ACROSS THE BOARD

Knowing when to recharge

Ga blessing. I know I’m preaching to the choir when I say that we are in good business times. Demand is high, margins are great, and things are returning to “normal.”

Although I wish our business ran a direct parallel to lumber prices, we have nothing to complain about. Recent investments in new products, services and offerings have our entire team working at 100%. On top of it, next year celebrates our 100th year of service to this industry, which also has us busy planning an ama ing offering of e citing new things to come!

The old saying “Make hay when the sun is shining” is one that I try to live by. That said, during bad times I can’t remember working less. It’s a blessing and curse being someone who defines themselves, and my obligation to my family and team, by how much I work. It’s something that I’ve always been proud of that it s rare to find someone who will outwork me—clearly a sign that I’m overcompensating for a lack of countless other personality traits!

This year, we had planned a family bucket list trip—almost three weeks traveling with the RV. Heading northeast through Nevada into the high country of Colorado to show them where each season some friends and I call home for elk season. Then, it was north into Yellowstone for a week, Zion, Utah, then slowly home. But, I pulled the plug on the trip with as busy as we are and the thought of being in areas with no cell service or WiFi. I blamed it on a lot of things like the kids being too young or us having just upgraded our RV and not fully road-tested it, but in reality, I felt guilty about leaving when we were so busy.

Fast forward and some friends, on the spur of the moment, invited us to join them on a week-long camping trip to the ierras of alifornia. y first inclination was to refuse, but after my wife and entire team emphatically said, “Go!” I agreed. As I write, we’re on day 5 of 8 and I’m looking at towering pines and a beautiful lake surrounded by spectacular mountains. We are completely unplugged—no cellular, no WiFi, no electricity, no water other than what we brought with us. The kids are somewhere—acting like kids, doing the things kids do once they escape the city and modern conveniences.

Today, we took an excursion to a nearby mining ghost town that was founded in the late 1800s and preserved somewhat as a state resource. Walking around, we learned that at one time over 8,000 people called this place home and tried to better their future. I looked around with special attention to the construction of buildings, fi tures and the tools they needed to test their fortunes. Heavy timbers still stood, as did the sawmill that supplied it all. Mine shafts were still shored up and buildings still stood. As I walked through Main Street, it was easy to imagine the real life Tombstone in action in those days—the hard work, the risk, the challenge, the disappointment all in an attempt for a better life for their families.

As I sit here, I’m exhausted. Camping is not easy and camping off grid with two small kids is not rela ing. ut, there is something in me that is fully recharged. The simplicity of this life quiets the mind and the soul and has me recentered and focused on the things that matter most in life. The sounds of nature remind me that life moves on regardless of what we deem as important in a given day. I went up the road to get a signal certain that there was a crisis that needed my attention and all I saw was correspondence of my team working like a well-oiled machine acting on the words, “Don’t worry, we’ve got this.” My kids just ran through camp with about six other kids in tow. There were skinned knees, more dirt than clothes should be able to absorb, and nothing but laughs and smiles.

Looking back now, I needed to recharge and probably need to more often. Not just for me, but for my kids and my team as it helps me get closer to being the best me. I imagine all of you are in the same spot following the run our industry has had but I assure you, it will still be there when you return. Get out there, recharge, and be reminded of what we’re all fighting for

Wishing you all a wonderful summer full of success at work, and the time to reflect on what that success is for.

Patrick S. Adams

Publisher/President padams@526mediagroup.com