"Summer has only one redeeming virtue - it proceeds Fall, which is finally here." -- Gregg EasterbrookI was recently walking my 6 year old son to school when we started to talk about the changing seasons. With Fall now officially upon us, I guess it has been a topic of recent conversation in his first grade classroom. So I asked him as we walked down a wind swept sidewalk with just a hint of multi-colored leaves tumbling at our feet: what's your favorite season?Without hesitation, despite having a birthday in November and using every free moment to talk about his fantasy football team (we have a family league), my son enthusiastically replied "Summer is my favorite." He loves going to the beach, swimming in the ocean, the warm sun and having lots of free time away from school (in that order). And then he asked me what my favorite was -- and without hesitation, I said Fall.Fall has always been my favorite time of year. It's kind of a unique time when you can be coming down the home stretch in some respects and you can be experiencing new beginnings. Fall is time to break out the sweaters. Only in Fall are there days when you can be wearing a sweatshirt and you can still get away with wearing shorts and flip flops (at least where I live). It's a time for school buses, fresh blacktop, new shoes, new clothes and new pencils and erasers -- and all of the unique smells that go along with those that remind you of what it was like to be a carefree 6 year old. It's also a time to reflect a bit on the past year, look ahead to the coming year, and start to develop your plan (and in the corporate world, maybe your budget) for how things are going to be different or better in the months to come. Fall is definitely not a time to relax -- it is a time to be active. Time to get those last rounds of golf in, toss a ball around, go on a long bike ride, take the family apple picking or jump into a pile of leaves. In most businesses, Fall is go time as you try to make your annual sales number before the year end holidays arrive to distract people (or it is time to get ready for the holiday rush). Best of all (for me at least), Fall means the winter that is summer sports season has ended. Yes, Friends of Dave, thankfully football season is finally upon us. I know that with summer over, kids back to school and a calendar full of their activities, and all of things you have going on at work, Fall is definitely back to business. But one day over the coming weeks, when you wake up to a crisp morning, deep blue sky and leaves various shades of red, orange, yellow and tan, take a quiet moment for yourself to look around and absorb it. Whether it's your favorite season or not, you have to admit Fall is a pretty amazing time.It's also time to get smarter, and read up on all of the things you put off over the summer. I took it easy on you over the break, but school is back in session -- and I promise that this issue does not disappoint. So while you are at a kid's soccer game, or watching the late football game, or just quietly having a cup of coffee, scan the headlines and dig in. You'll see it's a pretty solid issue, with more good stuff definitely to come.Enjoy your first Fall weekend everyone. And just think, pretty soon the Christmas decorations will be going up in your favorite local retail establishment. Oh joy.XOXODave
Share this post
Friends of Dave #39: Sweater Weather
Share this post
"Summer has only one redeeming virtue - it proceeds Fall, which is finally here." -- Gregg EasterbrookI was recently walking my 6 year old son to school when we started to talk about the changing seasons. With Fall now officially upon us, I guess it has been a topic of recent conversation in his first grade classroom. So I asked him as we walked down a wind swept sidewalk with just a hint of multi-colored leaves tumbling at our feet: what's your favorite season?Without hesitation, despite having a birthday in November and using every free moment to talk about his fantasy football team (we have a family league), my son enthusiastically replied "Summer is my favorite." He loves going to the beach, swimming in the ocean, the warm sun and having lots of free time away from school (in that order). And then he asked me what my favorite was -- and without hesitation, I said Fall.Fall has always been my favorite time of year. It's kind of a unique time when you can be coming down the home stretch in some respects and you can be experiencing new beginnings. Fall is time to break out the sweaters. Only in Fall are there days when you can be wearing a sweatshirt and you can still get away with wearing shorts and flip flops (at least where I live). It's a time for school buses, fresh blacktop, new shoes, new clothes and new pencils and erasers -- and all of the unique smells that go along with those that remind you of what it was like to be a carefree 6 year old. It's also a time to reflect a bit on the past year, look ahead to the coming year, and start to develop your plan (and in the corporate world, maybe your budget) for how things are going to be different or better in the months to come. Fall is definitely not a time to relax -- it is a time to be active. Time to get those last rounds of golf in, toss a ball around, go on a long bike ride, take the family apple picking or jump into a pile of leaves. In most businesses, Fall is go time as you try to make your annual sales number before the year end holidays arrive to distract people (or it is time to get ready for the holiday rush). Best of all (for me at least), Fall means the winter that is summer sports season has ended. Yes, Friends of Dave, thankfully football season is finally upon us. I know that with summer over, kids back to school and a calendar full of their activities, and all of things you have going on at work, Fall is definitely back to business. But one day over the coming weeks, when you wake up to a crisp morning, deep blue sky and leaves various shades of red, orange, yellow and tan, take a quiet moment for yourself to look around and absorb it. Whether it's your favorite season or not, you have to admit Fall is a pretty amazing time.It's also time to get smarter, and read up on all of the things you put off over the summer. I took it easy on you over the break, but school is back in session -- and I promise that this issue does not disappoint. So while you are at a kid's soccer game, or watching the late football game, or just quietly having a cup of coffee, scan the headlines and dig in. You'll see it's a pretty solid issue, with more good stuff definitely to come.Enjoy your first Fall weekend everyone. And just think, pretty soon the Christmas decorations will be going up in your favorite local retail establishment. Oh joy.XOXODave