Twenty Years of Perspective: A Walk with Von Swalley
Von Swalley and I have been colleagues for over 20 years, first at Standard Register and now as part of my inner circle in the siY, LLC Network.
We have both been very fortunate to have had successful careers and much of this is due to the people who have helped us along the way. Von shared how much he appreciates all of the people who have touched his life, starting with his wife.
We took a 3-mile walk together for Dialogue Miles™ on Monon Rail Trail in Carmel, IN.
Insights from our Walk:
You Do Not Do It Alone
It is hard to find success on your own. It is important to have others who support and protect you, see your potential, and guide you. Be kind and understanding, and help others be successful.Embrace Change
Have a vision about the desired result of making a change and then map out a plan on what needs to happen and timing. Trust your instinct about the timing for making a change. Have the courage to pursue new opportunities. What seems like bad luck at the time, often turns out to be good luck when looking back.Stay Curious
Love learning and growing. Creativity and curiosity go hand in hand. Immerse yourself in your interests. Try to view things from as many different perspectives as possible. Don't be afraid to admit it when you do not know something. Ask others for help!Life Is Not Perfect
Therefore, we cannot expect people to be perfect, or jobs to be easy. When problems and challenges are expected, we can be adaptable when a change in plans is needed. What makes everyone special are the differences that make them unique.Be a Problem Solver
There is great value in being a problem solver, rather than perpetuating problems or sitting on the sidelines. Instead of being critical and complaining, use curiosity and creativity to be solution-oriented. Develop expertise in process analysis, technology designing, and calculating project financial justifications to develop problem-solving skills.
