For families fortunate enough to share interests, weighing travel options is simple, lighthearted fun. For example, the Orrells enjoy any destination that offers activities like horseback riding and swimming. Families like the Codys, however, must tread more carefully around the destination dilemma.
“We look for places where Chris and I can go climbing, while my wife and daughter can sightsee and do the things they like to do,” explains Cody, who also takes short climbing trips with Chris throughout the year. “Then, we regroup over dinner and a show.”
“My sister and my mother don’t really understand why we are so into climbing,” agrees Chris Cody, who enjoys vacations most when the whole family goes on outings together. “Whenever we can convince the girls to go hiking with us, that’s always when we have the most fun.”
Since the need to address divergent interests often escalates as children enter their teens, a family’s ideal vacation tends to evolve over time. For the Westcoats, beach vacations when the kids were small evolved into skiing, kayaking and hiking trips. “It gets harder to keep everyone happy,” asserts Westcoat, who says the family is now shifting toward more urban venues.
“We’ve been taking a trip to New York City every year for my daughter’s birthday; and this year, I’m planning to take them to Ecuador to give them exposure to life outside of the U.S. Your plans have to evolve with your children’s interests and ability to appreciate things.”
Parental abilities may also factor into that evolution, laughs Cody, who figures he has maybe a decade left scaling the likes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, which the father-son team climbed to celebrate Chris’s college graduation. In the meantime, the climbing ventures are clearly serving the sought-after “recharge and reconnect” family-vacation goal.
“Those climbing trips with my dad are the highlight of my month,” reports Chris Cody. “Each one is a new climb and I’m doing it with my dad, who is my best friend. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
0
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
