It is more than a little difficult to believe that the year is almost over. It has been busier than I expected, and it has gone faster than I can imagine. It has been a year of successes and challenges, for me and others. What I’ve done, what I hope to do, and what I hope for everyone else.

Deliverables are powerful demons. When we don’t pay attention to them, they grow in size, ferocity and monstrosity. Particularly when deadlines start to loom. And while intense focus can be a productive mindset, it shouldn’t be a perpetual one. Slaying our subconscious workload beasts.

Getting organized is something we normally associate with new year’s resolutions. At the same time, it’s one of those important but not-urgent things that we often put off, well, forever. My efforts to tackle the things that are important to tackle, and to develop an on-going strategy to manage them.

On June 25 I once again participated in the Ride for the Breath of Life in support of cystic fibrosis. A very big thank you to everyone who sponsored me for helping to make a difference.

It’s easy to think, “Once I get through this next thing, I’ll have some time.” We often spend time living for the future. We also often resent the lack of time to focus on what we think is most important to us. But we have a choice.

We have an enormous tendency to confuse confidence with competence. We want someone who can do the work, but we tend to trust the person that looks the part. Doing so is inherently dangerous, and points to some significant biases we may not even recognize.

Schedules are a source of tyranny. They often force us to produce, even when we don’t want to. Leadership and success isn’t always about endurance and sheer bloody-mindedness, though. Listen to the cues along the way.

Risk is an interesting topic. We think we are supposed to manage it. But all too often, risk manages us. A better question to ask is, “How well are we positioned to cope with what could happen?” Why coping is more than just getting by.

Sooner or later, it all devolves to work. Success is about showing up and doing the best possible work we can. Much of the role of purpose is helping us to adapt that mindset. Which means it’s all a bit of a mind game. But it’s a really important mind game.

Accountability is a complex and difficult thing. We expect it of others, but reserve wiggle room for ourselves. Especially when we are making promises to our selves. The need to set ourselves up for success, rather than leaving the door open for failure.