In starting this venture, I must begin with a confession. I must begin this way because showing vulnerability is the first step to connection. And in connection, people build trust. And through building trust, we share knowledge. Sharing knowledge is the great unifier in all human history. It is the single catalyst propelling humans progressively forward leading to our total domination of this small planet. Furthermore, technology allows us to span wider and farther in sharing knowledge. It amplifies any voice to billions of people. It is the great democratizer of the modern age. So here goes!
…showing vulnerability is the first step to connection. And in connection, people build trust. And through building trust, we share knowledge.
I am 36. I'm divorced. I am a grown man struggling to contextualize where I have failed as a husband, as a man, as a son, as a brother, as a veteran, as a leader, as a civilian, and as a human. I am about $100,000 in debt. Most days I feel isolated. I work. I go home. I eat. I entertain myself through the normal outlets: digital media, movies, music, exercise, social gatherings, etc. I am a veteran who’s struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts for which I see a therapist about once a month. I work in manufacturing and enjoy what I do. I’ve been to 46 of the 50 states and I’ve traveled to several countries abroad. Like many of my peers, my parents’ divorce impacted my life in a significant way.
On the other hand, I also believe I am one of the luckiest people in the world. I say that with total confidence. I am well-traveled and well educated. I can communicate and impart very real wisdom to people and have a track record of doing so. I’m well respected in most social situations and have garnered several awards and accolades throughout my life. Some of that is luck, timing, hard work, determination, confidence, seized opportunity, and less than average sleep. Some of it is skill and learned behavior I’ve used to modify how I present myself in front of others. I generally enjoy my work and strive to be the best at it I can be.
The one thing I hope to impart to you through this newsletter is confidence. Furthermore, the confidence I have in myself is absolute. If I lost my job tomorrow, my lifestyle would change for the time being and I would process that change emotionally like any other human. However, I also feel assured that I am more than my job. Getting to this point wasn’t easy. The confidence I speak of is both static and dynamic, it is internal and external; it springs from external experience and internal knowledge and feelings. Some of it comes from authors and speakers who've resonated with me. Some of it is intentional mindfulness and exercises for being present and aware of my emotions. Some of it is feedback from others.
Regardless of where it comes from, my mission is to help others influence their environment toward the better in a world where isolation and anxiety run rampant. I want you to have the confidence to act with empathy and understanding toward coworkers and collaborators, toward teammates and personnel. I want you to understand the relationship between teams and their environment, the obstacles to productivity and how to overcome them, the difference between static and dynamic problems. In doing so, I believe that we will all be able to find a little more peace in the world. This information doesn’t cover any single subject in depth. It aims to link team dynamics, collaboration, and leadership theory into useful and relatable stories and tools; some human psychology, some anthropology, some personal experience, some technical leadership acumen, and some communication and collaboration technique and skill.
…my mission is to help others influence their environment toward the better in a world where isolation and anxiety run rampant.
I believe that the contents of this newsletter can positively impact professional relationships as it has done for me. We are the first and oldest democracy in the world. We are world leaders internationally and yet, the mistrust between each other domestically compromises the republic. If America wants to fulfill her role as the beacon for freedom, opportunity, and fairness, I believe we must first fulfill understanding our roles and the roles of others in this great democracy. Every citizen should understand their own capability as a leader, of what leadership is, of the collaborative process, and how to build the systems and teams to get from point to point. Every citizen should understand communication, collaboration, and the basics of understanding each other. Thomas Paine wrote, “The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.” He also wrote, “We have it in our power to begin the world over again.” If we want to change the world, we must first take responsibility for the world in which we live.
“The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.” -Thomas Paine
More importantly, sharing and understanding is the root and beginning of working toward common goals. It is the basis for all collaboration, all planning, and all eventual success. The trick is knowing how to build enough trust with the right people to ignite growth in the direction we want to go. I hope you enjoy this newsletter and I’m excited to bring it to you!
Cheers-
Very insightful and well written. I look forward to reading more.
Great insight - meaningful within my own company strategy. Will be sharing.