This is the trap human beings fall into.
We want life to be binary.
We want to define who we are by what we do so our elevator pitch to God can be easily understood and accepted. But we are much more than our occupation. I've spent decades of my life building operating systems for growth, writing stories that matter, and playing a child's game for money. Each has shaped me in profound ways. Each is a part of me.
So, I'm all three. I'm actually much more than all three, and I bet you are, too.
Not at all. I split my day into buckets.
The first bucket is writing. I've spent years honing the craft of storytelling (still a work in progress) specifically focusing on sports memoirs and building my Romance debut. I show up every morning at 6am with coffee and paper. I write until noon. Then I stop.
Then, I work hard at growing durable companies, some my own, some I'm contracted, for ten-to-twelve-hour workday. (My LinkedIn is dedicated solely to this part of my life).
It's simple. I work hard from the early morning to the late afternoon. Then I don't.
Wow. Okay.
One, Fabio hasn't been on a cover since the early 90s.
Two, I'm a huge advocate for men reading romance.
Three, to be a Romance the main character must allow themselves to be vulnerable. They have to overcome loss and regret and be willing to sacrifice everything they have to earn the life they want. I think those are the most courageous acts a human being can do.
And I wonder how amazing this world could be if we celebrated these characteristics of romance rather than scoff at them.