Less than two weeks ago I got laid off. Company got sold, new ownership brought in their own people, I was out. 25 years in the trade and it still hit harder than I expected. Had a few rough days in there, not gonna lie. But I start Monday as Operations Manager for a GC in Victoria, custom homes, medical offices, commercial work. So that's where I'm at, coming off a layoff and walking into something new at the same time. That's the real version. Want to hear where you guys are at too. Win, something you're stuck on, doesn't matter. Post it. Ask a question even if it feels dumb, somebody in here has probably already been through it. Or if you see a guy post something and you've lived it, tell him what worked. Also actually curious, what do you want more of in here. What's the thing you keep meaning to figure out and haven't. And if you're still checking this from a laptop, grab the app. Easier to actually be in here instead of just checking in every once in a while. Let's use this thing.

If you live it share. It. I hope this helps you someone in their own journey. https://open.substack.com/pub/eppic888/p/living-in-contrast-and-comparison?r=8acb68&utm_medium=ios

This Saturday we’re going to talk about the ability to pivot. Because life does not always give you a clean warning before it changes direction on you. Sometimes things get thrown at you that you did not see coming. Sometimes you’re pissed off, frustrated, disappointed, and trying to make sense of what the hell just happened. That’s where the real work starts. Not pretending you’re fine. Not burying it. Not letting the anger drive the truck. But taking a breath, getting your feet back under you, and figuring out what the next right move is. Pivoting is a skill. Refocusing is a skill. Being able to put the bullshit aside and keep moving forward is a skill. Chris Chuckry will also be leading us through a bit of a breath work practice on this call. For anyone who has been curious about breath work, this will give you a real look at how useful it can be when your nervous system is fired up and your head is full. I believe Chris is also open to working with people one-on-one with breath work, so if that’s something you’re interested in, reach out to him directly. My friend Yohance Boulden will also be joining us on the call to share some wisdom and perspective around this topic. Show up Saturday morning. Bring whatever you’re carrying. We’ll work through it together.

Discussion on mindset is important. Discussion helps slow the pace of the day and mind just enough to self reflect in ways that can be helpful to us. But man… the people that say “ I’ll figure this shit out”… so powerful. It sets the compass, direction and intention towards solutions. Opens doors, creates pathways that are endless. Where sounding yourself telling yourself… I’ll figure this out…!?

What to do when the plan blows up. Not the small stuff. The real stuff. The moment where something outside your control shifts the ground under your feet and you're standing there thinking, now what. Most guys freeze. They wait it out. They tell themselves it'll settle down and they'll get back on track soon. Weeks go by. Months. They're still waiting. Here's what I've learned, and what I'm living right now. You are never done being tested. Doesn't matter how far along you are. Doesn't matter how much you've built, how clear your plan was, or how long you've been at it. Life will hand you a moment that forces you to recalibrate. Every single time. That's not a flaw in the process. That's the process. The guys who move forward aren't the ones who avoided disruption. They're the ones who learned how to pivot without losing themselves in it. They felt the hit, assessed the damage, and adjusted the course. They didn't blow the whole thing up and they didn't pretend nothing happened either. They recalibrated. And sometimes, if you're honest about it, the disruption was exactly what you needed. The thing that knocked you sideways was also the thing that pushed you toward something you'd been circling for years but never quite committed to. Rocket fuel doesn't feel like rocket fuel when it's happening. It feels like the floor dropping out. Tomorrow we're talking about how to build that skill. How to stay grounded when the plan changes. How to read the moment, adjust your footing, and keep moving without losing the thread of who you are and where you're going. This one matters. See you there. Drop a comment below. What's a moment that blindsided you and ended up pushing you somewhere better?