“It’s broken.”

“It’s over.”

“I was wrong.”

“I’m afraid.”

When we get down to the simple truth it takes lots of courage, and few words, to say it.

When we tell the simple truth, especially to ourselves, we spring toward change.

I’m looking for one incredible person to head marketing and sales at my company. He or she will work closely with me at our branch office in Champaign, Illinois to plan and implement the marketing activities that will keep ATS soaring.

If you or someone you know gets what marketing in the Internet age is all about, and has a track record of exceptional results, send them here to pre-interview online.

This is a rare chance to get in on the 2nd floor of something big. Join me

Update: This senior marketing role appears to be filled. Thanks for helping to spread the word. I’m still hiring. We’re looking for a marketing coordinator to help round out our marketing department. Click here to pre-interview online.

I’m a driven person. I focus intensely on topping the next big mountain. Climbing is fraught with fears, stresses, and fatigue. Sometimes I think sitting in a clearing and not scaling anything at all would be really nice. At the same time, I’m learning that taking on big challenges is part of what makes me love life.

Sometimes I come over a ridge and realize I’ve checked all the mountains off my list. Big projects are complete, big goals are achieved. After catching my breath, I freak because I don’t know what big challenge to take on next. I’ve been to many of these uncomfortable clearings before, yet I always seem to pace and fret a while before I realize, “oh yeah, this is one those clearing situations”.

Once I stop pacing and start exploring I find multiple new paths. This turns the clearing into a crossroads between exciting alternatives. I pick one and I’m off to another challenging mountain.

There are a lot of mountains out there. If you miss having one in your sights, maybe it’s time to explore.

I just heard that Stephen Covey died. I never met him, and still his ideas had an impact on my life and work.

One of the ideas he wrote about is “begin with the end in mind“. He wrote about thinking about the day of your funeral and what you want to be true about your life. I have to believe he reached the end of his life on earth knowing his positive impact was enormous.

I want to be able to say that at the end of my life on earth. That means making choices today, taking deliberate action in the present, to move toward the desired result. I know of no more powerful principle than this.

On pursuing the outcome you want rather than simply avoiding the outcome you don’t want.