Elections and My Future
This has been a long time coming, and I'm ready.
I typically don’t say much about politics on my more prominent social media (like on my Twitter account), mainly because I consider Twitter to be an extension of my professional networking, and I don’t like to mix politics with that part of my life.
But it doesn’t mean I’m not political. Quite the opposite, actually.
Not many people know this, but one of my majors in college was Public Policy. I have strong convictions and opinions about social programs, policy, international relations, and the overall direction that I’d like to see for our country.
For my close friends and family, it’s no secret that I’m a registered Democrat. I’m far more vocal about all of this on my Mastodon account, if you’re interested in connecting there.
Mentally Taxing Election Cycle
It seems like the norm for election cycles these days is hate, anger, fear, mockery, fabrications, exaggerations, and flat-out lies.
The shit is tiring.
I try to stay up-to-date with what is happening, but everyone from mainstream media to YouTubers just harp on the drama. The crazy things said. The absurd statements. The outrage.
I look at the calendar and I can't believe we are still a couple of months away from the election. We are getting battered over the head with negativity. At least that’s how I feel, and it’s near impossible to stay fully engaged in the political process because of all the bullshit that is being thrown about.
But complacency is not an option.
The very clear reality is that this election is the most important one of my lifetime. Donald Trump is a disease on the collective conscience of this country. He’s a habitual liar, racist, womanizer, and convicted felon who left our country far worse than where we are today by almost every important metric.
Some people say they can separate policy from the person. Setting aside the fact that his policies really hurt our country, I simply cannot relate to anyone who goes through the mental gymnastics to claim his personal flaws do not matter. The man is a narcissistic sociopath on full display, and proud of it. It’s disgusting. He does not represent American values. He’s the antithesis of it.
The unfortunate side story here is that the Republican Party has been completely hijacked, and it might not even be salvageable at this point. The results of this election will determine what happens next for the GOP. Do they revert to the conservative values and talking points of Ronald Reagan, or do they double-down on the MAGA path of division, isolationism, and hate?
Look, I don’t agree with most Republican policy, but I did respect it from people like John McCain, Mitt Romney, Liz Cheney, and Chris Christie. I have Republican friends and family who feel the same, and they are voting for Harris this cycle simply because they want their party back. I sincerely hope that they are able to feel comfortable again within their own party.
Civic Service is My New Path
As I knock on the door of 40 years old, I’ve been heavily evaluating the next phase of my life and what I want it to look like.
In my 20s, I had an insatiable desire to be an entrepreneur and to own my time. This gave rise to LearnDash and the incredible journey that took me on. I grew as a person, got to express my creativity, and learned more about business than any graduate school could ever teach. I played the game, and I won.
Following the sale of LearnDash, I’ve been trying to find that inner drive again. I tried land investing, podcasting for a bit, started another software company, until last year I finally landed on helping other entrepreneurs with coaching.
But business coaching isn’t my end game.
I enjoy coaching and my clients (who are more like friends at this point). I will continue to do it, but I don’t see it as my remaining purpose. Actually, since the ending of LearnDash, I have had this feeling that I want more out of my life than just entrepreneurial endeavors.
Which brings me back to this election cycle, and the fact that it has been a bit of an inspiration. It has reignited a passion that has been dormant in me for quite some time, one that I now feel capable of pursuing, freely.
Civic service is in my future. Hopefully one day as an elected official in my local government, but that’s a future goal for a later time. For now, it’s about starting out at a grassroots level as I look for ways to get involved in local initiatives.
That entire prospect energizes me, and I'm going to start as soon as we officially move to our new home in Culver City.
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