Mandatory Mondays…

Good afternoon everyone; hey it’s Monday!  Hooray?  Are you EXCITED to get up; get going; start your week?  Is INSPIRATION important?  What charges your Monday morning batteries up? 

For many, Monday is still the traditional start of the work week.  Not for Moms with toddlers however; for them there is no such thing as the “start” or the “end” of a week, true?  Same can be said of farmers and ranchers.  It’s true at the other end of the spectrum, too.  We retirees don’t look at Monday’s the way we once did.  As time goes by, it can become even more blurry. 

I remember my Dad during his remaining time in assisted-living would often ask, “What day is it?” After working for 50 years and being retired for 20 years, I guess the day of the week was no longer something important to keep track of for him. 

On behalf of the rest of the working world, Monday usually kicks things off.  How do you start your week?  I remember a sales professional who liked to schedule client meetings for Monday mornings.  She would book back-to-back appointments.  The clients were happy to see her; the meetings were easy to prepare for; and she would almost always come away with additional business.  Besides, she said it got her up and going on Monday mornings; started her week off on the right foot.  She was FIRED UP by noon and ready to face the cold realities of cold prospects and cold calling for the rest of the week.  Yuck! 

What’s your approach?  Reading the paper?  A work-out is the favorite week-starter for another friend of mine.  She’s up at 5am and hits the gym before 6am.  How about you?  Are you a Monday morning work-out fanatic?

As a recent retiree I’m lucky to have a flexible schedule.  I have time to feed the horses; have breakfast with my wife; or go to coffee and write.  When my kids were young it seemed I was always running behind.  No time to eat a sit-down breakfast or go to coffee.  Our favorite, Unknown Sage quotes Wolter: 

Wolter's Law:

If you have the time, you won't have the money.  If you have the money, you won’t have the time.

Starbucks is a favorite stop on the way to work Monday mornings for many.  Fodder-4-Thought overheard this order:

Venti, sugar-free, non-fat, vanilla soy, double shot, decaf, no foam, extra hot, Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha with light whip and extra syrup, please.

(OK.  Taking a breath now.)  Perhaps it’s bagels and cream cheese from Panera Bread.  Do you bring a dozen in for the office?  Maybe breakfast burritos?  Back in the day, my favorite was Lamar’s Donuts.  Not quite the popular, health-conscious cuisine of today, I admit.  Do you have special Monday morning menu morsels?  

Motivation can be particularly important for “Mandatory Mondays”, yes?  What helps me GET MOTIVATED is loud, hard-rock or heavy metal music.  If it’s Monday morning, then it’s mandatory Metallica. Fast-paced, head-banging music really revs me up!  The louder the better; plus, some of their lyrics can penetrate one’s soul:

Forever trust in who we are, and nothing else matters.

Trust me; it’s simply who I am.  What’s your Mandatory Monday morning musical mantra?  Well, whatever it is or whatever your routine is you might as well put your trust in it – nothing else really matters. 

OK everyone it’s Monday – boots and saddles.  Let’s rock ‘n roll!

GAP

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.