Lead. Learn. Repeat. - A Personal Update

Hello!

I hope this email finds you well. First of all, my apologies for the radio silence over the last couple of months. I've been on an unexpected and challenging life journey that I'd like to share with you.

Two months ago, we had to evacuate our home due to a wildfire for almost 2 weeks. Unfortunately, we suffered some minor property damage, but are luckier than many who lost their homes. While we were waiting for repairs, 2 weeks later we were hit by a flood.

I almost lost it at midnight that night as I was furiously attempting to bail water out of my basement with a bucket during 220 mm of rain in 7 hours. It was a lost cause and I was so defeated. The fire damage wasn’t even fixed yet.

My house currently looks like an episode of Hoarders with things scattered everywhere as we still await repairs.

As if that wasn't enough, I fell during a trail run 2 weeks ago and injured my left arm and hand (I’m left-handed 🥹).

Life has been throwing curveballs at me, to say the least. As I navigated these challenges, I've had some time to reflect on how I am leading myself during this time.

One conclusion I've drawn is that leadership often involves adaptation, resilience, and the recognition that we're all human, and prone to life's ups and downs. Some things we handle well, some things we don’t.

These events have given me a unique vantage point on what leadership looks like in the face of adversity.

During my time away, I've also questioned the impact of my voice in an increasingly noisy landscape filled with ChatGPT-generated leadership advice. Is what I have to say unique enough? Does it resonate? These are questions I'm still grappling with.

I may pause this newsletter for a bit longer to focus on getting my life back on track, or this might be the end of the road. Either way, I want to thank you for being a part of this journey with me.

I would love to hear your thoughts. What have you enjoyed about the newsletter? What would you like to see more of? Your input could be the North Star I need as I contemplate the future of this project.

Thank you once again for your patience and support.

Take care,
Shawn