I am a Cincinnati native, and, therefore, a life-long Bengals football fan. The past few weeks have been really fun, rallying behind our underdogs and watching my city unite behind and believe in Joe Burrow and the young football team. It has also prompted a lot of “remember when” conversations with friends and family, taking me back to being a 10-year old. Some memories are more vivid than others. As I was walking down memory lane, one of the most vivid memories involved how disorganized I was and the lessons I learned from that phase of my life.
SUMMER EXPECTATIONS
The Summer of 1988 was poised to be EPIC:
- My first year ever having a Kings Island pass (for those not familiar, “KI” is the local amusement park that is a 10 year old’s dream)
- My parents were traveling for 2 weeks and leaving me with my best friend’s family for a majority of the time
- I was turning 10 on July 10th…and getting a brand new 10-SPEED bike
I had a lot to look forward to and not a care in the world when the summer began.
Then, my brain took an unannounced vacation and almost ruined my summer.
SUMMERTIME BLUES
That summer actually did include a lot of happy memories. But, the ones that stuck out the most were those involving me constantly losing things, forgetting things, and disappointing myself and others.
- I lost my Kings Island pass almost as quickly as I got it and the $40 replacement fee was not something my parents were willing to cover.
- I lost my brand new, white leather K-Swiss tennis shoes at swim practice and, again, my parents were less than happy with this news nor were they willing to trust me with another pair.
- I spent the summer being forgetful and disorganized; I could not keep track of my belongings, and I was not living up to my own expectations, nor those of my parents (or my teachers come fall).
As they say, it is our failures from which we learn the most important lessons, and I certainly learned the value of organization and its impact on self-confidence that year.
This was my first, first-hand experience with the negative consequences of being disorganized, unproductive, and not having a plan for how to manage my belongings nor my time. The lessons hit hard, but it also was one of the most significant phases of my childhood. And I truly believe these early lessons contributed to where I am today in life and in my career.
So, what advice would I give to my 10-year-old self looking back with my current day knowledge?
- Have a place for everything…and put everything in its place (no matter how much of a hurry you are in).
- Give valuable belongings and information the time and attention they deserve, and take full responsibility for how they are used and where they are kept (and tell someone you trust your plan, as a backup!)
- Be honest with others when you forget about a task or lose something…trying to hide the truth never works and open communication is always the best solution. (A few weeks of being grounded helped me understand this lesson!)
- Daily routines are a simple solution. From packing your (pool) bag to completing your (home) work, following the plan almost always ensures getting things done the right way and on time.
The problems of a 10-year-old might seem insignificant to us now, as adults and business owners, but I bet if you looked back you could identify some crucial moments in your life as a kid that provided valuable life lessons that still impact you to this day.
- What lessons did you learn as a 10-year-old, about productivity, organization, or something else you now apply in your work and adult life?
- What advice would you give your 10-year old self, if you had the chance?
- What advice would you give yourself today? After all, we are always a work in progress and always ripe for improvement and learning.
Oh, and, GO BENGALS!
Recent Comments