Three for Thursday – Launch!

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Three For Thursday is a series of interviews conducted by Epicoach, LLC CEO, Bob Fleshner, with people in all walks of life. Interviewees share three things that have been critical in guiding them in their everyday lives and then leave readers with “one for the road,” which is an overarching thought tying their Three For Thursday together.

To get things started, here are my Three for Thursday: 1. The Beatles; 2. Family; and 3. Yoga, in no particular order.

The Beatles
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I go through Beatles’ obsession phases. They make me smile. How many of you watched the Carpool Karaoke with Paul McCartney? If not, it’s worth a watch, but be prepared to get sentimental.  Here’s the thing about The Beatles… in addition to loving their music, I’ve learned so much by reading about and studying their careers. They didn’t just come out of nowhere. Their “luck” was the residue of hard work. Really hard work. Long hours playing in clubs, some in rough neighborhoods in Hamburg. And teamwork. They curbed each other’s worst instincts, and accentuated the positives in each other. And, finally, they knew when to hire good people and get the heck out of the way. Brian Epstein was a wonderful manager, and George Martin was arguably the best producer of his time. The Beatles let them do their thing without interference.

Family
You get to pick your friends, but not your family. For some it’s a blessing, for others a curse. For me, it’s been a huge blessing. If I told anyone in my immediate family, or my sister’s family, that I needed help, they’d all ask, “when, where and what should I bring?” Conspicuously missing from their question would be “why.” In fact, the first year I was directing the American Odyssey Relay, I needed volunteers to be in a church parking lot in the middle of nowhere, from around 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on a cold Spring night. My sister and her husband took blankets and flashlights and manned the transition area without complaint. I’ve learned from this experience as well as many others to be both fiercely protective of and incredibly grateful for my relationships with my family. They are the gold standard against which I measure all other relationships.

Yoga
On my 60th birthday, I had difficulty getting out of bed because my back and legs were so stiff. Happily, that is no longer the case. and I can thank my yoga practice for that. Freedom of movement is a big deal, but not the only thing I’ve gotten from yoga. Yoga has also taught me to be more patient, and how to slow down. I practice on my own, usually around sunset, in a quiet and peaceful room. My wife will tell you that, every time I finish, I say that I feel great. Equally as important, I follow my wonderful instructor’s entreaty to “take your practice off the mat.” Meaning, I try to be less reactive and generally more thoughtful about what I say and do.  Not to be too over-the-top about it, but it’s been a life-altering experience for me.

That’s my Three For Thursday. And, to pull it all together, here’s my “One For The Road,” that emanates from my Three For Thursday: Living life to the fullest and getting the most out of every day does not mean barreling ahead at 90 MPH in each moment. Sometimes it’s important to reflect and breathe deeply. 

How About You?
What are your Three For Thursday? I’m looking for people who are willing to share their life wisdom.  Please email me at bob@epi.coach if you’d like to be interviewed for a future Three For Thursday blog.

At Epicoach we don’t claim to have all the answers. In fact, we believe that you possess all of the answers you need to succeed. Our goal is to help you unlock those answers and reach your potential. We believe in the collective wisdom of our clients and potential clients. Our job is to shape that wisdom in a way that leads to success. Three For Thursday is part of that process. The more insight we can gain and share with our audience, the better it is for everyone! 

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