The Giving Tree
By Shel Silverstein
(Classic)
A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree which gives to him without thought of return.

Just the other night I teared up reading this classic story to my kids as they crawled over me.  There was something that just moved me inside.  I guess knowing that my kids were at the age of climbing up the tree, swinging from the branches and enjoying life in its purest form.

It’s hard to think of them growing up, moving on and not needing us all the time.  I feel like I’m a little kid experiencing an emotion for the first time.  I’ll try to soak up these moments because I know they go fast.

Thanks Uncle Shelby.

BTW, Did you know Shel Silverstein wrote the Johnny Cash hit A Boy Named Sue? Impressive.

We sure had fun just look at Piper’s smile.  And yes I grew out the beard just for a day like this.

“For things to change, somebody somewhere has to start acting differently.”

Per the Heath brothers (authors of Switch), every person has an emotional side (the elephant) and a rational side (the rider) and to effectively change you have to reach both.  Not only that but you’ve got to clear the way (shape the path) for change to happen.  Below are some notes/frameworks around each key constituent.   This is really just a summary for those that have read the book.  It’s (nearly) impossible to fully grasp each item without reading the book for the stories.

Direct the Rider

• Follow the bright spots
• Script the critical moves (specific behaviors)
• Point to the destinations (what are you doing and why it’s worth it)

Our rider holds the reins and seems to be the leader but the rider does not really have the power to change the elephant.  You just have to think about how many resolutions you’ve made and failed to complete/follow through … it’s not because you don’t want to … it’s because the darn elephant!!!

Motivate the Elephant

• Find the feeling
• Shrink the change
• Grow your people

Remember our elephant is lazy and skittish.  Seeking short-term benefits vs short-term sacrifices.  Ain’t that the truth!  I’m going to have another piece of fudge right now … seriously.

Shape the Path

• Tweak the environment
• Build habits
• Rally the herd

Fail to plan and you plan to fail.  If you don’t have a plan … a path … a strategy then it’s over.

This book really resonated with me on a personal level.  There are many things I’d like to change about myself and this really helped me better understand why sometimes I fail to act differently.   It also resonated with me as it relates to building businesses and organizations.

I highly recommend picking up this book.

And if you’re having trouble staying motivated online check out http://shutupandgettowork.com/shutupandgettowork.php.  Make it your default homepage.  Seriously.

On a side note, I’ve downloaded  The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, a recommended reading from Switch and the source behind the elephant/rider analogy.

The thieves did not steal the car seat or my work out clothes that were in the back.  I guess I did good of a job securing the car seat, and obviously when they saw my workout bag they knew to get out of the neighborhood quickly.

The only thing they took was my Android car charger and a 3 year old used LG Chocolate cell phone I bought off ebay for my ‘simple life’ test.   The joke?  The phone doesn’t work.  I had it in my car because I was going to mail it back to the seller on Monday.  Classic.  You might be wondering where the charger to the LG phone was?  It was left on the driver side seat (see picture blow).  Pretty funny.

So we’re out $30 for the charger, $30 for the phone and $200 for the window.  Not the best way to spend $260 during the holidays.  I would have rather given the dude(s) the cash but oh well.

Oh yea, they also left my CU visor.  They’ll be kicking themselves for not stealing it after CU wins the Pac 12 next year.  Go Buffs!

Here’s a glimpse at the front covers of 2004 and 2008.  Go to the Christmas Cards page to view all of them.