MY THURSDAY THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – I know it’s just Monday but I’m out of town speaking all week. Ever regretted not spending enough time with a spouse, child, employee or customer?  It’s a common issue.  And why? We say we are just too busy with work, travel, errands or a million other reasons but what’s the real reason we fail to spend adequate time with others that are important in our life?  Let me be clear - it’s not a time issue but one of intent.  A quick example.  Last week a friend didn’t respond to a text I sent them in the mid-morning asking a simple question that would require a simple yes or no response.  Noon the next day I got an answer.  Keep in mind I am not a control freak, impatient or lack an understanding that people have more important things to do other than responding to my emails, texts or phone calls.  The answer was yes. But I asked why it took 36 hours to respond.  “I am really busy.” How long does it take to type three letters into your phone and hit send?  The second response was “I needed to think about it before I answered.”  The question I asked was “Can we spend some time together this week?”  Folks, the issue is not the time it takes to be with someone, call them or answer them – it’s your intent. There is real or honest intent and then there is stated intent.  If people don’t do what they promised or said they would do their stated intent didn’t matter – they were just words – it was their real intent all along not to do what they said. It’s what I call “the set-up”.