Mind the Gap

"Mind the gap" is an audible or visual warning phrase issued to rail passengers to take caution while crossing the horizontal, and in some cases vertical, spatial gap between the train door and the station platform.

“Mind the gap” also could mean to keep up with the car in front of you when the light turns green.

“Mind the Gap” at my church means that we are behind budget and in order to maintain staff, services and missions, we need to contribute more to get to plan. Our pastors are doing an excellent job of reinforcing the needs via signs each week about “Mind the Gap” and even preaching some sermons on the topic.

When I think of “Mind the Gap” in my career, I instantly think of communication. Often, I had a vision or my leadership team had a plan, and the ability to succeed was totally based on being able to communicate the plan to the workforce. We had to paint a picture that everyone could visualize to understand the importance of the effort, the plan of attack and what success would look like at the end. Often I would try to present an illustration to help others emotionally connect with the initiative.

Sometimes, in mid year, we had to “Mind the Gap” between our actual year-to-date performance and what we were budgeted to do for that year. We had to take initiatives to close the gap and ‘make our numbers’ or do what we said we were going to do.

If you think of it, we have to “Mind the Gap” in almost every area.

My daughter and her husband live in San Diego. I am so proud of them. They have a ministry where they help refugees settle in Southern California. Many of these families arrive with nothing but the clothes on their back. The fathers are usually very successful men back in their home countries but come here and have to start all over as they desire a safe, healthy place to raise their families. Some were doctors, pharmacists, scientists, and teachers. Many of these men helped our soldiers in the Middle East and were captured and beaten for it. They come here with a huge gap. They need and are thrilled to get even menial jobs, places to live, beds for their families, fans for the scorching heat, sofas, utensils, bathing suits, cars, toys, etc. What a wonderful thing to do to be able to help these innocent little children and families. In this case, the gap is basic living items but it is also the gap between hope and comfort.

In my spiritual life, the gap is the difference of where I am today in my relationship with God and where I want it to be. I then have to ask myself what specific steps I need to take to be closer to Him. Or as I age, I want to finish my life strong so the gap is the difference of where I am and what I do with the rest of my time on earth. How do I make the most difference with the gifts I have been given?

I guess you can say that this term relates to being proactive to reach success with our needs and desires. It is an intentional action that helps us leap hurdles or reach goals.

One last story: My wife recently celebrated a milestone birthday. We were in Branson to celebrate it and we rented a boat for the day. It was a beautiful summer day on Table Rock Lake. Before heading back to the marina, she had a goal to jump off the cliffs on the lake on her birthday. There was a spot that had a cliff about 4 stories high. For someone who is afraid of heights, this was a huge challenge. I watched as she swam to shore, climbed very steep rocks and got to the top of the cliff. Teenagers and kids were jumping off into the waters below. From the boat, I could tell that she was afraid. She actually froze. For 15-20 minutes, she stood there inching closer to the edge but usually then would step back to safety.

People in the boats were encouraging her to do it. She needed to take that first step off and dive down. There now was no other way down.

As our boat turned around for a better view and to avoid the people in the water swimming back to the boat, we looked up and saw her do it. She stepped off that cliff and fell down into the water. We all cheered and clapped as she surfaced with a big smile on her face. She was able to “mind the gap” between the top of the cliff and the water surface. But more importantly, she was able to “mind the gap” between fear and accomplishment. She overcame that voice in her head that said she could not do it. She mastered her fear.

I was and am super proud of her.

Meet expectations, reach goals, strengthen relationships and faith, and overcome fears.

Mind the Gap!

Thanks for reading this.

With a goal to “help the next one in line”, Glen Cavallo, a 30+ year healthcare executive has chosen to share the many lessons he has learned with others. Glen does this by serving as a coach/advisor to leaders at all levels of organizations, as a board member and as he presents inspirational speeches at regional, national, annual and awards meetings.