The Day I Met Stedman Graham

On the first day of the Employers of Excellence Conference in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to introduce myself to Stedman Graham. It was a moment I will most likely never forget and one he will most likely choose not to remember. The chance encounter, the opportunity to hear him speak and the information provided in his presentation have already influenced the direction of my life and I am looking forward to reading his book, "You Can Make it Happen: A Nine-Step Plan for Success." Our meeting was one of those "duh" moments in my life. When Mr. Graham walked in the Green Valley Ranch Resort convention hall, he immediately struck my with his presence. He is a handsome, tall man with an air about him that is quite striking, but I did not place him. I just knew he looked familiar. He was talking to several other people so I didn't approach him, but when I entered the ballroom he was right behind me and alone. I introduced myself and extended my hand. He shook my hand and told me his name. I told him that he looked familiar and I asked him if he was local. He said, no, I'm from Chicago." I welcomed him and we were interrupted so I excused myself and started walking toward my table. Then it hit, all the thoughts rushing in at once, Stedman Graham, Oprah Winfrey, famous man, best selling author, keynote speaker, picture in the brochure, the conference booklet, he was the one I was there to see. Finally, I made the connection, but unfortunately it was too late to save myself from embarrassment. What can I say, among his other attributes, he is patient and gracious. Two things I will continue to work on.
It was listening to Mr. Graham that inspired me to focus on Life Balance and Integration in this Blog. The times we live in place a lot of demands on all of us and we are obligated to play many roles on a daily basis. Some of those we enjoy and some of them we don't. They all present there own challenges regardless of our feelings about them and are there are numerous yardsticks for measuring our success in each one of them. Some of the definitions of success are imposed on us from without and others are self-made. Some are good and some are bad. Some are accurate and some are inaccurate. Some we can change and some we can't. I'm still working on my definition of success and I am finding that it is a little like a bar graph that shows I'm succeeding in some areas and way behind in others. The graph changes daily and is subject to momentary changes in my feelings.
My father told me not to take life too seriously because no one gets out alive anyway. So I think I am succeeding when I don't take myself too seriously. I also believe that accepting Jesus Christ as my savior says I'm succeeding too since that means I've conquered death and I have eternal life, I guess I do get out alive. Other than that, I go back to my bar graph and find that success is a day by day proposition, often confused by fickle feelings, but be that as it may, I think the key to success is what Mr. Graham talked about which is creating direction for achievement, utilizing your gifts and talents, and integrating and balancing, your career, family, hobbies, health and spiritual life. Hence, those will all be areas for exploration for this blog. I hope I can share insights and information that will prove beneficial in each area.
God Bless

Introduction

Just completed three intense days at the Employers of National Conference and left feeling a little overwhelmed. Typical of these types of conferences, there was a tremendous amount of energy surrounding the event and a incomprehensible amount of information presented. The experience was exhausting and invigorating at the same time. It truly was a class act put on by HR.com at the Green Valley Ranch Resort in Henderson, NV, another class act. As a personnel professional with two related Master's Degrees and over twenty-five years of experience in the field, I am amazed at how little I know, how fast our world is changing and how much is there is to learn. I hope that I never cease to have the desire to learn.
It was the information presented and the thoughts in me that were generated by my attendance that encouraged me to start a blog. Like many others, I have a number of misgivings about this process, but as an aspiring author, an aging baby boomer at a cross roads in my career, I believe, like the presenters at the conference that I have a lot to share.
The intention of this blog is to share my ideas and those of others. To write from the perspective of things that I have learned in my life and to include those things that are career based along with those relating to my interests, hobbies, and faith. Thus, I have chosen the title for this spot as Life Style Integration and Balance. I look forward to hearing from you and hope that when you take the time to read what is presented that your time will be well spent and you will benefit from the experience.
May God richly bless you.
Bob