I am a firm believer that we come into this world with an empty toolbox. As we walk along our path, we find tools along the way. Sometimes the tools that we find are not useful immediately but one will always find a use for it down the road. I always like to relate this to a TV series that I used to watch during my childhood called “McGyver”. It was about this very smart agent that collected several items during the episode and at the end he would save the day with a clever “gadget solution” made out of all the items he had collected.
One useful tool
I have a very good friend and she has become an inspiration for me because of her fun personality and warm heart. But what amazes me the most and what I took as a personal mission to incorporate into my toolbox, is that every time I had to make a decision, I would hesitate and she would say, “Richi, life is now” and a quick decision was made. It didn’t mean that it was always the correct decision, but she would always have the best attitude towards her decision. Back then, almost all decisions had to do with whether we should go out and have fun or if we should take a trip even if the budget was tight. Decisions would be more about life issues, but she would approach them with the same outgoing attitude. Now she is enjoying her work and has an amazing family that makes her laugh and she loves every moment.
It applies to everything
If we relate this “tool” to professional life, we realize that we cannot afford to lose time debating internally to make a decision. Our moment in life is now and we must take full responsibility of our decisions and the knowledge that comes from it. In reaching out to someone to acknowledge his/her work, to say thanks or to explain to a teammate how important he/she is to us, or to teach a young one to overcome challenges, or to ask for help. The most important lesson: to share our feelings with our loved ones. Do not leave it for another time; you may not have that moment or opportunity anymore. Life is full of gifts and we must react to them with passion and the full belief that we came into this world to live life to the fullest, to make things happen and learn from the outcome. This knowledge is a new addition to the toolbox. We and the people around us will benefit when we use our tools to come out with an amazingly clever solution the McGyver way. Cheers!
