A New Beggining... December

Movember (November with a mustache) is pretty popular in the Bay Area.  At Stanford's GSB, where Shaunnah goes to school, it's taken pretty seriously and I thought it would be kind of fun to participate.  I must have forgotten how terrible my facial hair comes in, but don't worry, I remember now.

The easy part about participating as a student at the GSB is you are in a bubble.  The public does not really see you with a terrible mustache.  I, however, have to ride the train every day, go to work and ride the train back.  My sh#$%y 'stache is out in the public and sometimes, very rarely, I would not mind the thing on my lip.

The month had a number of highs and lows.  Most days I would think to myself, "You look like a creepy moron."  Then there would be brief (about 30 sec)  periods of excitement and hope!  I thought I might be able to pull the 'stache off.  Those moments were definitely  just spikes in the sentimental roller-coaster that was Movember.

Last night I held a shaving ceremony for the end of Movember.  The results are below.  I love the cause and think it is important.  However, maybe I will just donate after this year.   Shaunnah is more than happy to see the "caterpillar" die.

Happy December!

Movember - With Shaunnah unhappy in the
background, haha

Hello December!!!!

Thankful

I want to let everyone know how thankful I am on this amazing day!  Thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday for a LOOOOONG time.  I love the focus on what I call the 3 Fs: Food, Family (fellowship) and Football!

I'm thankful for my family.  They have supported me in every adventure I have ever been through.  Whether it was, sucking in little league as a kid, excelling in rowing, going to prep school, the Naval Academy, getting married, rowing and now working in the private sector, my family has been amazing.  THANK YOU

Our Amazing Dinner!  Turkey, stuffing,
sweet potato goodness, creamed corn and gravy

My friends.  For many of the same reasons as above.  I am a strict believer in the team effort.  I don't think I know anyone that can accomplish something great alone.  There is always a support system and my friends have been part of mine.

My wife's Thanksgiving Dinner!!! Shaunnah is an amazing cook and I'm starving.  I can't wait to eat.

On that note, the apartment is smelling amazing and I hear the dishing out of stuffing and sweet potato casserole!.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Humbling

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to play golf at the Navy SEAL Tribute Celebration in Half Moon Bay. The event was hosted by the Navy SEAL Foundation and was amazing.

The Navy SEAL Foundation is a non-profit that takes care of the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.  If a loved one is lost or injured, the foundation steps in and makes sure ALL loved ones can attend the funeral, grief counseling is provided, spouses and children are taken care of financially and the children of fallen soldiers earn college scholarships.  It's an amazing organization that is run by former SEALs.  Naturally, this means they do things right the first time and provide the best for their people.

This event showed just that.  It was humbling.  I was invited by a USNA alumni who I spent time with this summer talking about my transition into the private sector.  He is a former Team Guy (Navy SEAL) who has kicked ass in the private sector.  I met up with him and two of his friends and we got ready for a round of golf.  I was stoked!

Shaunnah joined our group for dinner!

The four of us were teamed up with an active duty SEAL.  It's amazing how humble these guys can be.  They have been through a tough 11 years, constantly jumping from deployment to deployment, risking their lives in places most of us can not even imagine.  He's a great guy.

We didn't just play golf and go home.  No No No.  We played at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay; were given free gear (AWESOME) and had an amazing cocktail hour and dinner event.  Top notch event for a top notch organization.  During the golf game, there were roaming cocktail carts with booze and beer.  I think our five-some focused a bit more on the carts than the game, haha.

The dinner speaker was Richard Phillips.  He was the Captain of the Maersk Alabama when it was boarded by pirates off of the Horn of Africa, captured and then rescued by Navy SEALS.  He is a great speaker!  Very energetic and witty.  His respect for his saviors was so evident throughout the entire speech.  The craziest part was the SEALs' reaction to the story.  None of them had that look of supreme achievement when the story was told.  Rather, it was more of a shy look.  They didn't want the credit and I felt like they were thinking it was just another day on the job.

It was a great event and I'm so glad to have been a part of it.  Just remember that one of the reasons we sleep well at night is because men like this are out in the shadows of the world defending your freedom.  Even more reassuring is the fact that there's an organization that supports these warriors.  The Navy SEAL Foundation does an awesome job!

- Jimmy

Welcome to California

So Shaunnah and I have been in Cali for about 2 weeks and we've noticed a trend... "Welcome to California."  The problem is it's not the greeting we usually get when we tell "the locals" we're newbies.  It's been the response we get when we are jaw-droppingly surprised at the answer to our questions.  Here are three short stories to help you understand.

1.  The Bike Ride
We were in a bike shop and I asked the bike shop guy if they organized any group rides.  He chuckled (another common theme in this series) and said no.  His reasoning was that the bike shop is not allowed to organize rides because they would then be held liable if someone was hurt during the rides.  That's right, the state of California would allow them to be sued.

2.  Can You Toast My Bagel
Getting some b-fast at a coffee shop with Shaunnah and she orders a bagel and then asked if it can be toasted.  The answer was "Sorry, no.  We don't have the permit to heat food."  The guy actually looked embarrassed when he said it, hilarious.

3.  Recycling Fee, Up-front
We purchased a computer yesterday and were getting the bill breakdown from the salesman.  "This is the cost of the computer, protection plan and tax..." Then I interrupted him when he skipped over and $8 charge and said, "What's the eight bucks for?"  "Oh, that's the recycling fee for your computer.  When you're ready to turn this one in and buy a new one you don't have to pay for it then!"  He tried to justify it with a little excitement and then I asked, "If we move out of state before we recycle the computer, can I get my $8 back?"  SILENCE!

The weather here is amazing and so far our experience has been equally amazing.  I really don't see that changing anytime soon.  The rules, however, are starting to get a little annoying, haha.

Have a great one.  Once we get settled in I'll post a few pics from the trip on the blog!

- Jimmy

Relax

Relaxing at The Golden Bear in Sacramento 

I have had the pleasure of sitting down with many people this summer who have successfully transitioned from the military to the civilian sector.  Each has given their unique advice and all of it has been great.  One of the most interesting pieces of advice I've received was about vacationing.

When I was cut from the Olympic Team, the last thing on my mind was vacation.  Because of who I am, my first thoughts were, "I need to get on with my life and set my family up for future success."  Thankfully, I came across a former Navy SEAL turned successful business man who gave me great advice, "You need to take off and fit 2 weeks of activities into a 4 week time frame."

I was astounded for a number of reasons.  Here I was, transitioning for a 2nd time and I was receiving advice, not on how to go about succeeding in the business world, but on relaxing and regenerating.  I had also never thought about a vacation the way he had.  Fitting 2 weeks of stuff in 4 weeks, GENIOUS!!!  Also, it turns out his advice was geared towards succeeding.

Catching the Mumford and Sons concert in
Monterey with friends!  

The time Shaunnah and I spent in Slovenia last year was not quite the way things are described above.  We were running around most of the time looking at stuff and I had just come off a disappointing result with the pressure of Olympic selection looming ahead.  Despite the running around and bummed attitude, it was an amazing trip and loved Slovenia.

SOOOO, now to the point. I think Shaunnah and I are finally going to fit x amount of stuff into 2x time.  (who doesn't love algebra?)  Knowing that this may be the last chance for a long time, our excitement is through the roof.

Always remember to take some time and decompress.  It will help you perform better, whether it be at work, home or on the field.  Needless to say, Shaunnah will be ready to kick butt in the classroom and I'll be ready to crush it where I land work-wise.  We're both super stoked about the future and it starts with a little vacation!

- Jimmy

The Power of the Common Goal

Watching the Olympic racing has been amazing.  I find myself sitting by the laptop at 5 or 6 in the morning and probably waking up 1/2 of my apartment complex... sorry 66 Franklin St.  After watching the men's 8 final and going nuts (cowbell, navy football game nuts) when the USA pulled even and moved through Canada, I didn't think I would get any more excited.  Then came the lightweight 4 final.

Even though the USA boat wasn't in it, I still had to watch.  The lwt 4 is arguably the toughest event at the international level.  The event has not been dominated by one crew in a long time and the trend continued yesterday.  I'm watching and focusing on Denmark, Great Britain and Australia.  All of them are duking it out and I was sure they will bring home the 3 medals awarded.  Then I notice another bow coming into the picture... South Africa.

After I noticed them, they made minced meat of the field, sprinting through the three crews and winning the Olympics!  It was amazing.  They denied the reigning world champions, Australia, a medal and de-throned the  reigning Olympic champions, Denmark.  I love watching racing and that was definitely one for the record books, literally.  It was the first time South Africa has won a gold medal in rowing at the Olympics.

I was reading articles about the race and the South Africans said something that resonated with me, "Gold."  That was their key word, what they worked toward for the last few years.  Whenever they were feeling down in training or making a move for speed in a race, they called out the word "Gold."  Simple really, they had a goal and a focus.  It worked.  When they were in the "pain locker" and gaining momentum on the field they made a call for "gold" and sprinted through the leaders to win the Olympics.

When I rowed at Navy we focused on the Jope Cup.  It took a few years, but the Navy lightweights eventually won that trophy two years in a row (2005+1, and 2005+2), defining them as the strongest lightweight team in the country.  I tried to bring that mentality to the Navy and then the national team and I feel it helped me, personally.  Not everyone always bought into it, thinking it was corny or cheesy; but it worked for South Africa!





Going into any objective, it's a good idea to have a focus, a goal.  Focusing on that goal will get you far and help you achieve the unbelievable.  Congratulations to South Africa.  Amazing race!

- Jimmy

Failure

So I've been interviewing quite a bit and a wide array of questions have been thrown my way.  This entire experience is completely new to me.  It is half fun/half terrifying.  I found that I have to be on my toes and free my mind so I can reach far back into the depths of it to recall certain events, examples or be creative. 

One of the fun questions I was asked was, "If you were a final contestant on Jeopardy and had a choice for the Final Jeopardy subject, what would you choose and why?"  I smirked, thought and came up with "History of US Rowing."  My reasons were, I am a rowing groupie and have studied the sport since I was in high school and the rowing community is extremely small compared to the population and I figured not many people are familiar with it.  Another reason, that I didn't express, was that I have NO IDEA which author in the 17th Century used the phrase, "Blahsi blahsi blahsi..."

The BEST question I've been asked is, "How do you feel about failure?"  I'm not sure if this is a common question, but it should be.  It's also somewhat of a trap.  Many would think they should answer with some kind of response that involves not ever failing and succeeding at everything you do.  THAT'S CRAP.  Everyone fails.  It's a fact of life.  Every single person in this world has gone out to accomplish something and not achieved the end result.  You know what?  THAT'S OK!!!!

I consider myself somewhat successful.  Whether it is luck, talent or just pure hard work (it's most likely the first and last reasons) I have managed to accomplish many of my goals.  However, I have also failed a lot. 

Let's talk rowing.  I have lost so many more races than I have won.  It sucks; I don't like it, but it happens.  Everytime I have failed I tried not to dwell on it.  Instead, I analyze and try to learn from it.  My sophomore year in college is a prime example.  We (the Navy Varsity Lwts) had a pretty terrible season.  Going in we had high hopes and I was determined to prove myself as a Varsity Oarsman.  But when the time came to line up and get the job done, we couldn't do it.  We finished the season under .500 winning percentage and didn't make the final at the championships.

After that series of events, I thought about what we could have done differently.  That, along with amazing leadership from the seniors and my coach helped us to NOT LOSE a single race in the US the next year.  Our first loss came in the semi-finals of the Henley Royal Regatta.  I feel that we, as a team, learned from the previous year's humble experience and capitalized on it. 

I feel a simple goal in everyone's life should be not to let failures define you.  What defines you, is how you handle those failures.  Learn from them and allow them to build your character in a positive way.  Keep a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA!!) and keep on going after your goals. 

Have a good one,
Jimmy

The Hunt

So I haven't rowed since April 13th.  For me, cold turkey is the only way to go.  I've been asked if I want to go for a row and thankfully, I've had the wherewithal to resist.  I know that one practice will turn into three per week and eventually, 11!  So, I've been hunting... JOB HUNTING.

Serious Job Hunting Face

The Navy provides it's people with NO EXPERIENCE in job hunting.  Sure, we put in preferences for where we want to go next and there is some competitiveness; but in the end we are given orders.  That's right, ordered to our next position.  Very rarely, are you interviewed.  NEVER, do you have to negotiate salary or starting date.

Sooooo, since April 13th I've been going to "school."  That's right, I'm 30 years old and I'm going to my very first job interviews, my first salary negotiations and my first real job decisions...  To be honest, it's driving me a little crazy.  I really didn't think that networking, researching companies, writing resumes and interviewing would take so much time and effort.   It's not that I mind putting in hours; but it's unexpected.

My advice:

Take your time.  Make sure you don't rush anything.  These things take more time then you would think and finding the best fit is probably not going to happen immediately.

Find leadership:  I think finding what you want to do is important; BUT finding people that will mentor you is more important.  You need to become a sponge when you begin a new chapter in career.

Trust your family:  Your family probably knows you better than you give them credit for.  Do not take this journey alone.  Take their advice, it can only help.

So I have not signed an offer for a job yet and therefore, giving advice may be a little premature; but listen to it if you want.  Remember, you should not blindly follow any advice.   Trust; but analyze and curtail it to your own situation.

Have a good one,
Jimmy

I am my Parents

"The apple does not fall far from the tree."  Man, it's weird.  I constantly find myself doing things, stopping, thinking, and saying to myself, "Jesus, I'm turning into my parents."

I love my Mom and Dad.  They are the two most influential people in my life and I think they did a pretty good job turning four hooligans into men.  However, sometimes they drive me freakin' nuts, not as much now, but when I was a little younger.  Now, I find myself doing those things that used to drive me nuts and it's driving me nuts! haha.

My Dad is like a shark.  No, he won't eat anything and is not a killer; but if he stops moving he'll probably die.  The man is in constant motion.  I've never known him to wake up past 6:30 a.m.  If he makes to that time in bed then he's really tired.  As soon as he's up it's go time.  When I was a kid I couldn't keep up.  He would have us up at the ass-crack of dawn mowing the lawn or washing cars.  We all hated it; but now I find myself kind of doing the same thing.  I think this leads to his greatest attribute, work ethic.  He's a machine.

I used to hate when my Dad turned the AC off in the house (first world problem).  It would be cool at night and heat up during the day.  He was constantly on us about turning off lights and wasting energy.  That's because he had to pay the bills and we didn't have a clue what that meant.  NOW, I find myself wanting to turn off the AC.  I think about it as a energy saving thing mostly.  In the back of my mind, however, I'm thinking about lowering that bill too.

My Mom is relentless and tough.  If she wants something she's going to keep pushing until she gets it.  It's not just a selfish trait either.  If she wants something for one of her precious little angels (I'm angel #1) then she'll get it.  It was awesome and embarrassing as a kid, haha.  Looking back though, she made all of our lives better.

Mom's also tough as nails and I think I got a little bit of that (only a fraction).  When I was in high school Mom had breast cancer, went through chemo therapy, lost her hair, and beat cancer.  As a teenager I didn't really comprehend what was going on.  I don't think we supported her the way we should have and she didn't complain to us one bit.  She still took care of us and made sure we had everything we needed.  I can only imagine how tired and sick she was and she played it off so well that her kids didn't really notice.  As people say in the military or sports, she's hard.  

So the things that drove me crazy as a kid and young adult are the same qualities I inherited from my parents.  I'm a better person for it.  Although, I do feel a little sorry for my future kids, haha.

Have a good one,
Jimmy

Not Rowing

So this is the longest period of time I have not rowed since 2008.  Yesterday I did sit in an 8 to show some kids the difference between placing the blade WHEN you get to the catch and placing the blade AS you get to the catch.  But, that's it.  I've gone cold turkey.

Cold turkey is a tough way to go.  I've spoken to members of my family who used to smoke.  They tried many different ways to quit.  It was cold turkey that did it the best.  If I were to go out in a single three times per week I might start to think I could add a fourth day and then that would snowball into rowing six times a week and I just can't do it.

Actually, it's been nice.  I get to go out with Shaunnah whenever I want.  If we want to go out and get a drink at 9 pm we can!  Every other weekend for the past four years I was always thinking about rest and trying to do my best to be ready to rock n roll the next day.

However, I do have a lot of energy.  Those who know me, know that I'm like my Dad (post later on the scary notion of turning into your parents) and am not good at standing still.  I need something to do, something constructive.  I think sometimes it drives Shaunnah a little nuts, but I'm just getting her back, haha.

SOOOOO, I've been running.  Running a lot.  I'm not really training for anything; but I have developed a routine of working out and think it's important.  Everyone should force time into their schedule to take care of themselves.

I've also been on the job hunt pretty aggressively.  Networking, writing cover letters and refining the resume are daily adventures.  I'm new at all of it because in the Navy you don't really need a resume.  You give them your listed preferences and then they order you to go somewhere.

So basically, I'm doing my damn-est to keep busy and not go crazy.  The most comforting part is that I'm fine.  I miss rowing, a little; but I realize that rowing has never and continues to NOT define me.  My definition (whatever that is) made me a good rower, not the other way around.

Now I'm going to meet my wife for lunch.  Have a good one.

- Jimmy

The end... I think not

"What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning.  The end is where we start from."  - T.S. Eliot

My journey to the Olympics has officially ended, and with that, my rowing career.  I was sent home in the final cut of the lightweight men's four selection camp.  I was upset, mostly disappointed that the end had come.  I left everything I had on the water and that's all I can do.  

I feel the important part is not to focus on the end of this dream, that would have ended happily or unhappily in three month anyway.  My focus is now on my new beginning.  

My brother Patrick and I with Katy Perry
before her concert at USNA!

For the first time in two years I get to live with my wife for more than two weeks at a time!  We are both elated and so eager to move on.  I'm now able to go out whenever I want and celebrate with old friends.  Family events (weddings and reunions) are now part of my schedule.  Excitement does not begin to express the emotion I have when I think about enjoying my brother's bachelor party and wedding!

So yes, I am extremely disappointed that my rowing career has ended.  However, it has allowed me to begin the next chapter earlier than expected.  The end of my rowing career is where I'm going to start from.

- Jimmy

Spring Cleaning

The Vernal Equinox has come and gone.  Winter has left us and the rains are supposed to begin.  Even more exciting is the rowing racing season has begun, to include a National Selection Regatta in pairs for us lightweights.  BUT, one thing that always needs to be done is a little spring cleaning.

As a transient, I don't necessarily have a house to clean.   My Gmail inbox however was a MESS.  I think it's important to stay organized.  Shaunnah and I have files for all of our stuff and when it comes time to find anything it takes seconds and not minutes or hours.  I try to keep my email inbox the same way.

On USS FORD, I had folder after folder of stuff in my inbox and kept it pretty neat most of the time.  Organization on the ship made my life much easier.  I have tried to implement that in to my Gmail experience, but folders are not Gmail's forte.  So, like many people, I go in waves.

The cool thing about email is I can see when the chaos began.  This time around I had over 600 emails in my inbox and they ranged from last July to yesterday!!!  I laugh as I write this, but it's kind of pathetic and not funny.  Last July was a tumultuous month.  We traveled from OKC to Princeton and then to Hanover, NH.  Our plans were never concrete and I kind of gave up on the email order.

Over the past few days I just started clicking and sorting/deleting emails and placed them where they belong.  Proudly, my inbox went 600+ to 2!  I have successfully done some spring cleaning.  Get started on yours!

- Jimmy

P.S.  The pics are from the recent NSR.  My pair partner was Anthony Fahden

Down Time

With any job there is such thing as working too hard.  Whether you are running a division on a warship, training full time for the Olympics or operating your own company, you need to take some "me" time.

There are many different ways to do it.  When I was on the ship I would work out.  In my current "job" working out is not a great way to get away from my job, working out.  I know a certain business owner that likes to sit in tree stands, sitting quietly for hours and waiting for a deer to become vulnerable.  Each person has their own methods.

I recently went for a long walk through a canyon to a beach in La Jolla, CA.  It was beautiful and therapeutic .  The sand stone forming the canyon and at times, natural steps brought me back to Hubbard Hall, the Navy boathouse.  It is a sandstone building with intense structure and beauty.  It is amazing how hard rock, such as sandstone can so easily be carved in to.  Below are some pics:

You can see the carvings in the sandstone to the right.  Thankfully, midshipmen don't feel the need to do this to Hubbard Hall.

Have a good one.

- Jimmy

Contrast Bath + Lightweight == Cold

I was a math major so I can only hold back the nerdyness so much.  The equation in the title needs some explanation.  Volp kicked the training plan in to high gear three weeks ago and we have been doing a lot of pieces.  With those comes the need to recover and I'm trying to coax my body into faster recovery mode any way I can.

When you think of rowing (or when I think of rowing) the first image that may come to mind is a tall, lengthy guy with a body fat % less than six.  That is by no means always the case.  Some of the best heavyweights in the world have a little bit of an energy belt that gives them some reserves when they need to go to the well.  Lightweights don't have that luxury and as we near the upcoming selection regatta and the first weigh-in of the year our "energy belts" are dwindling.

Yesterday we did some racing and afterwards I was feeling pretty wrecked so I decided to make use of the recovery baths at the training center.  There are two jacuzzis; one filled with 55 degree water and the other with 110.  You start with two minutes in the cold bath and then transition to one minute in the hot bath.  To get the maximal effect you should do three - four sessions in the cold and two -three in the hot, but making sure the cold is the last stage.  You can read about it here for more clarification.

There are a number of reactions your brain has when going through this process.  I say brain because I don't think your body actually has pins and needles in it.
FIRST:  COLD.  When you enter the cold bath the shivering onsets about 40 seconds in and hating life comes to mind.  Then with about 20 seconds to go you start thinking about that nice hot tub just two feet away!

SECOND: NOT HOT.  When you enter the hot tub your mind wants it to feel like paradise.  It doesn't!  The first thing I thought was, this isn't hot and then the tingling started.  Pins and needles enter your feet and legs and then after about 45 seconds you start to get comfortable, just in time to get cold again.

THIRD:  COLD... again
.
.
.
Repeat

LAST:  My body fat percentage is relatively low right now and the last two minutes in the cold water definitely left an impression on my body.  First of all, I did feel better.  The science is not completely sound and not specifically proven, so it may have been a placebo effect, but I felt better.  Secondly, I was cold for the next 4 hours.  It took my body a long time to regain it's warmth.  I even rowed for 1.5 hours and I was still warming up towards the end.

I will most likely do this again.  After all, I feel it helped and I've always seemed to return to the things that are painful (i.e. rowing and every August when I returned to USNA, haha)  But if you are healing from a surgery or some physical activity, consider contrast bath therapy.  My only advice is to bring a blanket.

- Jimmy

San Diego, German for ...

Anchor Man was a huge hit when I was in college.  Every time I enter San Diego County that movie is what first comes to mind.  After our last practice in Oklahoma City, Nick LaCava and I began the 1300 mile trek from OKC to Chula Vista.  We left on Saturday morning and arrived Sunday.

We started the trip at 5 am on Saturday and 2 - 2.5 hours later the sun was rising so I couldn't resist snapping a pic.

We got through Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle pretty quickly, despite a severe headwind that was eating up gas as if we were driving through downtown NYC.  Once we entered New Mexico the wind shifted to a nice tailwind and we finally didn't have to stop every 2.5 hours for gas.  

 I believe this picture is in New Mexico.  I wasn't really trying to get the truck in the pic, but thought is was cool once I downloaded everything.

This is Arizona on Sunday morning.  Throughout the Arizona portion of the trip I was surprised by how beautiful it was.  Texas and New Mexico were so-so, but Arizona was definitely a site for sore eyes.  Then we entered California...  

Chula Vista is gorgeous, but the eastern 200 miles of California is literally desert.  Here's a picture of some sand dunes.  There a little hard to see, but it was a pretty barren landscape. 

We arrived at the training center around 11 am PST and were pretty beat.  We had the day to recover and met Monday morning to unload the trailer and start getting the work in.  The atmosphere here is great and really forces you to remember what this is all about; fighting for medals at the Olympics.  There are more residents here than athletes.  A racoon was sniffing our dirty laundry on the patio the other night.  I don't think he found anything he liked.


Hope you enjoy the pics and have a good one.

- Jimmy

and then there were 8.

Just wanted to give an update on selection for the LM4-.  I try not to think about the process as "selection."  I try to go out and move each boat I'm in as efficiently and powerfully as possible.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  The cream will rise to the top in the end.

There has been a group of 13 guys here in Oklahoma City for a while and we recently found out that eight of us will be traveling to Chula Vista, CA this coming weekend until the boat is selected.

It's exciting to know that the light at the end of the tunnel is near.  Everyone in the group has gained speed and continuing to do so.  The combinations we put together are getting faster each time and the rowing as a whole is more unified.  Confidence is building within the group that we can put a fast 4- together and get the job done in May and later this summer in London.

Above is some video of the remaining 8 in an 8.

Have a good one,
Jimmy

Not Rowing: Mind sharpening

My life right now if very much focused on rowing.  The goal here is to qualify and fight for medals at the Olympics; focus is one of the most important elements of achieving that goal.  Though, sometimes I need to get away from it.  As an athlete, I feel you can not let the sport completely consume your life.

Some people like getting away by playing video games or watching movies.  I do watch a few movies from time to time, but challenging the mind is always something I've believed in.  I began reading a lot over the past year, attempting brain teasers and recently found a new one.

A very interesting and awesome distraction resource is itunes U.  I did not know about it until a couple of days ago, but you should check it out.  Some of the top colleges in the country have video taped courses and posted the lectures and class materials online.  You can audit a course at one of the top schools in the country (Harvard, Yale, MIT, Columbia and UC Berkley to name a few) for free!  I'm starting with an intro to computer science class at MIT.  I know I did not do well enough in H.S. or am smart enough to attend MIT, so this is the next best option.  You may not believe me, but this is WAY better than watching Netflix between practices.

Keep the mind sharp!

Have a good one,
Jimmy

Back to Leadership

It's been a while since I posted anything on leadership.  I'm trying not to be forceful with it and just let my experiences guide the posts.  I was lucky enough to go to a school that did teach leadership.  We had a bunch of phrases that mean nothing to most people and when I talk about them I feel bad because I don't want people to feel I think I'm in some kind of special club, but oh well.  Some examples:  "Message to Garcia," "Plebe card," and "Damn XO."

It's the last one I want to write about today. There have been many times in my short life that I have been told to do something that I don't necessarily agree with.  The worst is when it affects people who work for me.  The "Damn XO" phrase comes from the roll of the Executive Officer (XO) and his minions (Department Heads and Division Officers).  The XO would come to me and say, "ENS Sopko, the guys on watch in the communications shack are not allowed to listen to iPODS while working on the computers."  In my head I'm thinking, "what the hell do you care if they listen to iPODS," but I say "Yes, sir."  I then go back to my guys and I have two options: 1. I can tell them the XO is a jerk and won't let them listen to iPODS when working 2.  I can say, "No iPODS when working."  From experience, go with option two.  It is hard, but your boss told you to do something and in the military that's an order.  Unless it is unlawful, you have to obey it.

To me, the main reason you take responsibility yourself is so when it is time for you to make a hard decision your guys know it's you talking.  The XO, on a navy ship at least, is the most hated guy on the ship.  He is the lawmaker and enforcer.  However, he needs support in his role.  I'm not saying lie down and let the XO walk all over you.  If you have something to say go through the proper channels and make your voice heard, knowing that it may very well get thrown directly in your face.

The smartest wife ever and I at the
Lincoln Memorial over Christmas break

The same applies to the civilian world.  If you are in charge of people and someone above you makes a decision that affects your guys and they don't like it, DO NOT make your boss the scape-goat.  It's cowardly. Especially if your input was given and your boss either took it or changed it.  There is an order to things in any organization and that's why great organizations work that way.  I'm not referring to a dictatorship.  The head guy received recommendations, but he chose to not use them.  Now you, as his subordinate and the leader of the others need to make sure his ideas are put through the organization; support him.

That's pretty much all I have for now.  On a more personal note, Shaunnah (the Wife) was accepted in to Stanfard, Harvard and Dartmouth Business Schools.  We've got a tough decision but I figure it's a win-win.  I'm very proud of her.

Have a good one,
- Jimmy

Training Partners

First of all, Happy New Year!  I hope everyone has enjoyed the holidays with friends and family.  I was lucky enough to travel home to Annapolis and go down to Virginia to see my parents and brothers for Christmas.  It has been awesome being with Shaunnah again and definitely makes me excited for the time when I get to move home again.  Although, the longer I'm away from home the better the rowing is going so Shaunnah and I are willing to make the sacrifice.

While on my break from the team I have had a workout plan to follow.  The main goal is to get rested from the previous five and for the next couple of hard months.  At the same time we don't want to let the progress of the previous months go to waste with laziness so there was still some mileage and hard work to put in.  I am lucky enough to have some friends in Annapolis who are willing to erg with me and even do some hard work.  I could do it alone, but it is MUCH BETTER to have company.  I would like to thank Tod Nix, his Annapolis Junior Rowing Team and James Smith for enduring the 90' erg sessions and two days of pieces.  As they say, "misery loves company."

I have trained alone before and it is no fun. It is much harder to reach your max potential on any workout and much easier to tell yourself 50' is enough when you're supposed to do 60'.  Although, with the motivation to do well at the Olympics I don't think many of us are stopping pieces early.

If you are committed to working out again this new year get a partner.  It will be much easier to make your working out a habit and not a chore.  You will see better results through pushing each other.  A number of my family members have begun working out a bit more and their partners help them keep going.

As I head back to OKC for the final push toward the dream I will think about the people who have helped me get to this point and I'm sure it will help push me to the end.

- Jimmy

P.S.  The video is of one of Todd's junior rowers and I doing some steady state.