Like anyone trying to grow a business, I spend a fair amount of time on LinkedIn. Well, maybe at times, more than a fair amount. Last week, I caught myself somewhat mindlessly scrolling. Which, as we all know, is a dangerous pastime. Looking at all the posts, I wasn’t sure […]
Leadership Musings
Quiet Wrists
The morning ritual felt hollow. Same as every morning, I woke up and immediately reached for my wrist, expecting the familiar haptic buzz of a device ready to catalog my existence. Instead, I found a blank screen; cold, unresponsive, and seemingly resigned to its fate. My initial reaction wasn’t one […]
An Unasked-for Gift
Several friends of mine, leaders with 30-plus years of experience and deep wells of wisdom, have recently found themselves navigating a career pause they didn’t ask for. Most are chomping at the bit to get back to the workforce, while the minority are relishing the time off. For those of […]
Picturing Loss
I’ve long been fascinated by the concept of parallel universes. The idea that for every choice we make, another timeline instantly sprouts where we chose differently: a vast, intricate web of “what ifs.” Recently, I delved into Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter and Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library. Both explore this […]
Shifting Relevance
I have recently recommitted myself to catching up with old friends. Most recently, I was able to spend some time with a retired Master Chief who shed the uniform over a decade ago and just recently decided to retire fully. Decades ago, he and I served together in Adak, Alaska, […]
Shared Starts, Sudden Ends
Just over two years ago, we walked through the front doors on the same morning. Two strangers sharing a start date. Over time, it was evident that we shared more than a start date. We shared a commitment to common sensical execution. We shared a disdain for bureaucracy. And we […]
The Physical 401(k)
Last Saturday, while waiting for my heart rate to descend from the rafters after a grueling HIIT session, the reality of the room came into focus: I am easily twenty years older than everyone else in the class. There is a quiet satisfaction in keeping pace with twenty-somethings, but it’s […]
Still Writing
Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the good fortune of crossing paths with several friends from my uniformed days. Without exception, each has asked some version of the same question: “Are you still writing?” Each time I hear it, I feel a small pinch in my chest. If you […]
Forecasting Regret
Over the last few years, I have found myself with opportunities to make more personal decisions at a higher rate than ever before. There are three reasons for this: As you might imagine, most decisions are rather mundane, but some have been monumental. Regardless of where decisions fall on that […]
Nearly Full Circle
With the help of countless mentors and friends a blueprint for the next phase of my life was purposefully crafted upon retiring from the Navy. Well, maybe not the next phase, but the next chapter. After spending over three decades in uniform and cherishing my role in public service, I […]
RTO or OTR?
Admittedly, I was personally disappointed when my boss told me of the imminent Return to Office mandate. Like so many, I was professionally thriving in and personally grateful for the hybrid work environment I had been enjoying since being hired to this team. The company I had worked for just […]
A Jarring Discovery
I have long enjoyed the traditions and ceremonies that accompany military service, well most of them anyway. After 31 years in uniform myself, I continue to make it a point to support teammates still in uniform. Living in a Navy makes it relatively easy to attend the ceremonies that celebrate […]
Complacency & Contentment & Continual Improvement
Complacency is a dangerous state of mind. It tends to find us when we are most satisfied with our situation. There are countless examples of individuals, teams, and companies who have allowed themselves to be undone simply by being stuck in an overly satisfied state. Oftentimes, long after their undoing, […]
Useful Enjoyment
The last two months have been an absolute gift. What ended up being an almost two-month sabbatical from work was filled with adventure, reflection, home improvement, mental/physical wellness, and reconnecting with loved ones. When I parted ways with my most recent employer I did so committed to not jumping back […]
This Blog Post Was Purposely Removed
Though names and companies were purposely obfuscated in the original blog post, it was removed to protect the privacy of anyone perceived to have been a subject of the article. The purpose of this forum continues to be that of sharing general observations on leadership and is in no way […]
Military Transition: Clarity through Constraints
Transitioning from the military to civilian life is no small feat. I remember countless hours of reflection and numerous hours with friends, family, and interested mentors as I navigated my path. I started out of the gate focused primarily on creating what I called Chapter 1 of Career 2.0. Living […]
Empathizing with the Uninformed
I truly believe that everyone has the right to voice their opinion. At the same time, and as crass as it sounds, I believe that only the informed deserve to have their opinions heard. To me, the divide today is not between the left and the right, the red and the blue, the rich and the poor, the haves and the have nots. The divide is between those of us committed to living an empathetic life and those who care only of themselves, lacking the courage to question their convictions.
Good Enough. Is it?
I gave up long ago on the illusion of perfection. However, the pursuit of progress and reaching toward both individual and collective potential remain significant parts of most days. My parents made the merit of becoming the best version of myself extremely clear early on in my life. To this […]
Presenting Thyself
Where some seem to take great pride in wearing their brand (school, job, etc.) visibly, I am equally proud to wear mine invisibly. As an example, I am a proud alum of the United States Naval Academy, yet I was deliberate in not rushing to share that fact throughout my […]
Authentic Humility
The COVID-19 stay-at-home guidelines certainly have provided many of us with the opportunity to reflect on what we value most. We are missing our friends, our extended family, and the comfort that accompanies normalcy. The company that I am fortunate enough to be a part of recently used this situation […]