08 SPRING/SUMMER 2023 Having been in the industry since 1989, I have had many opportunities to attend conferences and seminars throughout the US. They often feel like information overload over a few days, listening to numerous motivational speakers and technical presentations. Because of this, I always strive to find a few good ideas at each conference that I call “golden nuggets,” tips that I could apply to my career as well as my life. Some are as simple as taking extra time to recognize a job well done. Others are a bit tougher, like find and use an accountability partner. By concentrating my efforts on a few key ideas presented at each conference, though, I can focus on areas that are beneficial for me going forward. One golden nugget I remember from early in my career was advice from a motivational speaker at an industry conference. While I don’t remember the speaker’s name, his message resonates in my life today. The guidance he gave was something that could be used for any time, place or situation. It was the 7-7-7 rule. The idea is that when something is affecting your day, week, career or even life, stop and consider how long it will really matter. Will it be an issue seven minutes from now? Will it even matter seven days from now? Can it possibly matter seven years from now? While an easy concept, it is often hard to follow. I find myself sitting in traffic worrying about being late for an appointment. In all reality, it will not matter if I am a little late after all. Or, I get cut off on the interstate, and I feel a flood of road rage. We have all been there but beyond that split second, does it really matter? A few minutes later, the entire incident is forgotten. The daily pressures of being overwhelmed at work with too many tasks that I don’t know where to start. Will it matter by the end of the day? Typically, most of my worries have taken care of themselves. It is easy to look back and see how silly I was to be concerned about problems that aren’t problems after all. As you can see from my photo, my wife and I are Dallas Cowboys fans. I have been a fan since the age of four when Roger Staubach led the Cowboys to a 24–3 Superbowl victory over the Miami Dolphins. Unfortunately for myself and many other Cowboy fans, the last 25 years haven’t been productive. Nothing gets me frustrated like another Cowboy loss knowing they have the talent to be successful. If I only used the 7-7-7 rule, I would know that it CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE The 7-7-7 Rule Chris Blevins, PE, Vice President, W-L Construction & Paving, Inc. really doesn’t matter to me—except for the normal office jokes I will endure the following day. I should be used to those by now! As I get older, it is easier to see the things that will really matter seven years from now: family, health, integrity, and faith. I challenge each of you that the next time a crisis happens, consider if it will really matter seven minutes, seven days or seven years from now. I leave you with this thought from author Roy T. Bennett. “No amount of regretting can change the past, and no amount of worrying can change the future.” When something is affecting your day, week, career or even life, stop and consider how long it will really matter. Will it be an issue seven minutes from now? Will it even matter seven days from now? Can it possibly matter seven years from now? Chris and Jennifer at Dallas Cowboys home field
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