Wikipedia says a headwind reduces an object’s speed and increase the time required to reach its destination. Don’t I know it! The headwind slowed me down when I was already tired. I debated whether to call my mother or my husband to pick me up. Mom would be sympathetic but she didn’t have a bike rack. I’d never hear the end of it from David (he rides the trail in half the time it takes me).

Are you battling a headwind? Some days, even if you’re on the right path and doing the right thing, life feels like swimming upstream. What’s slowing you down? Chances are, you can’t change it any more than I could change the wind. Are you going to push against it or give up? Ironically, a headwind is favorable in takeoffs and landings. Sometimes an opposing force is just what we need to force us to change direction.

Who do you call when the winds blows? There’s a time for sympathy, and there’s a time for unyielding “you can do it” motivation from people who have been there, done that and kicked butt along the way. Choose your confidants carefully, and weigh your words when someone comes in the middle of their storm.

Despite splashing through a fresh puddle of dog pee on the trail, I made it home. Exhausted, but stronger. And ready to do it again tomorrow.

The “Word of the Week” is written by Amy Lively of The Lively Merchant, R&A’s partner in providing these thought-provoking weekly witticisms.

Does the mail leave you mystified, too?

After fooling around with this true story for about a week, I finally figured out how to deposit a check directly into my vendor’s account. I used my cell phone to take a picture of the deposit slip, texted it to him from the parking lot, and he used his phone to go online and immediately verify the funds were in his account. Presto! Technology saves the day!

Hmmm. Makes me wonder why I messed with the mail in the first place.

Your postman does not report back to you. “Ms. Jones received your postcard at 3:47 pm. She read the front but didn’t read the back, tossing it in the trash can on her way into the house. Ms. Smith received the postcard on her lunch break. She read it and posted it on her refrigerator. Ms. Porter didn’t get your postcard at all.”

When you send your message electronically, you can receive detailed reports of how many people received your message, what they did with it, and if they want to hear from you again. You can also determine exactly which campaigns work and which flop. You can determine the time of day and day of the week that get the best results. You can reach out to Ms. Jones instantly and achieve an immediate reaction.

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night may stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds, but that’s only the half of mail delivery. You need to know what Ms. Jones does with your message once it arrives.

Learn more at the R&A Roundtable, a 2-Day web strategy conference March 29-30. The “Word of the Week” is written by Amy Lively of The Lively Merchant, R&A’s partner in providing these thought-provoking weekly witticisms.

Maybe you scoff at waist-high snowdrifts in your part of the country. But none of us are in the clear from calamities big and small, be they blizzards, mudslides, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes or wildfires.

Do you have a disaster plan? How will you reach your employees? More importantly, can you call your customers? Can you access your banking electronically? What if it happens on payday? Will you still make payroll? Do you know what you were scheduled to receive today? How will you contact your carriers? How will you make up for lost revenue and lost opportunities? Remote access to your office and internet-based operating systems can be a real lifesaver.

Ms. Jones is digging out right next to you. While she’s got some pent up demand from her snowbound days, she might have lost some payroll, too. An unexpected day off without pay is a real bummer.

You’ve got about 48 hours to figure this out before the next snowstorm hits: five more inches are expected tomorrow.

The “Word of the Week” is written by Amy Lively of The Lively Merchant, R&A’s partner in providing these thought-provoking weekly witticisms.