Peace of mind

Colleagues,
 
In our month-long tour of the country, Pam and I backpacked several times. A critical aspect of backpacking is managing carried weight. Every pound of extra weight increases knee pressure by 3-6 times! Carrying a 20-pound pack puts up to 180 lbs of additional force on your knees, with every step!
 
One of the most important weight considerations is food. An average hiker needs about two pounds (3,500 calories) of food per day when hiking 10+ miles. Carrying calorically dense food is critical. Dividing 3,500 calories by 32 ounces means we need foods that are over 100 calories/ounce. Meal planning for a trip can become complicated.
 
We never want to carry too much food but having a bit extra provides peace of mind. On top of our planned food, we add a Greenbelly Meal 2go. At 650 calories for about 5.5. ounces, it is enough to provide both Pam and I with an extra meal in case we get caught out in the dark. It is also simple. No extra planning and we keep a box on hand, so we don’t need to worry about shopping.
 
Apply this to your leadership. What happens if you become incapacitated suddenly? What are some of the critical things you do daily that someone else must be prepared to do? They may not have to be great at them, but they will need to do the minimum. Identifying those core functions and developing a simple back-up plan provides you and others with peace of mind.
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick