Three of my Biggest Mistakes of 2011

A window seat and my iPod create a sacred space where I’m unreachable.  It is one of my favorite places for reflection. My 13-hour flight from Dulles International Airport to Addis Abba provided plenty of reflection time – and I found myself thinking about lessons I’ve learned in 2011.

Here are the top three ways I missed the mark in 2011 and how I desire to make progress in 2012.

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  1. Faker. I love interacting with people and ideas, and find that Q&A sessions are always the most engaging. However, there are a few specific cases this past year when I was asked to comment on issues that I knew nothing about. The right response would have been to say, “That’s a good question, and I have no idea.” Instead, I thought it best to skate onto some thin ice and attempt to do a few awkward pirouettes that made it clear that I was outside my expertise. I promise to say “I don’t know, but I’ll try to find out” more in 2012.
  2. Details.  As HOPE continues to grow—something I’m very grateful for—I spend more of my time looking at the big picture.  But in the process, I have neglected the details:  “Never lose sight of the numbers” is a lesson that founder of VeggieTales, Phil Vischer, said in his book, Me, Myself, & Bob, about the rise and fall of his company (best book I read last year!).  In 2012, I need to carve out more time to plunge into the details instead of just reading summaries.
  3. Unplug.  Earlier this year, I was eating breakfast with my youngest son.  I was also reading a work email on my blackberry.  “Daddy, no phone, no phone,” he said to me. I was physically present, but my mind was in another country. I’m so thankful for my son’s wake-up call to put family first when it’s family time. Two thousand twelve will be a year that when I’m home, I will do my best to be fully engaged with my family at this key stage.

It’s helpful to look back, just long enough to influence the future.  Here’s to a great 2012 – and to the fact that God’s mercies are “new every morning.”

4 Comments

  1. Arden
    January 11, 2012

    Enjoy the honesty.

    Reply
  2. Jeff
    January 12, 2012

    Well said. when I get home I don’t pull the iPad out of the bag and my phone goes on the Mantle until after 8. (bedtime). physically present with the family, physically distant from the inter-web.

    Reply
  3. Kent
    January 12, 2012

    Refreshing!

    Reply
  4. chris r
    January 13, 2012

    Thanks for your honesty, Peter. The phone challenge from your son resonates with me and I need to do the same ith my phone and iPad. I love my job very much, but need to do a better job about not bringing it home.

    Reply

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