Taking the High Road

As we follow our path in life, we should strive to walk the High road.   Breath the excellent air, have a good thought, or two.  And help those who are going with you and those who you meet along the way.  Feel good, for you are on an enjoyable journey.

At the same time, ensure you are walking your path to the destination where you want to arrive.  Even as we enjoy our travels into our future, some have not yet realized that people can have a path like the one you are taking.  They are working for the dreams of others.  These workers find themselves knee-deep in minutia.

Minutia is all the little things that happen along the way. The things that really don’t matter that much, and yet take up much of your time. If not careful, you can lose yourself with the minutia as it metaphorically buries you. Once that happens you can’t even see the light of day.

The temptation of minutia is with us always. We need to stay on the high road. In the second world war Gen. MacArthur showed us a way to do this. Rather than battling the enemy from island to island across the Pacific, he hopped over many islands. He attacked strategic spots that caused the islands he had passed to be cut off from their headquarters and supply chains. This tactic saved many lives on both sides and help the conflict end sooner.

Hopefully, the idea of working one major project to another without getting bogged down in politics, negativism or other problems could help you succeed in your endeavors. I have talked about the Eisenhower model before, and this simple method of figuring out what is important and urgent or not important or urgent can help you to better understand how important or urgent everything else that comes across your desk is. Work hard on the urgent and important items, and delegate those that are less critical.

I wish you good travels on the high road.

Thank you for being with me today. I hope to be with you again tomorrow.

Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. View all posts by Mike Balof