45th Presidential Inauguration

Today, we as country held the Inauguration of the 45th President.  This event is very special honor we as a nation get to experience together regardless of party affiliation. It is the peaceful passage of power. It's a time that we are one group of people, citizens of these United States. It is our opportunity to demonstrate to the world that while we may not always agree on the person elected, which I'm struggling with now, we do agree on the democratic process in the peaceful passage of power. We should not take for granted the freedom of democracy. It is an unbelievable opportunity to express and voice our thoughts through an open and fair process.

As a kid growing up in the 70's & 80's, I believed there was no higher honor than to be President of the United States. I was taught that it was a position that anyone could, and should, strive to hold.  It was trailed only by the dreams of being an astronaut or the next Evel Knievel.  However, even though I'm slightly more realistic today than in years past, I do still believe it is the most honorable position of service we as Americans can hold and one that must be approached with humility.  

I haven't always agreed with the choice America made for President, and feel that way currently, however, I have always respected the office itself. This is the most important point. The Office of President is not one person. Rather, it's an amalgam representative of the people. That is what I hope our new President, as well as all future Presidents, will come to understand. This is a position of humility without ego and it shouldn't matter if they have an "R" or "D" after their name. Instead the President should be a ubiquitous representative of, and for, the people of America. This can be accomplished by embracing this extremely high honor and operating with the upmost humility, integrity, and respect for what the Office of the President truly represents....the People! 

Reflection & Purpose

Today, January 1, 2017, we get to start fresh with a new year.  Last year was certainly interesting to say the least.  America elected a new president after an extremely long and arduous, election process.  A process that started way too early back in 2015.  We continue to see violence grow globally that is masked by jaded religious principles and we lost an unusual amount of iconic entertainers.  Quite simply, its been a long, hard, and peculiar year.  

On a personal level, I turned 47 in 2016, joined a new software startup company, and competed in the Muncie 70.3 Ironman.  While 2016 may have been turbulent for a lot of folks, it was a year of purpose for me.  As I wrote in previous blogs, the Muncie 70.3 Ironman was dedicated to a monumental figure in my life, Bill Fred Haecker.  It provided me with a laser-focused goal that began in early January and ended on warm July weekend. I must admit that since finishing the race, I have felt slightly lost.  I had so much purpose in the training that it kept my compass pointed forward.  Over the past five months, that same compass has been sending me in a variety of directions.  While I have direction in my professional life, the void of direction, specifically from an athletic perspective, in my personal life leaves me feeling lost and in search of, well...purpose.

After last years race, I did make the statement that I am officially retiring from long-distance triathlons.  The race literally beat the Hell out of me.  I was sore, chaffed, and completely ragged.  However, I did feel a monumental amount of accomplishment.  It wasn't my first 70.3 but the purpose behind it meant so much to me personally. At the time I thought, "how can you ever compete in another one of these when this particular one has so much meaning?".   I now realize that the race in Muncie won't lose its luster if I do another.  Nothing can replace the overwhelming feeling that race provided.  It was for Fred and will always will be!

Throughout my life, a common thread has been training for something that culminated in an end-goal.  Whether it was tennis or triathlon training, I've always strived toward a goal in the form of a tournament or race.  I now realize that I shouldn't back away from this approach but rather embrace it.  I understand that I'm not the fastest or best athlete any longer, if I ever was, but I am someone who enjoys the process.  Sure, it can sometimes be monotonous, painful, or just plain boring but it points my compass forward.  This is something my mind and body both need as it makes me feel centered, focused, and complete.  It helps to improve every aspect of my life and eliminates the noise and confusion of the world around us.  

So what will 2017 bring?  In addition to tying to be the best husband, father, and friend my goals this year are to: 

• Train & compete in the Augusta 70.3 Ironman September 24th
• Stand my company up as a premier partner in the analytics management arena by December
• Take the GMAT and enter the Ole Miss MBA Program in May
• Live a healthier & happy lifestyle on a daily basis
• Learn and become proficient in French (by Dec), Italian (by Dec), and Spanish (by May)

In addition to the measurable goals above, I will also work to create balance between home, work, & life daily.  I will do this by taking time each morning to create a calm space, one that is a space of "sacred silence".  I will use this it to reflect on what I'm grateful for; what I'm excited about and looking forward to doing that particular day; identifying my purpose and ensuring my plans connect me to it; and lastly, who can I reach out to and serve.  

I'm optimistically hopeful that 2017 will be a great year and I will strive to make it better by serving each day with purpose through my thoughts, words, and actions.  Let the year begin!