We’re born alone. We die alone. And in between we spend our lives looking for something. Connection. That’s all we want. Every once in a while, we might find it in a true friend. Many friendships will come only to fade as quickly as a firework. But some, a rare and precious few, turn life up to 11 and keep it there. You gotta hold on to friends like these because just like air you’ll miss them when they’re gone.” ~Christopher Walken
It’s been a truly amazing year for the Clas Clan. We had our share of struggles and obstacles to overcome in 2022, however, we continued to thrive as a team. I wouldn’t trade my life for anyone else’s and I’m truly proud to have seen every one of us grow this past year. We moved from Germany back to the U.S., I began my new assignment as a Paratrooper, we added a few more stripes on our belts in Jiu-jitsu, and procured two more properties in Illinois for the family business. I’m truly excited to see where we go as a family in 2023. There will surely be more hard work to do, but as long as we are together, I have no doubt we will continue to make gains.
After Actions Review
I laid out several personal and professional goals I wanted to achieve during 2022. In all honesty, I came up short. My head’s not down, nor do i feel lesser for not achieving my goals, but I have to hold myself accountable for my shortcomings. My mantra is fail forward and I intend to use the lessons I learned in the past year to ensure I achieve next year’s objectives.
Personal
The biggest shortcoming I had during 2022 was not focusing on property management as much as I should have. The two goals I wanted to achieve were to split the zoning on a property we own in Crete, Illinois to build another investment property; and to complete a property management curriculum to better prepare to self-manage our equities post-retirement from the military. However, due to my wife’s drive and ambition, we did purchase two more multifamily houses adding four more doors to our portfolio.
Professional
There was a huge paradigm shift to my professional ambitions after Jan. 2022. The Eastern European problem set presented an opportunity for me to compete for an assignment which changed my trajectory and has landed my family and I at the Center of the Military Universe, here at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The transition was magnificent and the reception has been nothing less than amazing. Although my original professional goals were overcome by events, I have found myself in a new organizational culture driven by a work hard, play hard, family first philosophy.
For those who understand, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.” ~Ziad K. Abdelnour
New Year, New You
Every year presents an opportunity for renewal and self-improvement. I look at 2023 with same lens and we have made resolutions as a family to keep each other honest. It’s not my place to divulge the goals my family members entrusted me with, so I will keep this section focused on yours truly. I have broken my resolutions down into three lines of effort: mental, physical, and emotional to keep them centered on the holistic-wellness framework.
Mental
I will continue to be a steward of my profession. This past year I completed 25 of 33 books of the “33 Best Books for Entrepreneurs to Read in 2022”. In 2023, I will change gears and complete “The U.S. Army Chief of Staff’s Professional Reading List”. If you’re not learning you’re dying and it’s up to us active practitioners to apply lessons learned from the past to the problem sets of the current operating environment.
Physical
I competed only once in a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competition in 2022 and miss the experience. The beauty of the gentle art is the opportunity to test yourself is always available. I intend to compete at least four times during 2023. It’s not about the medals, it’s about gaining immediate feedback to application. Competitions to athletes are what culminating training events are to the military. You do not know where your weaknesses are until you test your game against someone striving to be the best as well.
Emotional
My emotional well-being always revolves around spending time with my family. My wife and I have demanding professional requirements, to say the least. However, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Our children are growing like weeds and our familial goal is to keep them active in sports and other activities to focus their energy.
My wife and I will structure a battle-rhythm that affords more opportunities to build skills in Jiu-jitsu, Soccer, Dance, and Gymnastics and less on electronics. We even have a family game night programmed to keep us coming to the table without tablets, phones, or other electronics. Additionally, I intend to focus more on spiritual growth with my family now that my kids are getting insight on this topic from external influences at school and from their friends.
The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” ~Michelangelo
Shortfall is not Failure
On the eve of Jan. 1, 2023, many of us will bring it in celebrating with the ones we love. We will make resolutions and promises to ourselves and others in an effort to hold ourselves accountable, but at the end of the day remember … life is not pass or fail. It’s a rigorous full contact sport ready to test your resolve at every turn. Murphy’s law, what can go wrong, will go wrong, will be applicable more times than not. However, no matter what happens, just remind yourself why you made your resolutions in the first place. Was it for fun, or was it for your overall wellbeing. Whether I like to admit it or not, a better me is better for everyone I interact with each day. So go out there and be the best version of yourself for the ones that matter to you and for those that are learning from you. Have a great year! One team, One family! ~Doc
Featured Image: Dominic poses at the Drawn to Combat exhibit at the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Dec. 30, 2022.