Travels with Bonnie

April 2010

It is raining right now–raining hard. The wind is howling through the fireplace; and if I didn't know better I would think a window was open. I can almost feel the intensity here in my office. Needless to say, not many planes are flying this morning or they are delayed, awaiting the calm.

The last time the weather affected me and other travelers this way was—you guessed it—the February blizzard that forced the cancellation of the CMS/PN Dining Symposium.  What a week that was. But I must confess, I now see that storm—and this one and I suspect all future ones—a bit differently  because of a short book I read in the airport back in February as I awaited for yet another to-be-cancelled flight.  The book was Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein. I thought it would be a light read. Friends had told me I would like it because it focused on two of my favorite topics—dogs and car racing.  And since our National conference this summer is going to be in Indianapolis, home of the famed Indianapolis 500, it was an easy choice. As I sat in the airport reading and going nowhere—at least not on a plane—I learned so much and traveled miles and miles both personally and professionally. I'm smiling ear to ear just thinking about it and how much it taught me about this journey we call culture change.

The book is actually narrated by a dog named Enzo—a very learned dog indeed, whose owner, Denny is working his way up and around the car racing circuit.  Early in the book Enzo tells us that you need big far eyes for racing and in fact, any successful journey.

"In racing, they say that your car goes where your eyes go. The driver who cannot tear his eyes away from the wall as he spins out of control will meet that wall; the driver who looks down the track as he feels his tires break free will regain control of his vehicle ... Your car goes where your eyes go. Simply another way of saying that which you manifest is before you."

In culture change, as in life itself, each of us drives into a wall from time to time.  What I learned from Enzo is that the direction you travel—and whether you will hit that wall or turn that corner—depends on where your eyes are looking.  We Pioneers are looking ahead to the day when every elder lives a self-directed life, in whatever place they call home. That is where we need to focus our eyes.  And what about the proverbial wall or that sharp corner? You know the feeling. That is when we must follow Enzo's lead and peek around it and focus beyond it, because we need to move far away from the walls and corners, stand together and manifest our own destiny.

What about the rain in the title of the book? Well, we are told that a racer should not be afraid of the rain. In fact, the reader is given advice on how to embrace the rain on the journey: "Very gently. Like there are eggshells on your pedals.  And you don't want to break them. That's how you drive in the rain."

"Balance, anticipation, patience. These are all vital. Peripheral vision, seeing things you've never seen before."

In culture change, we need to have tremendous peripheral vision and be aware of everything going on around us, in our own businesses, locally and nationally. We each need to be mindful of all of our partners and support them and help them turn the corner. While we always want to move ahead with speed, (after all, there is so much to be done) there really are times when we need to slow down, and proceed gently. Will there be rain?  Of course.  But we can handle it.  As Enzo tells us, "racing is about discipline and intelligence, not about who has the heavier foot."

Why do I put so much weight in what a narrator—who happens to be a dog—says? Well, again to quote Enzo "I know it is true; racing doesn't lie." So, the next time you are in the rain or a storm, either literally or figuratively, I hope you will think of Enzo and Pioneer Network. Together, and only together, we will round that corner, weather the rain, and continue the journey.  

And, yes, I will be going down to Indianapolis a day early and visiting the race track. Anyone want to join me? The more the merrier; think about it as you make your travel plans for the conference. And so, ladies and gentlemen, start your engines, keep your eyes on the prize and hang on for a wonderful ride. 

See you in Indy for our Meeting at the Crossroads!


Click below to read Bonnie' s past blogs:
December 2008
February 2009
March 2009
July 2009
December 2009