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Who Cares What Happened Ten Years Ago?

Read (0) / Post Comments | Posted: Thursday, April 23, 2009
“On April 23, 1999 a downslope windstorm along the western side of the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah produced wind gusts to 113 mph at valley elevations.  Twenty semi tractor trailer trucks were blown over on I-15, a construction crane collapsed, damage to hangars and aircraft was reported at the Brigham City airport, numerous power lines were downed, and there was widespread damage to roofs, trees and small structures throughout Davis, Weber, and eastern Box Elder counties.  Damage to residential property was estimated at $3-5 million.” – National Weather Service.

If you read that fairly random Internet search result from an event that happened ten years ago, even with the significant impact of money and damage to the surrounding areas, it’s pretty easy to walk away feeling like it doesn’t have a lot of consequence to your life today…unless, of course, you lived in the Wasatch Mountains in the Northern part of Utah ten years ago.  And, even then, it might be a stretch to remember the exact details of everything that happened and, thus, the story would potentially lose some of its emotional luster.

So why am I recalling something that happened ten years ago that you probably never heard of, and never will hear about again?  Because if something could impact lives and create nearly $5 million in damage only ten years ago, and you have no recollection of it…not on your “radar” at all…how important do your decisions become regarding your business on this side of the Earth, tucked away in your city or town, hidden from view of the world?

I don’t say this to be mean or condescending.  But I do it to bring up three important points about the choices you make:

1. Stop being overanalytical about stuff...and make a decision already.  In ten years, nobody else may care about what you did or the decisions you make, so gain some perspective about the ideas you have and the importance they play in the cycle of life.  That’s right…you are only so important.  Don’t overanalyze and become paralyzed.  Do something.

2. Don’t "under think" things either.  It’s good to move - but have some discernment.  When you get down to it, ask yourself this: Who are you making decisions for?  For yourself?  To please other people?  To be remembered in someone’s blog ten years from now?  Consider what you do today and if it will mean something in the long run or not.  And then act accordingly.  Just think?  Ten years from now your colossal mistake could be smoothed out by time.

3. Understand the consequences whether you do something now or later.  Remember, though, we are talking about decisions today.  Ten years hasn’t really passed, has it?  So perhaps, even though you may not make headlines or even be mentioned ten years from now, the fact of the matter is what you do today will impact tomorrow and the next day…and so on and so forth.  The sole determination of the importance of decisions isn’t time - instead, it is integrity, character and results.  And that (and how you handle it), ten years time or not, will be remembered by you, your friends, and your customers.



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