Friday
Mar042011
Discipline In The Good Times
Friday, March 4, 2011 at 2:56AM
I'm sick.
Really sick - as in I have a cold for perhaps the first time in 2-3 years (not bad with 2 kids in the house)
and like most guys - I don't do well sick - give me pain, but leave off the misery of congestion and poor sleep.
And it reminded me this morning that when you are sick you realize how much you take health for granted - and how when times are good - you just coast along and assume they will always be that way.
And it got back to a conversation I had with a friend over dinner Wednesday night - when things are bad and there is seemingly no way out - it is very hard to motivate people to do their best work - as there may be no real light at the end of the tunnel (or another train coming at you). It is when things are at their best when you need to show discipline in your business. Discipline in cash burn, in hiring, in your work - because you never know when you will wake up one morning with that sore throat.
Really sick - as in I have a cold for perhaps the first time in 2-3 years (not bad with 2 kids in the house)
and like most guys - I don't do well sick - give me pain, but leave off the misery of congestion and poor sleep.
And it reminded me this morning that when you are sick you realize how much you take health for granted - and how when times are good - you just coast along and assume they will always be that way.
And it got back to a conversation I had with a friend over dinner Wednesday night - when things are bad and there is seemingly no way out - it is very hard to motivate people to do their best work - as there may be no real light at the end of the tunnel (or another train coming at you). It is when things are at their best when you need to show discipline in your business. Discipline in cash burn, in hiring, in your work - because you never know when you will wake up one morning with that sore throat.
Reader Comments (1)
Hope you recoup rapidly Harry. Not sure it's related but since I got pudgy this year I've never gotten ill. When I was lean (down to 220 at 6'7") I used to get a cold every month or two. Colds are a great time for me to get work done, minus the clear thought part.
I have a favor to ask, and you may be able to point me in the right direction. A former coworker and good friend is seeking internships at financial houses in NYC this summer. He's in quant school (Carnegie Melon has a split program) and doing great. I'll email you his resume in case you know of a good intro for him.