English and I greatly enjoyed our brief encounter. They were on vacation and of course I played tour guide giving them several suggestions of places to go and things to see that were unknown to them. As we were talking, a dolphin surfaced in the ocean. My son built a sandcastle at the oceans edge and the sun came out from hiding to add light to the darkness.

A few days before, my son had made a comment which I hadn’t thought about until I started writing this. He told me that he had been watching me on some recent outings and he noticed that I could just start talking to anyone. He further observed that soon this person and I would be communicating by email. I hadn’t noticed he was watching. It was a reminder to me of how important my actions are and how I have little eyes (five sets of eyes) observing, mimicking, and learning from my every move, whether positive or negative. Fortunately this was one of those rare positive moments which I was able to use to make a point about personality differences and strengths. I talked to him about making connections and how in life it’s not what you know but who you know. I talked about keeping a Rolodex of contacts and how to use those contacts. I told my son I was a connector - a person who could help bring people together. (BTW, a great book on the subject is Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point”). We have had some great conversations on this trip that I will remember forever - all because of a “chance” meeting.

I am writing this from frigid Florida - I mean it’s C-O-L-D! That hasn’t prevented daily walks on the beach and a New Years Day dip in the ocean with some friends.

Last night my wife and I spent the night at the beautiful Ponte Vedra Inn and Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.  I was the Director of Training here in 2001-2002 and was part of a team that helped the resort earn AAA’s pretigious Five Diamond Award. It’s obvious to see why they have earned their 6th Five Diamond Award in a row - they are good, really good at the basics. I developed a training program while at the resort called Back to the B.A.S.I.C.S. which I rarely train on any more, but the principles apply, I think, to most every aspect of life. Here they are:

- Better Teamwork

- Attitude

- Superior Service

- Innovation

- Consistency

- Stay in School

While I didn’t do any training while here, my wife and I spent the morning talking about our year and what we needed to do as a couple to make 2008 - GREAT! As I reflect back on our morning, much of what we discussed could fit into the categories above. We are working on our plan through January and are determined that we are going to enjoy the fruits for many months (and years) to come. We have discussed our finances, health, family relationships, vacations, our giving, future plans, how we communicate etc. All these topics are ones in which we’ll enjoy some rich rewards. I’ll be doing the same solo over the next few days and can share that too on this same Bat channel (for all you Batman and Robin fans)

As always, I’d love to hear about how you are starting your year and how you are going to keep on track. Here’s hoping you are off to a GREAT ‘08!