Hey Oil and Gas Industry, I'm not done with you... But you are on notice!

For the last four weeks I felt what it was like to be unemployed. But there was no shame, no concern, and no despair. I did not share in the feelings that so many do. Perhaps those would eventually settle in, perhaps... but not this day.

These four weeks were some of the most eye opening, enlightening, and inspiring that I can ever remember. Thankfully, due to careful family planning and to Equinor for not leaving their departed high and dry, I did not have the very real distractions of financial and family pressures that often come with job loss. For me, and for my family, our path is set - come hell or high water. We will be staying in our home we built and in the community we have quickly grown to love. So where does that leave my career? You know, that thing that pays the vast majority of the bills that will eventually catch up? I know many, so many, that have chosen to move on from this industry. Their stories are important, and relevant, for industry leaders concerned about the fluttering talent pool.

Since October 16th, 2020, every morning my routine is to help my wife and kids get out the door and then I am in my home office, on the phone, or out-and-about in a non-stop effort to explore all of the options before me. Never missing a moment to engage with a positive attitude and to listen and explore new ideas. This was, and still is, a profound time for me. My eyes and ears are wide open as dig deeper into my local community - the thriving small suburb of Leander just outside of Austin, TX - to better understand what kind of challenges and needs I could solve to root my family here. Shoutout to my SCORE mentor Bob Shaver and to the countless residents and leaders in the community for which I have already engaged. More to come on all that, hopefully, because this is the type of place where the American Dream is around every corner.

So what about Oil and Gas - that industry I owe an enormous gratitude to, that paid for my MBA, that introduced me to some of my closest friends, and gave me all of my opportunities to grow as a professional and leader and to prove myself in some very challenging situations? I am probably not done with you, and you are probably not done with me. In fact, I am confident that the oil and gas industry will continue to thrive by continuing to improve, to be more resilient, to be more sustainable, and with boat loads of more discipline across the entire value chain up and down stream. And, if it wasn't clear, the transition to renewables and low carbon solutions is fully underway and the energy companies are investing heavily to be a part of that. It's going to be a rocky road, but it is ripe for those change agents, thought leaders, and most adaptable professionals. The efforts are not a little hedge, they are real, and the best companies will rise up and work hand-in-hand with the new and the old to power all of our futures.

At the same time energy companies grapple with challenging and changing energy landscapes, so to must we - the oil and gas professionals that helped build it. I know I am not alone in considering what the world outside of oil and gas may hold for me. Nearly every skillset is transferrable, at least the ones I am most proud of. Austin may be the one place that really has it all, so I feel very fortunate here. I am exploring tech, private equity, start-ups, electric vehicles, other emerging technologies and industries, renewables like wind and solar, and even commercial and residential investments. I also have some wild ideas about how to make better ammunition (more to come on that some day), and a COVID-friendly bar/restaurant concept that I can't wait to see here in Leander. There are too many interests and ideas to list, but each are occupying some, or a lot, of my time recently and space in my Google Sheet journal. For those that have been a part of my long journey, or just part of these last few weeks, I cannot thank you enough. I am doing my best right now to reach out to as many people as I can from which to draw inspiration, and to help if I can.

Here's a fun announcement: I am delighted to be starting TODAY to help my dear friend TJ grow his already-successful business that he started five years ago in Houston. For the first time in my career, officially, I will be a real oilfield salesman! I wish I could see some of your faces right now! As an immediate plus, this keeps me in the completion tools sphere and close to the newest technologies, by helping companies that I know well to improve their equipment with best-in-class raw materials and a solid supply chain. Over the long run, the future could be very bright for TJ and Five Star as we, together, continue to listen to the needs of the market and bring the solutions necessary for oil and gas to continue to compete for it's rightful share of the world energy supply for decades to come. It will be interesting engaging with many close colleagues and friends with 'an ask' and I am looking forward to establishing many new relationships at companies that were not part of my close circle the last several years. Whether I do this for 10 weeks, 10 months, or 10 years, I am confident that my experience and leadership will help Five Star Downhole LLC and the customers to be better. And that's my goal. Also, I would to thank technology for enabling WFH and flexible schedules! You can't replace face-to-face, but having some more time with the family and creative freedom are real perks.

With some good work secured, I still have many irons in the fire. And, for now, I am going to keep it that way because nothing is certain in this world and I hold the keys to what the future holds for me and my family. I know that I have a ton to offer with the right people around me. Thank you for listening, thank you for the continued support, and thank you for sharing in my journey. As I always say... stay in touch!

Please feel free to comment or share your own story.

AE