When a Retired Naval Officer Accidentally Becomes a New Year Revolutionary

I have always been steady as a lighthouse in the storm of New Year's enthusiasm, watching social media flood with resolution jokes each December. You know the type - memes about abandoned gym memberships and dusty language learning apps. I would scroll past them with a knowing smirk, secure in my position. "New Year's resolutions? Ha! Never works. Not that I have ever tried..."

The Stubborn Barnacle of a New Skill

Then I saw that fateful post from @ Dagny Sol - "Learn at least one new skill in the new year." Something about it stuck, like a stubborn barnacle on a ship's hull. Perhaps it revealed my dirty little secret: I'm a serial course-abandoner. Since dropping anchor into retirement, I have started 18 online courses. Palmistry, numerology, AI, French, blogging... name an interesting-sounding course, and I have probably quit it faster than a sinking dinghy.

Navigating the Teasing Seas

"You're like a ship that keeps changing course," my much better half (MBH) often teases. "Never reaching any port."

"I'm exploring!" I defend myself. "Like Magellan!"

"More like a confused compass," she laughs.

As December wound down, she casually asked – "Are you taking Dagny's 30-day story challenge?"

"But I don't write short stories... Ah, for children?" I protested. "I'm a leadership story writer!"

"Huh," she replied with that look that could navigate through fog.

"These challenges are for civilians," I declared, drawing myself up. "I'm a seasoned sea dog!"

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Commodore," she smiled, knowing fully well my retired status would never dampen my quarter-deck spirit.

The Challenge That Found Me

The clock ticked toward January 1st, and there I was, resolution-less but rolling in the swells of indecision. Like a harbour master's final call before port closure, Dagny's challenge announcement rang clear - wake up, step up, chart a new course!

That is when my brilliant idea struck - I would draft one leadership article daily, in 15 minutes flat! After all, I am a 35-year Navy veteran with 11 years at sea/ops. If there is no challenge, where is the fun?

Reality Bites: Day One Struggles

Reality hit harder than a rogue wave on day one. I sat at my laptop, fingers hovering over keys like a helicopter pilot in turbulent winds, mind blanker than a fresh sailor's logbook. Fifteen minutes of nothing. I could almost hear Dagny's voice: "Time's up, buddy!"

The Morning Routine: New Action Stations

The morning routine became my new action stations. 0600: First alarm. "Just five more minutes" becomes fifteen. 0630: Panic sets in like a sudden squall. 0645: Shower time, where ideas finally start flowing like a broken bilge pump. 0700: The mad dash to the laptop, leaving a trail of water like a breached submarine.

"The breakfast is getting cold!" MBH calls from the galley.

"Fifteen minutes!" I bellow back with my best quarter-deck voice.

"You said that fifteen minutes ago!"

"Just taking on some heavy weather! Almost through!"

Week Four: Smooth Sailing and Treasures Found

This week was the most challenging yet exciting, requiring deep dives into my memories and diaries for ideas. However, it yielded some of my best articles: 'Handling Difficult Subordinates,' 'Managing Blackmailers,' 'Are You Sabotaging Your Career by Not Asking for Help?' 'Leading Leaders,' 'Nurturing Mercurial Talent,' 'What Can I Do for You?' 'Shabaash,' 'This Is Not Your Fight, Sir,' 'Are You on a Furlough, COM?' 'When Trust Is Not Enough!' and 'Best Time for implementing Change.'

Offshoot Achievements: More Than Just Writing

Other offshoots? "Full Ahead on all Engines!" as we say in the Navy. This daily writing discipline somehow triggered a fast forward on my post-retirement administrative graveyard. Those dreaded change-of-address forms for banks? Done. The mysterious boxes that followed us through three postings? Finally unpacked. I also completed a thorough review of my book, A Tango with Thyroid Cancer: Battle Within, bringing it to an advanced stage, just shy of being handed over to the editor. In this action-packed month, The most unexpected and rewarding outcome has been the emergence of a routine—a first since my retirement. This newfound rhythm has gently brought structure and balance to my post-retirement days.

Accidental New Year Revolutionary

Thirty six articles later, I find myself eyeing Dagny's next short story challenge like a sailor spotting a friendly port. And here I am, accidentally joining the New Year Revolutionaries - from scoffing at landlubbers and their resolutions to becoming one myself. Though I will go down with my ship before admitting to MBH that she was right about this one.

The ship's wheel in my study spins silently in the evening light, its spokes gleaming with milestones: '36 Articles,' 'Admin Cleared,' 'Emergence of a Routine,' and another draft of my forthcoming book completed—each a testament to the quiet power of an accidental revolution.

Call-to-Action

What’s the one skill or habit you’ve been putting off? Maybe it’s time to set sail and chart your own course—one small step at a time.

About the Author: A Navy veteran who discovered that sometimes the best navigational charts are the ones we accidentally draw ourselves.

Disclaimer:

This article is the intellectual property of Cmde Vivek Aggarwal, Retd. Any commercial use requires written permission.

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Author's Note:

This post is part of my leadership insights series. Challenge me with your industry-specific topics or team challenges - this old sea dog is ready to navigate any waters!