Patching Holes vs Installing a New System (7-23-25)

Last week was about our broken air conditioning and stepping away from the heat. This week is about deciding between patching holes vs installing a new system.

Our house had been hot for days by the time the air conditioning company could come take a look at it. When they showed up, we assumed that the problem would be fixed. However, it wasn’t that straight forward, because some parts were broken. Our unit was old, and we had a choice. We could pay a decent amount of money to replace the parts, knowing that it’s an old system that will likely go out again, and that the system is no longer efficient. Or, we could make a larger investment and replace the system with something that is more efficient and better. We chose to invest in the new system, because long-term it would be better.

Let’s make some connections. Have you ever seen this type of situation play out at work? Maybe, you worked with equipment or technology that was aging, and you had to choose from patching it up or replacing the system. Maybe, the way you did marketing no longer matched the environment, and you had to choose between continuing to do what you’ve done in the past or replacing the system with new processes and ways of working. In both of these situations it likely would be easier to just keep on the path you were on. It likely would be more comfortable. It would likely be less expensive in the moment. However, would it be the right thing to do? It all depends. As the world continues to evolve and as we grow, we will continually need to make a choice between patching up holes vs installing a new system.

The challenge: When will you patch things up so they can get by and when will you install a new system?

Bonus- This thinking can apply to our personal lives too. If you’re anything like me, you’ve had moments where you realized your ways of thinking and viewing the world no longer worked as well as they once did as the world changed and as you started to grow. You were then faced with a choice. You could keep force fitting those old ways of thinking or you could invest in upgrading your whole belief system. Evolving your belief system is hard work and requires a lot of time, but usually it’s more than worth it. I can tell you that I have more love, compassion, and patience now than I ever had before, but it took me some work to get there.

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry

A Favorite Professor and Leaving a Legacy (5-14-25)

This week is a one-off entry about one of my favorite college professors and leaving a legacy.

You never know when inspiration will hit. I had to get my wallet to buy something online and when I opened it, I saw the small card that I have kept with me since I was a senior in college almost 20 years ago. When I saw it, I smiled, and thought of Professor Skinner, one of my all-time-favorites professors who also happens to be retiring. This card is from a personal mission statement she had us write in her class, and I’ve had it ever since.

When I think about my time in her class, there are so many things that come to mind. She cares. She cares deeply about her students and her goal has always been to help them become better humans. She was always willing to push and challenge to help you realize your potential. There is so much I learned from her about being curious, being strong enough to ask for help, and how to think about and develop my personal brand. Whether it was during college or afterward, she always showed love, support, and challenged to me keep growing. I am so lucky to have had her as a professor and mentor.

Now let’s make some connections to our topic this week. Professor Skinner will go down as one of my favorite and most impactful professors I ever had. I know many of her students that feel the same way. What an incredible legacy to leave. It has me thinking about the legacy that I’m building. How will others feel when they look back at memories of us working together? What will people say when I retire? What lasting impact will I have on them? If I could be a Professor Skinner for other people that would be a tremendous accomplishment in life.

The challenge: What will your legacy be?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry

Goals and Setbacks (1-29-25)

Last week was about goals and means. This week is about goals and setbacks.

One of my goals this year was about completing obstacle course races. My first race was supposed to be last Saturday, and it was going to be the Abominable Snow Race. The only problem is that I came down with a nasty flu bug on Thursday, and I didn’t stop running a fever until Saturday night. Needless to say, I wasn’t able to make the race, and that was the first goal I missed for the year. At this point, I have two choices. I can continue to wallow in how sad I am that I missed a goal or I can regroup and get back after it. I may have missed that race, but I can make sure I’m even more prepared for my next one. (Pic is the Yeti and I from last year)

Now let’s make some connections. Have you ever missed achieving one of your goals at work? I have. Have you ever got lost in the downward spiral after missing out? I have. I have sat there and stewed, replaying every mistake, listing every excuse, and becoming so fixated on the negative that I became stuck. None of this was particularly helpful. None of this helped me move forward. Eventually, I had to accept the reality that I missed a goal, and the only thing I could do is regroup, refocus and go again.

The challenge: How will you regroup and refocus when you experience a setback?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry