Sail On. Sail On, Sailor

When Full Sail Consultants started, my initial blog explained why “Full Sail”—wanting my consulting clients, post a successful Full Sail gig, to be moving, with purpose, free and easy, towards their business and personal goals; and how the Full Sail name came about—looking at the sailboats leaving Marina del Rey harbor, tacking this way and that, free and easy, into the Bay of Santa Monica, just like I envisioned for my clients.

But the sailing analogy goes much, much deeper for me. To early childhood.

I read sailing books like “Clipper Ships and Captains,” “Whaling”, and “Two Years Before the Mast”, and many others; all of which I still own to this day. I built models of whalers and the Constitution. My parents took us to Mystic Seaport to see the tall ships and to Bedford to see the whalers. We often went to Atlantic Highlands and walked the marina after dinner. I love Annapolis and Dana Point and MdR harbor. My father even redesigned my room to look like a captain’s quarters: elevated bed, underneath storage, small corner desk, plank walls replete with nautical references—Currier and Ives drawings of boats, a hand-carved blue whale, etc. My dad into it as much as I was.

All this helped us dream.

There is something alluring about the sea. It’s daring. Adventurous. Endless. Thrilling. Risky. Rewarding. An exercise in freedom. A vast array of choices and outcomes; some good, some not so good. These were the lessons I took from all those books I read and dreams my dad fostered. And the mates/friendships those sailors make along the way? Strong, enduring, and irreplaceable.

The journey of a career is much like that. A ship at sea with mates, pulled into a port-of-call, to get a job done. And when it’s over, sometimes you re-enlist on the same ship. And sometimes not. But a career too, like a sea voyage, is full of risk taking, adventure, storms at sea, smooth sailing, finding treasure (or not), etc. And, again, the friendships you make and the lessons you learn? The best part.

With that in mind, I was blessed for the past year to consult, executive in residence and adjunct professor, with Franciscan University. Inspired by the Holy Spirit to pull into the port of Steubenville—a hard driving wind it was—I taught six courses over that time, helped design and fund the investment club, and helped to transition the program from Bob Olsen to Simon Kyne, who I am certain will successfully mold the program and take it to the next level.

Most importantly, I had the opportunity to encourage students to become “Entrepreneurs for Christ.” ™ Out of the 50-75 young men and women I touched, if I convinced five to ten students that faith is the most important driver of success for a Catholic entrepreneur, it will have been time in port well spent. And we sure need and want more young, hard-working entrepreneurs, with a good moral compass. That is the Franciscan brand, employers.

I will be forever grateful to Doug, Carol, Bob and others for giving me the opportunity to serve Christ in this way. You go ashore hoping to give. But, in the end, you get more than you give. Always. The absolute best gift was the joy the students brought me. To me! Imagine? Their refreshing, positive, sacred approach to life at this young age, and in this day and age, was truly inspiring. And a gift. One I will never relinquish. I hope you budding entrepreneurs stay in touch. I will always be your servant.

But, like all sailors in port, it is time to set sail. To new ports. A journey to the ports of mentoring Young Catholic Professionals and Parish Pastoral Council await. Not to mention the continuing adventures of Full Sail itself, Legatus, and spending more time with my family. And who knows what else.

I was initially sad about leaving the port of Steubenville. And I still am to some degree. But three things give me comfort. One. I hope to return to the port of Steubenville to help out in some other way if that is God’s will. Second. Upon reflection, I realize even more fully that my “career” has been about a series of sailing expeditions--whether it was to Mellon, the Private Bank of California, Community Bank, the Diocese of Pittsburgh or Franciscan—and that shore leave must end, at some point, in all cases. No matter how worthy the cause. And finally and most importantly, I have learned that I am not the “Master and Commander.” Just a lowly deckhand. I go where I’m told.

So, I reenlist, pack my duffle bag, stow my gear and wait to see where “Full Sail” and the holy winds take me next.

Let’s hope for a good point of sail. Smooth waters. Free and easy. Full sail.

As the Beach Boys sang, “Sail on. Sail on, Sailor.”

Show A Little Faith.