The Hunt

Stoic Quote of the Week

The nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength.

-Marcus Aurelius

What I learned this week:

It's the most beautiful time of the year! Hunting season! I know many of you are thinking, what is wrong with Otis? Let me play this out for you. If you aren't a hunter, you've never experienced everything that goes on around hunting. It isn't all about the kill or the trophy. There is so much more to it than that. I'll start with my most important aspect: camaraderie with the guys I hunt with. Three of us have been hunting together for 15 years. This is an annual occasion for us, and we truthfully enjoy hanging out and catching up. It wouldn't be the same event, nor would it be as enjoyable without the camaraderie. Next is being back in the woods. I grew up camping and hiking and spent many nights in the woods while in the Army. There is something about being outside in the forest with nature all around you. We all need to spend more time away from our phones and the cities' concrete. There is something primordial about being in the woods. It is a return to where we came from as a species. We all need to take a break away from the routine of our daily life to something simpler. Finally, there is the hunt itself. The thrill of the hunt, being in the right place at the right time, being stealthy, challenging myself to move quietly, breath quiet, and be aware of the wind. Hunting is about outsmarting the animal because the deer only knows one thing, survival. Hunting is about blending into the environment and the conditions. If you've ever watched a deer, you know it takes very little to spook it. The slightest thing from a crow or squirrel calling out to the wind changing directions can cause the deer to sprint off. The kill or harvest is about providing for the family. Yes, there is a celebration of the kill, but it isn't a victory over the animal; it is a culmination of effort. If you don't hunt, find another reason to return to nature. Get outside, and be part of nature, where we all came from.

Planning thought of the week:

Set up your plan and know what the path is that you want to take to achieve the outcome you want. The advantage that the plan gives you is a known point to return to. We all drift off the path to the outcome, whether it is to chase a new idea or even a distraction. Either way, when things don't go right on the diverted path, the plan provides a known place to return to get back on the path to achieving your outcome.

Business idea I heard about or thought of:

?I have the pleasure of having some amazing people in my network—the kind of people who you want to spend time with and do business with. I've had a couple of those groups come back to me with the thought that we should do some business together. I've been through this several times in my life, and only a few turn into something. Part of it is that we already have things going on, and those things take up our time and make it hard to prioritize a new idea, no matter how sexy it may be. The secret to these types of businesses is not just the openness to create it but the dedication and patience to allow the idea to come to fruition without forcing it. I have three of these in the works right now. I'll let you know when one of these comes together.

Veteran opportunity of the week:

It's that time of year, flu shots. You can do walk-ins at the VA and at just about any location that gives them, like for us, the Safeway pharmacy.

Someone I met this week:

There is a bond that is formed amongst veterans because of the common background. The bond grows deeper when we served in the same unit for a period. It always amazes me how tight of a bond we develop, even if we are only together for a few months. The environment or conditions those few months are in has a lot to do with it. This week, I had the pleasure of catching up with some of the guys from my second Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA). This is a different kind of connection. Different than the bond I have with family or friends I grew up with. It is a regeneration of memories and stories that, of course, get better with time. One of the things that I enjoy is that we all have different memories of the same events. Hearing someone else tell the story of an event I completely forgot about is amazing. Thanks to the men of ODA 063 for the memories.

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Link to current The Cam & Otis Show podcast episode, Ep 193 Pause Is Powerful with Charlie Greene-Remento.

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