Catalyst Strategic Consultants

1.    If you’re going to cycle, have a proper biking outfit 2.    If you’re walking wrong and it hurts, walk different 3.    Walk at your own pace 4.    Keep a sense of humour 5.    The Camino provides, it always provides 6.    Order what you order and you get what you get 7.    Taxis can be […]

So as you roll along, people come into your orbit and move through.  either you talk for a while and they fade [relative to your pace] or accelerate out of view – and, potentially, out of your life. While you walk beside, you get a glimpse into a life.  Always at a much more intimate […]

Alone. Today was about being alone.  Most of us have never spent time [recent] alone. My close friend Derek was honest about it – when faced with being alone on the vision quest.  “I’ve never been away from my situation!” Separation – from one’s tribe, one’s family, one’s familiar world – it’s not something sought […]

I’m padding from a restored ancient dwelling overlooking Samos, site of one of the great monasteries. At one time, 800 monks were resident here.  It was founded in the 600s. We spent our day on one of the sweetest walks anywhere, shaded forest paths in a verdant valley, paralleling a clear trout stream as it […]

Today is glorious, after a tough day yesterday.  Over a very high range, the montes de Leon, topping out at 1500 meters or so.  Climbing up up, out of the sun and into the blustery cloud up at Foncebedon, breath pouring like smoke out of Bob’s nostrils.  There, in beaten up mountain towns the world […]

This day we dedicated to acceptance. It started with the alberge we settled on in Villa Mazarife.  Having struck out from Leon with all flags flying, we were over the flat country and into the town by 1 pm.  Our hostel was large 48 beds, bunk beds, coed – a large shared bathroom. What’s interesting […]

I mean it that way – with the periods. Leon is a most gracious city – neat as a pin but character plus.  Coming up from the station into town, the order and cleanliness were striking.  Our hotel’s location drew me on to the Center. Like many picturesque towns, the ancient heart of curving narrow […]

There are occasions – yesterday afternoon for one – when I proselytize Europe.  I mean I find someone who has never been and get on my horse about how they should go.  My Uber driver on the way to Atlanta airport. “It’s different, really different.”  I tell him.  “It’s clear that this [picture me grandly […]

It was an interesting conjunction – having a conference in Atlanta “on the way” to Spain.  But being at the outset of the Gazelles Recertification and Summit has a fugue quality.  My soul is half way over the ocean – and I am physically here. Can there be anything lovelier than the actual moment of […]

Camino of Santiago: My Quest for the next three weeks I’m going over to Northern Spain on the 25th to join the Camino trail at Leon and walk in to the cathedral with my good friend Bob Carrothers from Denver. IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE TUNED IN TO MY DISPATCHES AS I GO, HIT REPLY […]