Saturday, August 9, 2008

I Totally Didn't Post While Home...

As anyone who has stopped by in the last few weeks noticed, it turns out that I didn't take the time to post at all while home on my mid-tour leave. It was a great leave, though, and I can't tell you how wonderful it was to see my beautiful wife for a couple of weeks (or how hard it was to say goodbye again).

My tour, as I've mentioned, is winding down, and if the last two weeks are any indication, I have yet to convince myself that I'll continue to blog once I'm home. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily, but...

I began my blogging adventure with certain goals in mind, and I've been trying to assess whether I've achieved what I set out to do.

First and foremost, I wanted this forum to serve as a road map to anyone coming through the IRR pipeline who is as in the dark as I was in June 2007. By any measure, I've achieved that goal. After an initial dump of information last June/July/August I've cut back on details and toned down the sarcasm, but there still aren't a lot of places on the web that will give future "Civil Affairs Operators" more info about what they're getting themselves into. Google terms related to this blog, and you'll find I show up pretty high in most of the search results.

Going forward, I'll post a bit about the leave process, and what demobilization is like, and call it a day.

My second stated goal was to use this forum as a way to keep up with family and friends. I know some folks who check in every day, and many who stop by once in a while, and the 2.0 is always here for anyone who wants to see how things are going. There have been a few blogging gaps (including this one), and I wish that I'd updated the monthly summaries more often. But otherwise I think I've kept the content decently well organized. I hope everyone out there has and will continue to enjoy a look at a world that most of us don't get the opportunity to see very often.

My final goal, which I don't think I've ever stated outright, was to use the blog to brainstorm ways that my current experience in Afghanistan is applicable to my once and future career path as a business person. I haven't really addressed this issue explicitly to date, but I hope to make this the focus of my blog for the next several weeks (with all due respect to sports and pop culture) as I prepare to go home for good.

The early returns, incidentally, are pretty good. In particular, a working knowledge of negotiation theory, pricing, micro-econ, marketing and strategy have put me at a big advantage. With everyone's help I'm ready to start flushing out these stories, seeing which ones resonate, as I take stock of what I've learned and how I've grown as a business leader through my second go-round in the Army.

6 comments:

Mrs. Exnicios said...

I never thought it would be harder to say good bye to you then it was in December, but nothing prepared me for saying good bye today. Thanks for the best 15 and half days ever, and for keeping me safe from the lizards.

all my love, always

Sue said...

Well,I would be one of the once in awhile visitors and I'm thankful that you made it home - and back again (since you had no choice but to go back again) and I want to say thank you for all you and your wife have sacrificed over the course of this deployment. I will tell you that my son in law will be headed over in just a few weeks to the other sandbox and our family will begin the vigil for the 3rd time. I'd like to thank you for serving - for BOTH times you have served and pray that you know that you are one of the best of the best our country has. I know this without having met you because my daughter and son in law are also two of the best who serve our nation.
May God bless you with His protection and when you are safe at home, don't think you will be forgotten.
I'll stop back in, but I wanted to say thank you for being an American Soldier. There is pride in that - and not just from your family. It's something felt by us all - along with great thanksgiving.
Blessings,
Sue

Jason said...

Good to see your tour is winding down. Here's to hoping the time flies by!

Jason said...
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Jason said...
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