…and you may ask yourself, how did I get here?
Coming back to something you’ve walked away from carries a welcomed level of comfort and discomfort as you start back not hat path . I know that by starting this blog, I’ll become a better writer, share my world with others, and hopefully share my story. I know that in picking up something I left behind, others will be encouraged to pick up something they left behind. Admittedly, a part of me feels like a fraud writing this blog. If you’ve been in my world long enough you know that this is a reboot and a restart from my older blog under the same name. However, I have a new intention behind my writing a goal to share my mission and vision with anyone who will read what I share
A little back story
In 2013 I left corporate work for the last time, and have never looked back. Since my last blog post in January of 2016 - a lot has changed in my life. I’ve married my closest confidant, purchased our first home, hired some of the most amazing staff we could ever imagine, and most importantly grown and challenged myself on a daily basis.
They say hindsight is 20/20 and I have to agree. When I stopped writing, I stopped celebrating, I stopped sharing, I lost the cathartic process of sitting down and sharing with all of you. I’m excited to bring writing back into my life. Not just to share my thoughts on training (which you can find here) but to share my back story.
Going Back
I think that a handful of the people who read this know my full story. This blog is about sharing that journey and I moved on from the person I no longer wanted to be. I have avoided talking about my past because it carries a certain amount of pain and sadness. What I’ve come to realize is that in sharing - I hope I can help others share and heal. Male mental health is one shrouded in ego, substance abuse, and unfortunately suicide. As I begin to share my story over these next couple of weeks and months, I hope I can reach a few people - and encourage them to find their why in life.
Living with a Mission
At 18, I thought I had a mission to finish school and become an engineer that brought value and new thinking to where I worked. At 21, I was a frustrated Engineer working in Detroit wondering where I would go next. By 26, I was in Colorado finishing up my last task as a Project Engineer for a Fortune 50 company. In the 5 years since - We’ve grown an endurance coaching company alongside my wife - from evenings and weekends to a full time job. As of writing this Lifelong Endurance is 7 coaches focused on helping adults athletes become the best version of themselves through running, cycling, and triathlon endeavors.
In the last 6 months of 2018, I’ve had a chance to sit with my mentors and better understand what I bring to the table as a person, as a professional, a mentor, and as a coach. This has pushed me to challenge myself, and build out a framework for what my ideal lifestyle looks like. I realize din that time that I was really worried and insecure about the people ‘at my level’ and after some exploration found that while I had a growing business, a loving wife, and rewarding role as a coach bandleader - I lacked a fundamental mission and vision for my future.
This blog is about my journey to find that mission, share my vision, and ultimately bring you - the reader, into my world.
A challenge for 2019
I’ve always believed that when we state a goal or fear out loud we allow ourselves to begin moving forward. I’m challenging myself to write here weekly in 2019. That’s 52 posts, about my life, my process, and 52 opportunities to make an impact on myself and others. I’m afraid that I’ll lose motivation or that no one will read what I write here, or worse - feel like a fraud. What I know for sure is that in starting this blog again, I’m giving myself an opportunity to live in my mission and vision.
My Mission:
To inspire athletes to become the best version of themselves. I accomplish this by applying the fundamental principles of training, guiding athletes through the application of the small details, and the importance of how to take ownership of the outcome.
My Vision:
Build a community where we can be valued, recognized, loved, desired, and respected by one another.