I recently visited Washington DC with my wife Jenni, where I spoke to 200 executives. I played professional Hockey for the Washington Capitals from 1978 to 1982, so for us it was amazing to return to see the core of the city again. We discovered one significant change in the Mall: the addition of the WW II Memorial between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. As we walked the periphery the words of author Walter Lord etched into the east wall, describing the impact of the Battle of Midway June 4-7 1942, caught my eye:

"They had no right to win, yet they did and in doing so they changed the war... Even against the greatest of odds there is something in the human spirit, a magic blend of skill, faith and valour that can lift men from certain defeat to incredible victory."

How aptly Walter Lord's words describe the difference that a hungry spirit can and will make in this next season of your life and my life.

So the question to ask ourselves building up to the busy September and the last quarters of 2008 is... what plan have we in place personally and culturally to stay HUNGRY?