Week 07, 2024 - Diary of a Revenue Engineer
Quote of the week:
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
What I thought…
This week was laser focused day by day and I loved it.
I had big tasks that took ultimate priority each day and I was incredibly proud of my prioritisation, it really helped me over-achieve in some key areas.
I’ve been reading up on, interested in and trying to implement efficiency in so many aspects of my life, it’s almost like a game to me. “That thing I just did… how could I do it faster, or with fewer moves…” is a thought process I have several times each day.
That being said, I don’t think I got any good at prioritisation until my life was changed a few years back by becoming a father whilst also working at some intense start-ups through the chaos post pandemic.
Strangely, it was the refocusing of inefficient thoughts and thought patterns such as “does so-and-so like me?” or “am I doing the right thing?” completely disappeared as I really only cared if my daughter was safe, healthy and happy.
This, coupled with the complete lack of time forced me to focus my efforts in key places to be most impactful. And, with this simple switch, everything changed for me.
This week has been a wondrous regression to those focused days and I found myself energised and acutely aware of my output. More importantly perhaps, I knew it’s value.
So, this week’s quote bore fruit once more. Thanks Winston, for all that you did, but also for these words of wisdom.
What I learned…
Valentine’s day came and went in a blur this week, which is fine, but I did learn that not capitalising on these socially created milestones through the year is a miss. Is it a gimmick? Oh, 100%… but that doesn’t mean it can’t be important too.
I also dove deeper into the Stoic Philosophy I mentioned in my last blog which I’m enjoying and it’s reminding me of my passion for ancient frameworks to help live a quality life. I must return to my musings on Ancient Greek and Japanese cultural frameworks for a good life.
Beyond that I learned a great deal about social housing in the UK as well as software supply chains, but those were both for interviews.
What I built…
After my focus on new roles and moving things forward for my own career and the safe support of my family, I moved to focusing on the connections between us.
I spend countless hours building revenue engines, creating ways to increase conversion, or leverage advantages but rarely get a chance to apply my same strategy to my family and our bonds.
I’ve been gifted that time and that capability and this week I spent three full days with my daughter when I’d usually only see her for a couple of hours.
They were fantastic and, I’m sure, helped me live longer and be happier… so…
How I lived longer…
The big wins for me this week were building better bonds with my family. I spent time with a good friend, his daughter and his partner… his mother and his sister also popped along on our day out and it become a reunion of sorts. I sincerely hope that you have a strong family foundation and support around you, and if no-one did the work to give that to you then I wish you the strength and fortitude to build it yourself. It’s value to your life and your longevity cannot be underestimated.
How I stayed happier…
We fed animals and played outside at the Cotswold Farm Park which is highly recommended as a day out.
At the end of the day I sat with my 2.5 year old daughter, we had a drink and had a conversation about the animals and our day. This may not sound like much to any reader, but it’s one of the first times I’ve been able to have a full, ongoing conversation with my little one and it the unique and special magic of it really hit me hard in a truly beautiful way.
Final Thoughts…
They say that energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed. I marvel, then, that the energy that creates memories and thoughts dissipates into heat that spreads through the universe.
I wonder where the energy that lead to a conversation with my daughter is right now.
I’ll say this for sure, whatever weak warmth it generated in it’s transformation pales in significance to the warmth I feel in my heart at the majesty of that moment.
I’m the luckiest man alive. And that gives me great courage to continue.
