My brother Jim (an electrical contractor and developer in Missoula, MT) and his wife and four young kids are in for a visit. We were going for a walk back to the lake for some swimming and I decided to take the donkey along. I knew the kids would have fun walking with the donkey. TBW warned me it wasn’t a good idea.

Their three year old son, Dutch, kept getting near the donkeys back legs and I kept telling him that was dangerous and to stay away. Then I heard him start to cry and one of the kids said, “Dutch got kicked in the head by the donkey!” Blood was gushing and we did a little Keystone Cops routine till we finally got a car and him to the emergency room for eight stitches. Fortunately he didn’t have a concussion or any more serious injury. I felt terrible for not avoiding this preventable injury.

Jim and Erin were cool, telling Dutch that his hoof shaped scar would give him a great story. He was a trooper through the process and started playing as soon as he got out of the hospital.

For part of the hospital time, I had the two older kids watching a movie with me. They’d never seen “The Princess Bride” and I thought we needed to change that. They loved the movie as did I.

The early scenes with Vizzini managing Fezzik (Andre the Giant) and Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) reminded me of some construction supervisors I’ve seen. Vizzini managed his workers by:

1. Belittling them
2. Threatening them
3. Ignoring their suggestions due to his own huge ego

When asked about his own intelligence, Vizzini replied, “Have you ever heard of Aristotle? Socrates? Plato? Morons!

If you’ve seen the movie, this short clip of “Inconceivables” will make you laugh.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D58LpHBnvsI&NR=1

As you are dealing with people this week, remember the bad example of Vizzini and of me. Take the time and put forth the energy to listen. Question what you think to be inconceivable. You’ll make better decisions.