In my continuing effort to document what it’s like to go from comfortably employed to suddenly unemployed to launching a business in very short order, Episode 11 will cover the week of October 11. You can read all of my previous Episodes on my website.
Mood: I haven’t flown anywhere since our getaway trip to Clearwater between Christmas and New Years. I’ve had no business travel since January 23-24, 2020. But here I am typing this in Las Vegas for a week of conferences (National Comp on Wed and Thu, MjBizCon on Tue and Fri). I’ve enjoyed, more than I thought, being at home. I’ve been productive while staring at the white light in my own home, feet away from my own pillow and kitchen table. I’ve developed a pace and routine that fits the moment. I’ve made new friends through virtual networking and been able to launch cool new things (e.g. “Between 2 Coasts“). On the other hand, Work Comp is a people business. Networking is most effectively done in-person. I’ve always enjoyed business travel that takes me to new places to nurture existing and create new relationships. I like the perks of being a frequent traveler. So my business travel this week is bittersweet to some degree. There were a lot of thoughts bouncing around inside my head as I pulled out of my driveway on Mon morning. But the one that resonated most was President Theodore Roosevelt’s speech on April 23, 1910 …
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
Accomplishments: Presented the third CE webinar (in a series of five), “Non-Pharmacological Options for Pain,” on behalf of Harvard MedTech. Attended the virtual Business Insurance Cannabis & Hemp conference, including my pre-recorded session about Work Comp. Attended the virtual MjBizCon sessions on cannabis in Europe, Canada and Mexico. Prep, Prep, Prep for Vegas.
What I Learned: Family is forever. Like everyone else on planet earth, we’ve had plenty of challenges and victories since COVID-19 struck. Through it all, family – by blood, by marriage or thru business – has helped us confront and overcome. Just because they’re family doesn’t mean you always agree or that you even like each other at times. But the “tie that binds” (the shared belief or other factor that links people together) is what makes it work. Family gatherings – this past weekend, this week in Vegas – reminded me of how we are only as good as our supportive cast. And the most supportive cast is family.
Anxiety Level (1-10): 7
Three Good Things:
- We spent a restful weekend in the north Georgia mountains (near Blairsville) for a family wedding on Sat. The bride is officially the daughter of my cousin-in-law (“first cousin, once removed”?) but she’s more like my niece because my cousin-in-law is more like my brother. The weekend reminded me of when my own daughter got married on May 15 (but with a lot less responsibility). They were bridesmaids for each other primarily because of our joint history. We’ve had family vacations – just the adults, with our kids. We’ve had holiday meals together. We’ve watched movies together, attended sporting events together, gone to church together, seen babies born together, attended funerals together. It is that shared experience that made both weekends special.
- I am so happy for my friend, Dr. Claire Muselman, who walked across the stage at Grand Canyon University last week to receive her Doctorate in front of her daughter. I know the amount of work it took for her to make that moment happen and how much it meant to have her daughter there to see it happen. As usual, Claire is leading by example on what it means to be family.
- This week is finally here.
Word for the Week: Family
This Week’s Lesson: Don’t take family for granted.
About Mark Pew
Mark Pew is a passionate educating and agitating thought leader in workers’ compensation and award-winning international speaker, blogger, author and jurisdictional advisor. He has focused on the intersection of chronic pain and appropriate treatment since 2003. He is the driving force and co-founder of The Transitions and just recently launched The RxProfessor consulting practice at https://therxprofessor.com.