I subscribe to several blogs one of which is Tim Sanders, author of Love Is The Killer App. In a recent blog Tim told a story about Jeremy Ring, an operations executive czar at Yahoo. He mentioned that Jeremy had a strong point of view that people need to improve on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. He mentioned that at a sales offsite in 2001, Jeremy posed the following question to young Yahoo’s: “Have you improved your personal resume in the last year? What is new on it?”

I thought what a great question. When you think of a resume, you think of a job application. I looked up the definition of “resume” in Websters Collegiate Dictionary and it is defined as: “A set of accomplishments; summary.”

So in 2006 what has changed on your resume? What accomplishments have you achieved? Not how many sales have you made if you’re in sales. Not how many houses have you sold if you are a real estate agent. What have you learned that you didn’t know? What has made you more valuable?

I thought about my own resume. It has grown immensely over the last year. I have studied and become proficient with Japanese Candlestick Charts. I have worked diligently at writing the past year. I have also become a full-fledged blogger. I have developed skills at partner relationship management and I have also devoted much time to productivity and time management. Take a moment and think what you have added to your resume this past year.

Now, what do you want to add to your personal resume in 2007? What books do you need to read? What people do you need to know? What places do you need to see? What software tools do you need to learn? What work experience would help you achieve more? If your list is really short and bland you are probably NOT growing. Think for a moment. If you continue to do what you have done the past 12 months where will you be? Tom Peters said it best: “If you don’t like change, you are going to hate irrelevance.”

One thing is for certain – we will all have crises in our lives. Unless we cocoon ourselves into an existence of pure safety, the challenges of life and business will touch us. Often times we forget that we are paid as professionals to solve the problems that confront us. The problems are what feed our existence and help us grow.

It is funny when the problems we face become bigger than they need to be in our minds. Instead of keeping the long view of our business – growing revenue, developing relationships, creating a brand, delivering a perfect experience – we can become overwhelmed by our predicament. We can become shortsighted. In so doing, our creativity can be paralyzed. All we have as business professionals is our ability to solve problems. Yes, we need to focus on the shortsighted things that confront us, but keep the long view in mind. You will get through your crisis. Your problem usually can be solved. That long view will keep your creativity and enthusiasm strong and your problems will just be obstacles to get through.

I was saddened today to hear of the death of rock climbing legend, Todd Skinner who was killed on October 23, 2006. I did not know Todd personally but felt like I knew him well from reading his book, Beyond The Summit. I first received this book over a year ago as a gift from a friend, Jim Juergens. Today I consider the book to be one of my Top 10 favorites. I have probably given out over 100 copies of this book during the last year to friends.

Todd was killed descending fixed ropes on the Leaning Tower of Yosemite. It appears that he and his partner Jim Hewitt were working on a free route on the 1,200-foot monolith. Todd and Jim were rappelling the route, “Jesus Built My Hot Rod” and were about 500 hundred feet above the base when the accident occurred. Apparently, Todd went first and suddenly fell; his rappel device and locking carabiner remained on the rope. Todd lived in Lander, Wyoming and is survived by his wife Amy, son Jake, and daughters Hannah and Sarah.

I discovered he had died today when my partner was attempting to call his office and schedule Todd to speak to our Coaching Seminar. What a shock to find out he had died at only 48 years old. Then my partner said something that made sense. Wow — he died doing what he loved and was passionate about it. He lived a passionate and fulfilling life doing what he loved. What a thought —- How passionate are we about what we are doing?

Think about the year 1996. 10 years ago, what were you doing? Did you use your cell phone nearly as much, if you had one? How about email? What about a web site? Or online banking? Now think about the year 2016. What do you believe will be different?

Too often people are focused on their ability. This is a good thing; however, the better thing is agility – your ability to change to the demands of reality. Are you constantly growing and able to incorporate change? Or are you finding yourself posing and pretending in situations which are new or risky? Your agility is the factor which will allow you to thrive. Without a constant attention and desire to change, grow and be agile, you may be overcome by the rapidity of the new economy.

Looking straight ahead can make you miss things. When you do your life, do you take notice of the things peripherally? Do you see them in a different perspective? The route to work. What opportunities do you see?

Knowledge helps you take notice. The more you know, the more you are attuned. When you are in a conversation, do you see the opportunities? Can you capitalize on them? Do you know how to take a conversation to the next step? How will you do it? If you are not growing, your perspective will not either.