Changes in the whether

There are few things in life that will frustrate a crew chief on a professional racing team more than unexpected changes in the weather. Such changes can certainly create significant challenges in their quest for optimum performance.

Likewise, there are few things in life that frustrate us in our personal and professional relationships as much as unexpected “changes in the whether.” Never knowing for certain whether a person will do one thing or another definitely creates challenges in the performance of the relationships of our lives. It is unfortunate that we do not have the psychological technology to check a person’s “whether report” so that we can have a better understanding of how to approach that person on a day-to-day basis.

No one enjoys enduring the effects of double-mindedness. Have you been around people who are always changing their mind about things? Have you known the frustration that comes from people who are inconsistent in their beliefs and in their position on various issues?

If you were to analyze some of the more successful racing teams in our sport (or any business endeavor or enterprise), you would no doubt find a number of common key elements and characteristics. Among them would be the ability to remain focused, the ability to have a clear vision, and the ability to follow a plan.

What you will not likely find, however, is a spirit of double-mindedness or a sense of disloyalty to the team’s objectives or to the people who are called upon to fulfill those goals.

Are you a person of your word? Are you loyal to the people around you? And are you able to avoid double-mindedness in your life and in your relationships?

I certainly encourage you to remain loyal to the crucial causes of your life and to the people who surround you. I encourage you to remain true to your goals and vision, while you maintain a standard of diligence. And I encourage you to work hard to stay focused. Work hard to develop a vision. Work hard to follow the plan. And beware of changes in the whether.

Ken Owen
President Emeritus