About the author: Wendi Hope King
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www.wqpmag.com
Editorial
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Recently, I had a wonderful adventure—some of you may already have heard this. I rode a horse to the top of a mountain. Those of you who know me well know that this was a brave thing for me to do. Not that I am squeamish, but rather I tend to enjoy vacations that are relaxing as opposed to thrill seeking.
In all fairness, I actually have been on a horse before—when I was eight. However, any memories and experience have long been filed away. So, being the seasoned rider that I am, I decided to take a chance and “get back up on the horse.” This was an unguided tour, which meant it was me, my husband, two horses and no instructions for riding on the very steep trail. It is safe to say that I was very nervous at first. But as I rode, I got the feel for my horse, Booker, and the trail we were on. I became better with each step. As we approached the peak, the valley below emerged like a dream and the indescribable stillness made me realize how crazy life can become.
Why do I bring this up? Really there are two reasons—taking time out and being adventurous. In my position, I have the opportunity to observe and talk to many dealers and suppliers in our industry. One common factor I run into is that people are too busy. Too busy for work and too busy for family. At the Water Quality Association’s Annual Convention in March, several of you spoke with me about needing to better balance work, family and personal time. This got me thinking that taking time to sit back for a moment and enjoy what you have created, spend time with family and friends, participate in a hobby or whatever else you enjoy doing can help you become even better at what you do by showing you what it is you are working for.
Which brings me to my other thought: We need to be open to adventures and not lose that entrepreneurial spirit that founded this industry. We invest a lot of ourselves in our businesses; sometimes everything. It is easy to stay along the safe path and walk up that mountain yourself and maybe be able to make it some of the way to your dreams. However, less steady roads will cross our paths such as opportunities to purchase or begin new dealerships or even be acquired by another company, and sometimes a little thrill seeking can bring your business the jump it needs. I saw so many old friends at the WQA show that were taking chances in their established businesses and in developing new ones. Don’t be afraid to take that adventurous path and put your life in the hands of your horse. You will get more comfortable with each step. Trust him, manage him and enjoy your dreams at the top.
Booker paused while I gazed at the mountains and tree tops that completely took my breath away. The silence enveloped the entire valley and forced my head to think more clearly. There I sat, no cares, worries, schedules, meetings ... just silence. I carry that moment with me everywhere I go and try to remind myself to stop and enjoy life for a while and welcome those adventures. It makes me able to be a better person and a better professional.
Best wishes in all of your endeavors,
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