Sabbatical Edition

Where have I been?

So, it's been a while since I've posted a new edition of Built Different, and for good reason: I've been on a six week sabbatical. And because of that I tried desperately to limit my time on social media. I deleted Slack, Teams, and Outlook from my phone so I wouldn't be tempted to check emails and messages. I made a few "appearances" on LinkedIn to share some posts but nothing of my own. A few people called me out for saying I was taking a break from LinkedIn but then saw I was posting. Thank you for calling me out on that. SOMEbody had to keep me in check, and for that I appreciate you (you know who you are). But.... the few things I posted were in fact NOT created by me but by Microsoft Power Automate. The flow monitors a feed from the Autodesk AEC blog page. When it sees a new article is posted, Power Automate kicks in and auto-magically posts from my LinkedIn account. I love automation!

Why a six week sabbatical?

The six week sabbatical is a perk that all US-based Autodeskers receive every four years of service. They have a four year window in which to take that sabbatical or they lose it. And no, you cannot take two sabbaticals back-to-back. Even if you could, you could rest assured that your team will be getting along just fine without you after twelve weeks and therefore wouldn't need you anymore.

During my sabbatical I completely disconnected from all things work-related (even though it meant returning to an inbox of nearly 800 emails), but it was honestly the best thing I've ever done for myself.

What did I do with my free time?

My sabbatical started with a couple of concerts - P!nk and Kenny Chesney at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA.

Nothing like a good summer concert - or two - to kick off six weeks of doing....well, WHATever I want WHENever I want. Or nothing at all.

Anyone who knows me knows I love Disney. We're Disney Vacation Club members and we go as often as we can. A six week sabbatical provided the perfect opportunity to take not just one, but TWO trips to the house of Mouse. The first trip was a few days at Disney's Polynesian Resort and to the water, park Typhoon Lagoon.

The second trip we stayed at our favorite resort - Disney's Riviera Resort. We went to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom and dressed up as characters from Pixar's UP!.

But during the down time between concerts and trips to Disney I had to do something to keep my mind active and prevent myself from going crazy with boredom so I did what any tech nerd would do.... I started to learn spray paint art with leftover cans of spray paint in the garage.

Aside from attending concerts, trips to Walt Disney World, and learning a new form art, I also took plenty of time to focus on my mental health. This included exercising nearly every day, meditation and practicing mindfulness with help from the Insight Timer app.

I also listened to a number of audio books such as The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward, The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer, and Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life.

My two favorite audio books from this lot were:

1. "The Innovators" by Walter Isaacson chronicles the digital revolution, highlighting the collaborative efforts of numerous individuals and groups who contributed to key technological advancements like computers, programming languages, and the internet. Isaacson emphasizes that innovation is not solely the product of lone geniuses but rather the result of interconnected networks of individuals sharing ideas and building upon each other's work.
2. "Die with Zero" by Bill Perkins urges readers to shift their focus from wealth accumulation to maximizing life experiences. The book advocates for spending money on experiences, creating a "bucket list," and prioritizing health and well-being.

If you're interested in the history of computers, programming languages, and the internet then I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Innovators. The other book, Die with Zero, has been more of a reminder than an eye opener about how to live the rest of my life. Because of that book, I've begun investing more so I can live more experiences (and more trips to Disney).

Six weeks goes by in a flash and I'm already looking forward to the next sabbatical which may include a European vacation. I'll let you know in a few years.

Connect with me

I'm passionate about collaborating with AEC & D&M firms to leverage the power of the Autodesk platform and achieve their desired business outcomes. Connect with me to gain further insights on digital transformation in AEC & D&M, or schedule a personalized consultation to explore how we can tailor a solution that propels your firm towards sustainable success. And don't forget to subscribe to the Built Different newsletter, published biweekly (now that I'm back from my sabbatical), for more insights