Ace, King, Queen, Jack...

"June" 2 did seem like the starting line up in the card game Ace of Spades...

The Ace was My Son. It was a big day for him, it was the day of the Spring Concert at his school and he was slated to both sing in the choir and also play solo on the recorder. He started the day by dressing up for the occasion and looked like a million dollars. And the very first picture of him today, quickly clicked on the iPhone and uploaded to Facebook got some rave reviews...

I felt like King myself. One of my goals for June is not just to work hard but to ensure that the work I do impacts a positive outcome. In project management parlance, one may call it milestones. I decided that each day in "June" I will pick 1 milestone in each project I handle and work in a way that the milestone is accomplished. I picked 3 today and hit Gold all ways...

The Queen has risen. If you think "June" being special for me is all a matter of my mind, on June 1, my wife signed up her first student for the summer 2011 schedule for her new initiative (www.mindbytes.co). And June 2 continued to be a good day, for her phone started ringing and enquiries started flowing through her website. Miles to go for sure, but she is not sleeping either. Best of Luck, my Queen...

But "June" 2 goes to Jack. The Fleetwood Spring Concert had 2 sessions, afternoon for students and evening for parents. At 655 pm, we strode into a full auditorium. In exactly 5 minutes, the performers trooped in and took their places. In a matter of seconds they were all organized in a compact crew, boys and girls, in 4 rows set by height and mixed well for color.

All eyes were fixed on the grand stage, when this little boy in the front row stepped out of line. He was clad in black khakis, a slick white polo shirt and was wearing the most stylish black hat of the evening. For a moment I wondered what was wrong with the poor boy. He was clearly moving in the direction where his music teacher stood. Was he afraid? Or overwhlemed?

It turned out he was neither. In just a few quick steps, he moved to the left end of the stage, clasped the microphone with elan and said, "Hi everyone, my name is Jack and I am in Ms. Teacher's 4th grade class. The 4th graders are now going to present the opening piece of tonight's concert, the Sing, Sing, Sing, Song. We really enjoyed learning this special song and we hope you will enjoy it too". Applause...

The music began. The most delightful music wafted through the air for the next one hour, accompanied sometimes by dancing and enactment. A new announcer arose before each new performance, even the Ace appeared for his famed solo. But for the better part of the hour, my eyes were fixed in one place, on Jack!

I clicked pictures, I stopped to clap after every song and I went through the motions for the full hour. But every now and then my gaze would return to Jack. There was something about that one opening moment in which he had instantly captivated me. In all but a flash, Jack had made me his biggest fan of the night. Clearly, there was something about Jack...

That's the way I am. Meteoric moments of brilliance last forever in my mind. And the joy I feel from them is unexplainable. "June" 2 was a good day for Ace, King & Queen, but if at all I remember "June" 2, it will be for Jack. Way to go Jack...