Steven A. Brigance

A New Earth ~ Eckhart Tolle Abandon Ship ~ Richard Newcomb Albatross ~ Debra Scaling-Kiley Alive ~ Piers Paul Read The Boys of Everest ~ Clint Willis Crazy for the Storm ~ Norman Ollestad High Altitude Leadership ~ Chris Warner, Don Schmincke Into the Wild ~ Jon Krakauer Into Thin Air ~ Jon Krakauer In Harm’s Way ~ Doug Stanton Not Without Hope ~ Nick Schuyler The Promise of Rest ~ Reynolds Price Philippians ~ “The Apostle Paul” Savage Summit ~ Jennifer Jordan Seaworthy ~ TR Pearson Simple Courage ~ Frank Delaney Ten Degrees of Reckoning ~ Hester Rumberg Touching the Void ~ Joe Simpson The White Cascade ~ Gary Krist

Field Guide to the North American Bird~Adam Blank & Lauren Blank

Table of ContentsChapter 1: The NestChapter 2: Birdus ClassicusChapter 3: Birds for the ChicksChapter 4: Bird PlumageChapter 5: Office BirdsChapter 6: Party BirdsChapter 7: Birds for the OutdoorsmanChapter 8: Birds of PreyChapter 9: Mechanical BirdsChapter 10: Birds of the WorldChapter 11: Rejected Birds

Afflatus

A divine imparting of knowledge or power; inspiration – not today, at least not from me.

Failure when “in extremis” is too often due to obsessing about how you got “in extremis” in the first place.

“Forgetting what is behind me and reaching out for what lies ahead, I press toward the goal to win the prize [of life].”

~Philippians 3:13-14

Focus on the present (and sparingly on the future) – your purpose for being and for doing

Align your doing with your purpose Find your compelling saga Focus, on average, at least 80% of your

time on the present; no more than 15% on the future and 5% or less on the past

Forget those things that are behind you. Mistakes “yours and others” Wrongs/Injuries “to you, by you” Sorrows Successes “especially yours” Garden Party – “if all I sang were

memories, I’d rather drive a truck.” ~ Ricky Nelson

Glory Days – “all he kept talking about was glory days well they’ll pass you by.” ~ Bruce Springsteen

Be leaders Be High Altitude Leaders:

Do not fear failure or professional death Think “we” not me Don’t be seduced by tools Have humility Seek win-win partnerships Have the courage of your convictions Be comfortable with discomfort Seek luck – both skill-based luck & “pure” luck Persevere on your journey by having a “compelling

personal saga,” passion, perseverance and a clear vision of who you are and what is dearest to you

John Wooden – “Be quick but not in a hurry”

Plan but not to much Appreciate the unexpected Have clearly defined goals – near-term

and lifetime – that propel you toward the end you want

Never have a “goalless” day

“And now, I will say it again, rejoice… be gentle toward all people… have no anxiety or fear… find peace beyond your understanding… my friends, all that is true, all that is good, all that is just and pure, all that is loveable and gracious, whatever is excellent and admirable, fill all your thoughts with these things… learn[ed] to be content – to find resources in [yourself] whatever [your] circumstances… [you] have strength for anything.”

~Philippians 4:4-8, 11-13

“Rejoice” – appreciate; enjoy, get high on In your circumstances In spite of your circumstances Irrespective of your circumstances

“Gentle” – sensitive, empathetic, gracious, kind, merciful (not mild, not polite, moderate or slow; neither complaisant nor bland)

With those you should be gentle toward With those you have every reason to be

tough With those you ignore

It’s unproductive There is a better alternative

Eckhart Tolle Nonattached, nonresistant, nonjudgmental What these terms don’t mean – passive,

passionless, disinterested, aloof What they do mean – freed from thoughts of

ownership; discrete, emancipated, thick-skinned Circle of concern, vs. circle of influence (Covey) Achieve a peace about yourself, others and your

circumstances “Be a passerby” (Gnostic Gospel of

Thomas)

Never compromise the truth Put aside the negative Follow the good examples of others –

have some everyday heroes Be a good example yourself – be an

everyday hero to others Remember and live your MVP’s whatever

you do and wherever you are – MVP’s are constrained neither by time nor place

Contentment = peace Contentment ≠ “fat, dumb & happy”; “pleased as

punch”; smug or “tickled pink” – does not mean fearless

Find resources within yourself whatever the circumstances

Recognize you have strength for any worthy challenge

Want the right things; The Talmud – definition of wealth & poverty is based not on what you have, but what you don’t have and still want

Beware of your “economies” – in everything you do, be magnanimous (“more you give, the more you get”; “pay it forward” without expectations)

Perseverance Focus on the Higher Purpose Sacrifice/Unselfishness

“No Greater Gift…”

“Real life is found only in the present. If people tell you you should live your life preparing for the future, do not believe them. We live in this life and we know this life only, and therefore all of our efforts should be directed toward the improvement of this life. Not your life in general but every hour of this life should be lived in the best way you know how.”

~Leo Tolstoy

“Whatever you are, be a good one.

~Abraham Lincoln

I see you in the clouds, I feel you in my heart

I promise to continue having adventuresI promise to fill my life with loveI promise to never compromise what is dear

to me

~ Judith Sleavin, from her poem to her dead husband & children as quoted in

Ten Degrees of Reckoning