By the Fire, Off the Grid
As I sit here by the fireplace, drinking hot chocolate, having read a few pages and now grabbing the laptop, I realize that this moment—without great cell coverage—is what most people would now consider… analog.
My, how far we’ve come.
The Mountain Reset
This morning was a great reflection and reset.
I stood at the crest of the mountain, looking off into a snow-covered valley. The air was crisp. The snow covered the trees, and made soft swooshing noises under my skis.
There’s just something about nature—especially mountains—that make you feel like you’re in a whole different world.
For a moment, nothing else mattered. Not the emails. Not the notifications. Not the endless to-do lists.
Just the mountain. The stillness. The presence.
That’s what analog feels like now.
Growing Up Analog
I grew up in a small town where “new” things didn’t show up quickly. We also didn’t have the funds to adopt new things until they were more mainstream.
I grew up:
- Riding bikes
- Skiing
- Kayaking
- Swimming
- Playing outside all day
- Going to summer camp on occasion
There were no computers. We had the library, friends, some TV, and our radio and Walkman.
The days seemed fulfilling. You could do a lot in one summer day.
Wake up late. Read a book. Go outside to play. Ride your bike to go swimming. Come back and sit on the porch listening to your Walkman until the batteries ran out. Play flashlight tag with your friends until your parents hollered for you to come in.
Otherwise, you didn’t really go inside—unless you needed food.
There were requests for your time, but it wasn’t demanding.
When Creativity Became Expectation
Creativity led to things that helped us do things faster.
And that speed led to an expectation of doing more.
The more tools we have to augment our ability to do things, the more that is expected of us.
But we aren’t machines. We’re humans.
We need proper interactions. We need rest. We need analog moments to remember what it feels like to just be.
The AI Conversation We’re All Having
Leaders are demanding more be done with AI. They’re making claims that people will be replaced.
In many instances, that may be the case down the line. But right now, in this moment, there is still a necessary human component.
If we work to keep up on new tech and industry topics around automation, agents, and AI, it can help us remain marketable in our area.
It’s different in every space. And unless it’s a modern fintech, most leaders haven’t realized their infrastructure isn’t ready yet—especially the data aspect.
People are still needed.
But it’s also more important than ever that you identify:
- What you want for success
- What you love to do
So that you can remain flexible and resilient as the world moves forward.
Things are always going to change. If we remain open to learning, we can more often have that feeling—like standing on top of the mountain—where we’re grounded, confident, and present.
One Last Thought Before the Next Run
As I get ready to head out for another run down the mountain, I want you to take this with you:
We can only keep trying our best, keep learning, and finding ways to remain relevant.
But also—don’t forget to take your PTO.
Don’t forget to find your analog moments.
Don’t forget that rest, presence, and gratitude aren’t distractions from success—they’re part of it.
The mountain will be here tomorrow. The work will be there when you get back.
But this moment? This peaceful, off-the-grid, human moment?
This one is yours.
May your week be full of gratitude.
Authentic Evolution Journey 