Day 9 A Polar Start

Struggling to change behavior yet a big win

For the last few years, the calendar has brought angst to me. It probably begins with the holidays. I love the thought of family, love the food and festivities, yet find great difficulty with the actual time with people. I see slights where there are none. I tend to withdraw when I am in the presence of those I love and those who care for me.

My birthday in early January typically brings anxiety, where I feel that if I haven’t gotten everything figured out and done with my life then the year is over. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy. By this time in February, it is a struggle for me to reverse the bad daily habits that have become second nature for me.

This substack is a main part of my attempt to change that. Sharing my goals, my activities, my little wins and losses; I’m hopeful that it will be a big help with each passing day. I had a big, big win yesterday with my Zoom call with a work colleague and dear friend Jim.

Jim is one of the most talented people I know, a real Renaissance man to use a phrase of days gone by. I met him as the single point of contact with my major client AlliedSignal Aerospace, where he worked with me to craft a new path forward on how this $6B business sector would listen to customers. He was on the second of what would be four or five careers. He had been an IT/programmer, was involved in process improvement/TQM. I visited his home in Phoenix, and he would play guitar at times and would show me amazing oil paintings that he had done or was working on. His third career was hand-crafting some of the best jazz acoustic guitars in the world. He has returned to his fourth career, painting an art. One of the greatest gifts I’ve ever given anyone was sending him with my wife and mother to Alaska to paint outdoors.

Our Zoom meeting yesterday was just like we had been together last week. We shared our own journey of the last two decades. I knew a little of that journey from Facebook, as did he. I had been particularly proud of these amazing guitars that I’d seen from afar. He always had an attention to detail combined with amazing creativity, a rare combination.

He had some big thoughts about who I have been and a bit about who I am. A few in paraphrased words:

• I see a lack of clarity in you (Craig) and this substack, finding that one thing

• Where you are today, you need to find that thing to do with passion vs necessity

• The Craig I know has an amazing ability for idea generation

• You have an ability to inspire and lead people

• Very few people can put together a team, inspire them, and push to execution even if team members falter

It was a refreshing, riveting time together. It was such a small step in all of the tasks I need to find the next chapter in my life. Yet it was such a big leap for me. It was 90 minutes of restoration, of self worth; squinting my eyes and seeing an amazing man staring in the mirror. It was scratching the surface with Jim, catching up, listening, grabbing a nugget and running with it.

It was a special birthday evening yesterday for my Honey. The German chocolate cake for her birthday typically comes from Greenville. The Publix one had a bit of the proper frosting, but really was a decadent chocolate cake. The five of us were together, with our youngest driving an hour to be there and our oldest joining by video. The gifts were thoughtful, and will continue throughout her birthday month.

My goals from the last post I’m transforming into my goals for the month of February. As I knock them down, I’ll add to them or increase.

• Apply to fifteen job postings I want to transform what this is beyond filling out CV items. My plan is to have each posting supplemented with a point-of-view document that describes what I see as the challenge for the company with the hope that it will be forwarded within the firm beyond the hiring gate keeper.

• Ask for five referrals This is one of the exciting goals, the opportunity to meet new people I can learn from and share with. Networking 101, but something I am poor at

• Conduct five calls I have completed one and have two more scheduled

• Document two life hacks This is a significant struggle, so I’ll continue to work to find this.

• Interview two people about their process My Zoom meetings will bring me numerous ideas. Here I’m particularly looking for people who have been in my situation who made it through the other side. How did they spend their time, what didn’t work, what did work, how did they increase their motivation.

• Mail three direct mail packages Direct mail is a tried and true method for me to get at bats, both from colleagues from my past and total strangers. I’m looking forward with this.

• Schedule one meeting in February I want to be in front of a group of people and do what I’m good at. I’m shooting for 15-60 minutes with a group (a leadership team, a work group) with the focus on the customer. If you have ideas or are interested in learning more, please leave a comment or message me.

I am so appreciative of the subscribers to craig’s journey to impact. Thank you to those who do not know me at all. I hope to hear from you in the comments, your ideas, your own challenges. I have especially appreciated the emails and messages I’ve received. All content here is free to subscribers. If you want to become a Paid Subscriber, I am thankful. It is really just an opportunity for you to be involved a bit more with my journey. I’ve found that a number of substacks are authored by great writers and thought leaders, so paid subscriptions are a big revenue source for them.

I don’t see this substack as that and don’t have revenue from the substack as a goal. I do really appreciate those who have contributed though. My hope is that all subscribers are part of a community in my corner; pulling for me, praying for me if you like, giving me ideas and encouragement.

Every other Friday I will answer questions left in the comments or emailed to me as part of a Mailbag post. Feel free to leave questions.