The Art of Living Blog is Moving

I just wanted to let everyone who Follows the blog that it is being absorbed into my main blog over at my website. I would love it if you would Follow me there as well, as there won’t be any new posts on this one after today.

Just head on over to CallSignRedbeard.

Thanks so much!

 

Are You Living Life Forward?

My good friend Kent Julian has a business that revolves around living life forward. As a matter of fact, it’s called Live It Forward. In case you’re not familiar with the concept, he expresses it as “empowering you to move from dream to do”. I’ve known him for a number of years, and he not only teaches others to do it but lives it in his own life.

Well, guess what? This year will be the inaugural launch of his new Live It Forward Advance conference!

 

It’s going to be a blast, and I’ve already bought my ticket to go. But here’s why I’m telling you right now. Kent is big on giving out BONUS stuff, so I’d like to offer you a bonus for attending Kent’s event with me…

1. Sign up now and you get early bird pricing.
2. Use my coupon code “drdavid” and save a few bucks even off the early bird.
3. Let me know you used my code, and I’ll give you a copy of one of my ‘super duper awesome’ books when we meet at the conference.

If you’re someone I already know, that’s wonderful! If you’re someone I don’t know, and you’re using my code, what an awesome way to make new friends at a Live It Forward conference.

I hope to see you there!

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at www.drdavidpowers.com. Thanks for reading!

Links-

Live It Forward Advance Conference (don’t forget to use the coupon code!)

PS…Check it out! Kent and I even go to the same barber. He’s the shiny one on the left.

In the words of Starship Troopers, “Would you like to know more?”

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Kicking Around Some Baby Names

Well, with the new baby on the way I’m already kicking around potential names. Not knowing if it’s a boy or a girl at this point actually makes that more interesting.

Here’s one I’m thinking about that would work for either gender…

Hey, if it’s good enough for Daryl Dixon, it should work for my kid too, right?

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at www.drdavidpowers.com. Thanks for reading!

Another Baby on the Way!

Just in case there are a few people who haven’t heard yet, we have another baby on the way. This being our fifth child, I thought I’d give you a few comparisons and explain a few challenges.

First off, this is the fifth one, so I thought this movie title seemed applicable to define the pregnancy…

This is pretty realistic too. Just imagine the swath of destruction five kids will leave in their wake, and the other kids cradling their remaining unbroken toys.

So, right now my wife is around 6 weeks pregnant. That means the baby is the size of a…

Yes, it probably does seem weird comparing a tiny baby to food, so I thought this one is better and also fits in better with my pop culture nerdness…

So, that’s the description of our current situation for you. Now for the challenges, in case anyone would like to help…

1. We need a used church bus to transport all these feral kids around.
2. Pray that we’ll be able to find a house and land soon. We’re currently living in a 3 bedroom apartment, and one of those bedrooms is an office.
3. We need a newborn sized car seat and stroller. Otherwise, I’ll have to strap the new one into the luggage rack.
4. I’m sure I’ll need therapy soon. My wife has chosen to work fulltime, so I run my business from home, homeschool all the kids, and act as the Mr. Mom for this crew.

Be sure to check out my Youtube channel. Me and the kids started filming some of our adventures in the Rollin’ with the Powers’ segments.

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at www.drdavidpowers.com. Thanks for reading!

What Should I Do After Leaving a Life in Uniform?

With my coaching clients I’m often asked this question…what should I do after leaving a life in uniform? It doesn’t matter if you leave for retirement, voluntary separation, an injury, or even a disciplinary proceeding, you still face that question and its ramifications.

If you’re wondering what uniform I’m talking about, I’m talking about the military, police, fire, and EMS. Sure, I work with others on occasion, but it’s these folks I have a heart for and work with.

In my practice I help highly driven people in high stress/high danger occupations who are seeking significance through a second career. I do this by hacking and attacking the learning process toward action rather than numbing introspection. Through this my clients are empowered to live their dreams and embark on new adventures. Because of my military and public safety experience I understand the effects of losing that adrenaline rush, the desire to be in a uniform of some kind, the need for structure and order, and even potential complications of PTSD.

So, here we go with a few ideas on what to do after hanging up your uniform…

1. Find another way to serve your employer. Doing what you’ve always done isn’t the only way to serve. Many employers have positions other than uniformed service, such as support staff or independent contractors.
2. Find another uniform to wear. Just because you hung up one uniform doesn’t mean you can never wear one again. You can find another place to work or pursue a different career and still find the thrill you seek in uniformed service.
3. Find a line of work completely opposite of what you did before. Some people leave uniformed service and never want to look back. You’ll need to decide if this is for you too.
4. Find a way to help those still in uniformed service. There are many ways to do this, so, if you choose this route, you will have to find the one that suits your personality and goals.

When I left uniformed service after over twenty years in the military, Federal service, and EMS I chose number four. That’s what I do now. I speak at EMS conferences, I train civilians in emergency preparedness, and I work with my former colleagues as a coach. If I can be of any service to you or your team in this capacity, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at www.drdavidpowers.com. Thanks for reading!

Top Seven Tips for Life After Military Service

With my coaching clients I’m often asked for a summation of tips or hacks for men and women leaving the military. In my practice I help highly driven people in high stress/high danger occupations who are seeking significance through a second career. I do this by hacking and attacking the learning process toward action rather than numbing introspection. Through this my clients are empowered to live their dreams and embark on new adventures.

Because of my military and public safety experience I understand the effects of losing that adrenaline rush, the desire to be in a uniform of some kind, the need for structure and order, and even potential complications of PTSD.

Here are my top seven tips for life after military service…

1. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Almost all military personnel know when their date of separation is. The sad truth is that many wait until they are separated to figure out what they want to do after their service is over. Start planning at least a year or even sooner for what you will do after you hang up your uniform.
2. Pick a people, place, or position. If you don’t narrow down your options, it can be quite overwhelming. You should narrow it down somehow by choosing a group of people you want to work with, a geographical place you’d like to live and work, or a particular position and occupation you want to pursue. This will greatly help your search for your new future.
3. Polish up your resume. This is the place where you list all the cool stuff you’ve done and things you’ve learned. At first just list everything. Then you can whittle it down as needed each time you apply for a job. You’ll be amazed when you see a long list of accomplishments. Be proud of that. For examples, just search online.
4. Don’t forget your family. Sometimes in all the planning for a place to live, a new job, a business start up and more, it’s easy to forget your spouse and kids. Be sure to think about them with every choice you make. Include them in the decision-making process. It’s not just about you.
5. Use all available resources. You’ll find that there are a great many resources available to you both in the veteran sector and out in the civilian world. Be sure you take advantage of them.
6. Assemble a team. Find people who can help you in all facets of your separation from military service. I’m talking about everything from a business minded person who can proof your resume to a cheerleader who will motivate you when things get tough. Find a mentor in your future profession. Find a friend who’s already exited into the civilian world. Make your team as big as it needs to be to succeed.
7. Get an honest assessment of your finances. Go boldly into this new venture debt free if at all possible. Everything in life is easier without that hanging over your shoulder. You have a year to prepare, sell things, make lifestyle changes, and anything else necessary to erase your debts.

I hope this helps. Bear in mind, there are only seven tips here, and this list is by no means exhaustive. It only scratches the surface. be sure you get help to continue on through this process. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like for me to help you.

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at www.drdavidpowers.com. Thanks for reading!

Got Ruck?

How many of you out there enjoy rucking for exercise? I’m hoping it’s not just the former military guys that do it. Check out this article about me that just came out recently. I hope it will stoke your fires!

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at www.drdavidpowers.com. Thanks for reading!

PS…This article makes my baby girl’s first appearance in the media!

Are You in the Right Place?

I just moved to Chattanooga TN a year ago, mainly due to some advice from my friend Dan Miller. It’s not been easy. As a matter of fact, many aspects of it have been pretty hard because we had no family or support system where we moved. But still, it’s worth it.

I feel I have to ask, are you in the right place for your calling?

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at www.drdavidpowers.com. Thanks for reading!

Links-

Check out Dan Miller. Scroll down and you’ll find a link to him.

My July 2016 Reading List

I’m an avid reader, and I think it would be cool if you were too. Because I’d love to interest you in what’s out there, I’ll start posting the books I read in the previous month. Depending on what I’ve been involved in and, of course, the book itself, the number of books will vary.

The Innocent by David Baldacci. I love reading mysteries by audio when I’m travelling. My 11yo son and I listened to this one on a two week road trip to a speaking engagement in CT. It’s a great book. I only had to fast forward one section that I thought he was too young for.

The Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier. This one came highly recommended from my good friend Kent Julian. One of the best books I’ve ever read on branding.

Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. I thought the Disney movies were cute and funny, but they don’t hold a candle to the true story they came from. In this case, truth is so much more spectacular than fiction.

Fighting Fit by Col. David Ben-Asher. This is a martial arts book about Israeli defense forces training. It’s a great book about basic self-defense training.

That’s it for this month.

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at  www.drdavidpowers.com. Thanks for reading!

Are You a Weird but Harmless Animal?

I saw this in a comic book and couldn’t help but establish some correlation to my own life.

I don’t fit into many traditional molds. I don’t look like a typical ‘whatever’ in the role I’m filling at any given time, be it dad, speaker, or coach. But that’s okay. That’s who I am. That’s what makes me, well…me.

I’m a weird but harmless animal.

I hope you are too.

Don’t ever be normal.

Be you.

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at  www.drdavidpowers.com. Thanks for reading!