It was an honest mistake

This past week has been one of the most remarkable weeks in my career.

There was a reason that I did not write a blog last week. I have been working multiple weekends in a row for a big event that reached its measure of success. And life was not just busy in business, the personal side was loaded as well.

At a high level, we had a remarkable business turnaround for a client. 40 Strategy launched a significant campaign, including hiring three sales development reps, to propel our long-term business model and to recruit for The 40 Strategy Growth Workshop™. On the Accounting side, we have been working on estimated taxes for Q3 and filing tax extension deadlines for September 15. Two of our adult children started coaching their first high school varsity games and we attended those events. My wife had flown out to see our youngest play her first Big Ten soccer conference game at Rutgers University. It was a remarkable week.

On Thursday, I posted a simple picture of a cinnamon roll and coffee in front of my computer screen with a ship launching in the background. It was a simple message of joy because I can’t communicate everything that has transpired this past week, at least not yet.

And then, I received a text message that one of my sons who is at the US Naval academy is under lockdown. This is NOT a drill. He tells us he’s OK. 

For any parent who has received that text message, when it’s for real and not just a drill. That is perhaps one of the most scary events anybody can experience in their life.

And then, I remembered it was 9/11. How did I forget? I knew it was 9/11, but I had lost touch for a moment.

As I was going through my texts and looking online to see what was happening in the US Naval Academy, I failed to remember. Today was not a day to announce a quiet victory. 

Today was the day when the US lost thousands of innocent civilians and first responders. On this particular 9/11, my son was in the middle of a lockdown.

In that moment of awareness, I immediately deleted that post because today is not the day. And in that moment, I was also in fear for one of our children, who was potentially at risk.

Perspective

We can make a lot of things seem to matter. But life gets very real when it comes to life and death, especially with those that are close to you.

It is a harsh reality and reminder that life is short, how important our time is, and how unimportant other things seem to be in contrast.

I will never forget the morning of September 11, 2001, when I went into work and on the company TV screens, we saw the towers burning. I left the office to be home to be with my wife and at that time, our two young kids, to see what was transpiring on that day. That day forever changed the course of history.

On that day, I did not want to leave my family nor did I want to miss what was unfolding, all those perished.

I have visited the 9/11 Memorial  and I’ve been to the Pentagon 9/11 memorial. It is hard not to be caught up in emotion when you see all the innocent people who died that day and the impact it has had for thousands of families. 

I will take a moment to say I’m sorry for those who experienced loss on that day and the years of war that followed that event. I am grateful for those who fought and sacrificed for our country. I’m sorry that I did forget for a moment, but I will never forget again.