Viktor Frankl, the author of “Man’s Search for Meaning,” writes: “If there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffer. Suffering is an ineradictable part of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering and death human life cannot be complete.” Yesterday I posted about a tough day. But more, I posted about how graduation offered a new perspective. The truth enabled me to see the “something better.” A few people reached out to me and asked, “are you okay?” I am. I am because I’m being truthful about life. Because that truth became meaningful to me. Because the meaning it gave me allows me to “do” life better. Because doing life better is coming alive. The most important lesson I’ve learned this week is to be authentic, even if it doesn’t “look” good, because I am living life as it is for me. And, that’s beautiful. P.S. to the ones who reached out - thank you for extending care. Yesterday’s entry is more about a way of thinking we can use to transcend the tough days.

Yesterday, hundreds of people graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Many have jobs to go onto, and many do not. But, it’s sure that many are taking with them a great deal of experience, hope, stress, knowledge, and debt.  

Graduation is “closure.” It’s the end of years learning, stressing, fighting, and believing in something much bigger than yourself. It’s the realization that the battle is over, you’re going somewhere else. It’s touching dry land after being isolated on a cruise ship for 80+ days. It’s the acceptance that the loved who died is, indeed, gone.  

I had more ideas about life, growth, perseverance, grit, and leadership than I knew what to do with after I left Carnival. These ideas came from the books I had been reading, my own observations from leading people, and experiences I had in big corporations. I always wanted to share these ideas with my team, and often I didn’t. Why?  Because the way I thought wasn’t like everybody else.  It was different.  “You’re too different. Why don’t you be like the rest of us?“Well, I’m not like the rest of everybody else - and I’m okay with that! I’m me. I have a culture of “different” that I’ve curated for myself, and it works.  How does this tie into blogging? Because, through blogging, I create and change the culture.  I curate and clarify my own thinking and behaviors.I offer insights to readers who are also looking to curate and clarify their own thinking.I spread a message of artisan doing - perfecting the craft of being productive.  I do this all every day.  What I’ve learned from blogging is the power of never giving up on an idea. To stick with it. Even if nobody cares. At least I did something worth something with the time I had.  You have time right now. Possibly lots of it. What behaviors and mindsets will you cultivate and curate for yourself?

This past weekend, many of my friends lost their jobs in the cruise industry. An industry they might have spent the better half of 2 decades in. They’re also trying to figure out what’s next.  How will they be able to break into a new industry?What if no one understands their previous work?What if they can’t pay their bills?  What if…There are others like them with similar struggles. Admittedly, I’ve been in that place before, too.  The place where it might seem impossible to adopt a mindset of growth amidst the loss. Where I might take more time to grieve than what’s needed. Where the feelings of optimism might seem in short supply.  To those people, I offer a simple yet provocative thought.  “You have more abundance now than your mind allows you to see.“I can say that because I’ve been there myself. Here’s what you have that you didn’t have before:Time - you have time to explore, reflect, and enjoy.Time - you can slow down a bit, let life get ahead of you, and be present.Time - you can engage in self-care, rest, and do the things you should be doing for yourself all the time.And there’s one last thing I’ll say, “you have permission.“Right now, you have permission to use time and do something with it. You don’t need that permission from me - you’ve had it all along.  So now,   What will you do?  Where will you go?Who will you serve?

“The future starts today, not tomorrow.” - Pope John Paul IIRight now:You have the opportunity to make a change.You can learn a new skill.You can explore your passions.You can make life the way you want it to be.There are people like you, Artisan Doers - people who are perfecting the craft of coming alive, are using this method. Here’s how it works:Accept that your concept of “normal” is based on the past. The past has passed, now it’s time for new.Accept that only you can create the life you want to live.  Accept that the life you want to live in is your “new normal.“Create healthy expectations for yourself and for others.Go out, and do something - come alive.If you have doubts about the method or think it couldn’t possibly apply to your situation, think again.No gift is free of risk, and risks aren’t safe.  There’s a risk in trying this method out - only you can determine how well it works.  On the contrary, if you apply yourself, you can gift yourself and others with something special: You.

Culture as defined by me:“A curated set of agreed-upon beliefs and actions.“I can have my own culture. I have made an agreement with myself to believe what I believe, read what I read, and act the way I act.    You can do the same.You can curate or carefully select what information you choose to believe.  You can curate how you choose to behave around others.You can curate what you’ll tell yourself when others upset you.You can curate what you’ll say when you finally choose to speak.As a leader, you can do the same for your tribe.The tribe of Artisan Doers values self-reflection, being endlessly curious, and trying new things so that we can be better for ourselves, and our communities.  Culture starts with the self and then expands out.  If you’re like me, and you value what this blog represents, you’ll probably subscribe and share it with others like you.If you’re not, you won’t. And, that’s how culture ought to work.It starts with you and works out.  You curate the sources that inspire you.You curate how you take your news.You curate the actions you’ll take towards others.You curate the people in your life.You curate how you show the people in your life you care.Culture starts with you.

You might be frustrated by how things are going now.  Perhaps you had an industry, job, or creative work that’s now dried up. Perhaps it’s hard to see what’s ahead.  Perhaps it doesn’t feel worth it.Also, perhaps, you still have a vision.  There’s a hope you see on the horizon.  There’s a possibility of something more.There’s the chance for you to do something great for people who care.That hope is vision.  Your vision is the “future possible.“It’s what you could be doing right now if you just took a step.It’s the promise of something better.It’s a clear picture of the people you seek to serve.But, don’t get stuck in the euphoria of your eutopia. The world you’re trying to create isn’t real yet.Because for it to be real, you must also identify what doesn’t belong.

The other day I thought it would be fascinating to hear how foxes communicate with one another.

Not surprisingly, I started my search by looking up “fox communication,” and I received links to Fox News.

Not really what I wanted. So, I took a step further, “fox communication vixen (a female fox).”

I clicked the first video.

Immediately, I thought about how we must sound to other animals.

This is a short self-reflection.

I do these every now and then because I want to show what I’m learning.

I have an eclectic background.

I am, therefore, interesting, useful, and not useful at once.

I am proud of my experience.

I have many interests.

Like Wisconsin’s weather, they change often.

I know that makes me difficult to pin down, but I’m not the kind to be pinned down.

I am proud of my curiosity.

I’m writing this to you on a Saturday morning, even though it will be Thursday (today) when you read this message.  I’m looking out my window, as I often do for inspiration, and I notice the sound of the wind.  Like the folkloric, Banshee, the wind howls and “whoooooooos” across the window.  What’s it saying?  Wind doesn’t make a sound unless it comes into contact with another object. What we’re hearing is the sound of friction and disruption.When the wind passes over surfaces, the friction it creates is the howl.  When the wind dislodges branches and leaves, the disruption creates the rustling of the leaves.It’s this friction and disruption that changes the way we perceive the wind.  So, what is the wind saying?  It’s saying get out and do something - come alive.You won’t be able to create a message that spreads as fast the wind rushes without creating friction.  You won’t be able to do the work that matters without creating a ruckus.  You won’t be able to find fulfillment unless you actually take a step outside your comfort zone and work.You and the wind have much in common, you both are capable of significant change. But, you’ve got to make a ruckus.