This is that time of year when the lights shine bright. One of our family traditions is to set up a display of the Rudolph figurines. Last year we finally added Bumble to the set when a friend of mine asked why we didn’t have him as well. Do you know the words for the song about that famous reindeer?
A week ago we announced the launch of our mentorship program, which will begin on March 21, 2021. We are thankful for who have signed up to mentor others in our industry for success. We hope others will do so as well.
The program has led to much discussion at the Breistol household regarding our mentors. Last week, we were speaking about an incident that happened at a company where someone did not think ahead to what might happen if he chose a particular course of action. The construction manager’s choice ultimately caused unnecessary delays and cost. That prompted my husband to speak to one of his first field roles, working for Jim Crawford, Crawford Construction. Jim would constantly remind him to “look beyond your nose”. Now, many years later and still building on his career in his present role of COO for a Developer, John fondly looks back at those words. Though he once acutely disliked the phrase, he now sees in them a forward-looking vision that helped shape his career.
Do senior professionals in the industry have sayings you don’t like to hear? Perhaps you should start looking beyond the feeling of how, how often, and when they are said, and instead take notice of their actual meaning. It may be their way of giving you an indirect mentoring gift that could last a lifetime and set you apart from others,
Rudolph went through a lot of trouble for being different, yet kept a pure heart to help and learn from those around him. We all know how the story ends. “Then how the reindeer loved him As they shouted out with glee “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer You’ll go down in history”
You may not go down in official history books, but you will be recognized as someone whom others want to work with. Others will value your wisdom because “you look beyond your nose.”
May you and your loved ones have a safe, happy and healthy holiday season filled with joy and gratitude for your blessings, even in the midst of a difficult time.
