James F. is an individual I look up to – figuratively and physically. (He’s almost a foot taller than me.) We met during a previous contract I was working on, and he made it very clear that we were going to be friends. He was persistent in bringing me out to lunch with him (when sometimes I tried to hide in my office), and we grew closer even after I left that company and that contract. We created a tradition of board games and dinners monthly, yet we rarely ever get around to playing board games. He is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve just to make sure his wife can see it. The love he has for his wife, his video games and comic books, and Star Wars movies is so evident that I have reached the point of jealousy – not for Star Wars. I’m jealous that he lives life at full authenticity without regret or fear of the perception from others. I’m sure I have much to offer to him as well - like a good shot from the three-point line in his face. I also learned that there is value in living a life without a distinct plan, if you are living it with the people you love. Coming from such a structured mindset, I grew into the habit of thinking through every life decision and making use of every minute of the day. Productivity became my vice. With his influence, I realize it’s OK to think otherwise. There is such a thing as a healthy balance between the two.