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