This is a turning point in my life and I would ask that if you read on, you read everything.
Just over two years out of graduate school and I’m leaving a great job to change direction, but this isn’t the end of anything; it’s the beginning. This is the beginning of me taking ownership of who I am, the potential I have and where I’m going. It almost feels like I’ve been climbing up to the tallest diving board you could imagine. I got up to the top a few months ago determined to jump but I’ve been standing at the edge hesitating until a few weeks ago when I was pushed from behind. I feel like I’m falling toward the water fast and it’s time to see what happens.
“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”
M. Scott Peck
I’ve had this jump brewing inside of me for a long time now and this is just the beginning.
Give me a few minutes of your time and let me tell you where I’m headed. However, before we look ahead let me just express that I hold nothing negative to about where I worked or the people that I worked with; quite the opposite. It was a great first job and I will always be grateful for the things I learned and the people that I connected with. However, the (healthcare) system is broken and I refuse get lulled into that for life. I can (and will) write a entire blog about that down the road, but for now I want to focus on what’s next.
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Leaving a stable job comes with its risks (financial) and like most people, that’s what took me so long to make this move. The tipping point was the realization that while money feels important now, I can always make more of it. However, I will never get more time and that is the biggest asset that I have. Time is the biggest asset that any of us have.
Taking this jump is me betting on myself.
In the humblest tone possible, I know that I can have an incredible impact on the world and I don’t ever want to look back and feel regret over what could have been. I feel, now more than ever, pulled to take action toward a vision that I can feel deep inside of me.
“Always bet on yourself, no matter what the odds are. It means more to be in the race than watching the victory lap from the stands.”
Pete Wentz
You might be asking, “well Joe, what are you going to do now?”
The answer: I’m not entirely sure.
You might be thinking “well, Joe, you’re crazy.”
The answer: you’re not wrong.
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In all seriousness, I don’t know exactly what life looks like down the road, but I do know what it feels like and I’m going to be chasing that feeling with structure and intention. I’ll be seeking guidance, making mistakes, learning, growing and getting better with each step along the way. I don’t know where the final destination is, but I’m pretty sure that it doesn’t exist. For me, this decision is about embracing an uncomfortable process where I can learn more about myself so that I can better serve others. Everything that I do, this move included, is about pursuing the best version of myself for the people who have come before me and everyone who comes after me. I know that what I do today will change who I become tomorrow and that person will impact people. I’m taking this jump not only for me but for everyone who I’ll ever know.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
Theodore Roosevelt
I love the feeling of learning, I love the feeling of growing, I love the feeling of challenge, I love feeling of building things, I love the feeling of creating things, I love the feeling of making a unique impact, I love the feeling of freedom and I love the feeling of ownership.
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Here’s where I’m channeling my effort and energy going forward (in no particular order).
Writing a Book
I’ve wanted to write a book for a while but between 80 hour work weeks, workouts and a wife, this got put on the back burner and I didn’t like that. I’ll be setting aside uninterrupted time to write chunks of this book each week while also contributing to other projects on the side (hint: I’ll be an author soon).
Growing This Blog
This blog (writing in general) has added so much value to my life and there’s no way that I would let this slide. I want to dedicate more consistent time to write for the blog with the hopes of adding more value, more often to more of you!
Athletic Endeavors
Depending on how well you know me, this one either surprises you a lot or not at all. I’ve loved athletics for my entire life but miss competition and challenge in this arena more and more as time goes on. I’m not sure what the specifics look like, but I’m excited to have more time to dedicate toward competitive athletic pursuits. This move in particular has been inspired by Nick Bare, founder of Bare Performance Supplements (for which I’m a proud team member).
Creating a YouTube Channel
This is something that I have wanted to do for a very long time but didn’t pursue because I was scared of putting myself out there. However, after years of building courage and a recent talk with my friend Danny Gevirtz, I realized that I needed to do this now. I’ll be investing time, energy and thought into creating videos and building community on YouTube with the hopes of helping anybody who happens to stumble across the page. If you’d like to support me in this way, I would love if you could subscribe and follow along!
Online Performance Coaching
I’ve been an “online performance coach” for about two years now and in that time, I’ve had to honor of helping dozens of clients pursue their fitness and life goals. It’s a space that I can use to bring in revenue and create impact at the same time. I’ll be spending more time here building systems, on boarding (hopefully) more clients and helping people achieve their goals in an increasingly efficient and effective manner. In particular, the move away from the clinic will give me time, spcae and energy to help more people through coaching in a more meaningful manner.
Growing Social Media Presence
One of the best things about growing my social media presence thus far has been connecting with likeminded individuals who are pursuing their potential and making this world a better place. I’ve been inspired by my network and supported by my community and I would be remiss if I didn’t continue to actively expand both of those things. I’ll be documenting more of my life and setting aside time to connect and learn more about anyone who wants.
Growing the Cup of Joe Newsletter
Just under one year ago, I started this weekly newsletter because I wanted a way to synthesize the content that I was consuming (books, videos, podcasts, etc.) and be creative with how I thought about things. What started as a weekly email with 10 subscribers has grown into more than I could have imagined. With over 170 subscribers, a great group of people and other creative content, creating for this newsletter has become a highlight of my weeks. I’ll be using extra time to bring more value to the people who frequent the newsletter and if you would like to support me in this endeavor, feel free to click the link to sign up (or just lend financial support).
Growing the Pursuit Podcast
Late last year (2020), my friend Sam Tooley and I started the Pursuit Podcast to talk about the process. In other words, we wanted to hear what people are pursuing, why they are going in that direction and how they do it so well. The podcast has been a blast to create thus far and after a brief hiatus (thanks to two very hectic schedules), we’re coming back with season two and I hope that you’ll listen in! We can promise some awesome conversation, some nuggets of wisdom and at the very least, a few laughs along the way!
Connecting With You All
Over the past year, one of the most rewarding things I’ve done is created time to connect with others for no reason other than to connect. I’ve met some of the most genuine, driven and inspiring people that I could imagine and many of those relationships have ended up leading me toward opportunities. I want to continue connecting with you all, adding value where I can and stumbling across opportunities as they pop up. If you’re reading this, I’d love to talk!
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If you’re reading this blog, it’s likely that you know me or know about me. I want to take a minute to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your attention and support. Without this support network, I wouldn’t be who I am and I wouldn’t be taking this jump. Even if you only read the occasional blog, you’ve helped me and I appreciate that more than you know.
“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.”
Les Brown
If nothing else, I hope that this process inspires someone out there to go after what they want.
You can follow along here and see what this jump looks like for me.
Joe Rinaldi
IG: @joearinaldi
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Joe – Congratulations! I created my career like this and never had second thoughts or regrets. Jumped out of a job I was successful in and, without knowing quite where I might land, and found a new place to do what I did best and enjoyed the most – work with organizations, groups, and individual people to help them identify where they were and where they wanted to go – and make a plan to get there. I jumped five times. Appreciate your sharing your thoughts, feelings, and process. You sound as if more of you than just your body is in terrific shape! With continued admiration and affection, Richard
Richard! It’s so great to hear from you and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support and encouragement! It’s nice to hear of other people who have made similar transitions during their careers and it’s always uplifting to hear it from you! I hope that you are doing well and I would love to connect at some point when you’re up for it! Send me a text or an email sometime and let’s connect! Thank you again for believing in me and supporting me!