Let me apologize to my loyal blog readers for the nearly one month gap since my last blog entry.  I recently returned from a long overdue family vacation.  With my daughter now in high school, I only have a few more summers left in which to take the "big" family vacations.  This year, we towed our travel trailer over 4000 miles from Green Bay to Mount Rushmore to the Grand Tetons to Yellowstone to Glacier National Park and back!  Yep...lots and lots of driving!  But we also saw some fantastic sights along the way...truly inspirational.  We also grew closer as a family...even more inspirational!

The Williams Family also recently added a new puppy to the household.  That has occupied time previously reserved for deep thought and blog writing.  Two dogs, a cat and a teenage girl with a learner's driving permit.  Yeah...you can imagine!

Bottom line, I've scratched back some "LIFE" in the WORK/LIFE balance.  Feels good too.

I've learned a few things in the last month away:

1. I will make time for work rather than make time to spend with my family
2. Stop taking innovation so seriously...
3. Take more time to reflect, think at a deeper level and let ideas incubate
   • You have no idea how much clarity you get when you are staring through a windshield for 9 hours!
4. My business will not go bankrupt, nor will people forget about me or my contributions, if I stop blogging or Twittering for a couple of weeks
5. I am able to catch up on all of my reading if I just make it happen
6. I have some fresh, new ideas to share with all of you via this blog and on Twitter
7. I have a renewed passion for ideas, innovation and creativity

I know people talk about the need for more work/life balance, but then leave 2 weeks of vacation on the table at the end of every year.  Seriously...take the time away!  And I mean REALLY get away.  You will be amazed at the clarity of thinking you receive before, during and after the time you take off.  Your personal relationships will improve, which will free your mind for bigger and better professional endeavors. 

P.S.  If you'd like to see the trip pictures or puppy pictures via Google Picasa, just add a comment with your email address and I'll send you an invite.