Time's flying right by

It’s kind of crazy to think that it’s been a whole month since I started my new job with Athletic Brewing Company!

I have so much to learn, but I feel like I’m starting to settle in and feel comfortable with the flow of things. I’m starting to remember a few names here and there — which is kind of funny because I’m usually way better at remembering faces, but in a remote world, the name is what you see most.

This team is incredibly intelligent, kind, optimistic and encouraging. I really look forward to learning more and meeting more people every single day. This is definitely the kind of environment that motivates me and helps me to be my best.

That, and there are a lot of talented people that I really hope to learn a lot about a lot from. I have grown a lot on this front in the last several years. It definitely hasn’t been easy — accepting criticism is hard — but I think it is necessary, and learning how to channel that into something positive takes a little bit of patience and sometimes a lot of self control.

I know I have so much to learn, though, and so many chances to make mistakes and to learn from them are in store.

To put it bluntly — I make a lot of mistakes!

I really feel like it does no good to criticize someone for making a mistake. Turn it into a learning opportunity if you want them to grow. If you want to make them feel bad and to both increase mistakes and ensure that they stop trusting/listening to you, then give them some nasty criticism.

Works every single time.

A lot of us are our own harshest critics. We can accept some good, valuable feedback and turn that into something that will help us grow. Or we can get something that’s not useful and won’t help us at all, which just leads to a death spiral of self doubt.

Not the best way to empower your team or to help them become better, don’t you think?

I’ve been fortunate in my career to have both examples of empowering teammates and defeating teammates. The good ones — those are people I will always look up to, I will always remember had a positive impact on my life. The bad ones — well, let’s just say I have sworn an oath to never end up that way. I never want people to feel the way I felt when sitting in a room alone with a boss that was yelling obscenities at me.

Maybe that’s a long-winded way of getting to the point. But I am truly grateful to be a part of the ABC team, the ambassador team (or a few, really!), the Gold’s Gym instructor team — so many teams that are so positive and that you can put your faith in 100% knowing that you will not be let down.

Sometimes a career change helps you grow not only your skills, but into a better human being. I have felt like the last couple of jobs I’ve had have done just that. I am so grateful for every team member I have worked with in those organizations. You've all had a profound impact on my life!

I’ll probably never have the chance to say it to all of you, but thank you. It truly has helped me refocus my life into something positive, and I want to now share that with others too.

In the words of my wise father: “Life’s too short to put up with assholes.”

Cut them loose and let them howl, while you find yourself a team that lets you blossom into the amazing person you were always meant to be.