A Man Falls into a Hole…

In my work with CEO Forums and organizational teams, I am often on the road. My travels have taken me to all 50 US states and nearly two dozen countries—an education unto itself. If you travel a lot for work, you know there are many ways to leverage your time.

The Intentional Plan 

I often ask myself: Should I use my “plane time” to read, listen, or watch content relevant to my work? Should I read, listen, or watch content that has nothing to do with my work? Are long flights a great time to write pieces for CEOWORLD Magazine (which I am doing now)? Or should I put my laptop and phone away to relax and recover? That way, I can bring my best self to my clients.

How about after I land? Should I have workout clothes with me to stay in a routine that keeps me physically fit? Should I see to it that I have audiobooks handy so I can exercise my body and my mind at the same time? Watch TV or don’t watch TV? Go to the hotel bar to watch sports or stay in my room? Schedule calls during time when I am on the ground or save those calls for when I return home?

There are lots of choices and too little time to do them all. The reality is that I often get as much or more out of what I didn’t plan on than what I did.

An Unintentional Gift 

During a flight last year, all I wanted to do was watch whatever popped up on my YouTube feed. During this video binge, I watched a clip from the television series The West Wing, a White House drama created by Aaron Sorkin that ran on NBC for seven seasons (1999-2006).

In the clip, White Chief of Staff Leo McGarry shared a story with his Deputy Chief of Staff, Josh Lyman. Let me paraphrase the anecdote:

A man falls into a hole. The sides are so steep that he can’t climb out. A doctor walks by, and the man yells, “Doc, I’m stuck in this hole. Can you get me out?” The doctor stops, looks down at the man, writes him a prescription, throws it in the hole, and walks away. Then, a priest arrives on the scene, and the man says, “Father, I’m stuck in this hole. Can you help me?” The priest stops, writes the man a prayer, throws it in the hole, and then leaves.”  Finally, a buddy of his shows up, and the man says, “Hey pal, I’m stuck down here. Can you give me a hand?” The friend proceeds to jump into the hole with him. Exasperated, the man looks at his friend and says, “What are you, stupid? Now we’re both stuck down here.” The friend replies, “Yeah, but I’ve been here before, and I know the way out.”

A Huge Gift 

During a time when I was seeking an escape from my work, I discovered one of the most powerful metaphors for the value of CEO forums that I have ever encountered. Based on this story, I tell forum members that if it hasn’t happened already, one of you will come to a group meeting one day in the throes of meeting a tough challenge, where you feel just like the man stuck in the hole. Upon sharing your predicament with everyone, you’ll likely hear from two or three of your fellow members that they’ve been there before and will gladly show you the way out.

Conversely, a member will present what they see as a small—to medium-sized opportunity to the group, only to have someone respond by saying, “The opportunity you shared with us is even bigger than you think. Let us explain why.”

Being part of a group is not only about having access to different perspectives and experiences but also about being surrounded by people who have your back – peers who will jump into that hole with you without a minute’s hesitation.

Today, I share this story with every CEO and key executive peer advisory group/forum I visit as a reminder of how special it is to be part of such an ensemble. In today’s world, going it alone is unnecessary. The beauty of it is that these groups have proven so effective for so many that there are more forums available to CEOs and business leaders today than ever. All you need to do is find the right one for you.

Summary 

The example I shared is one of many collateral/accidental learning opportunities we experience all the time – a concept coined by education scholar and philosopher John Dewey. Other accidents for me occur when my big workout for the day is sprinting from Gate B16 to Gate E31 in Charlotte Airport to catch a connecting flight. Or when I walk past someone during my travels who is wearing a t-shirt that reads: “My wife says I only have two faults: I don’t listen and something else.” I can’t help but appreciate great t-shirt humor.

Plan your time when you travel, yet always keep your eyes and ears open for what you didn’t plan on. It’s part of what makes life’s journey such a joyous adventure.

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