Barney Cargile’s Post

Today is the 206th running of the St. John's Royal Regatta. Can you imagine doing something every year for 206 years?!?? 🥳🎉🎉 Here I am, last December at the Winner's Circle for the Regatta 🏆 -- no one around now... but just think: 75 teams are preparing to compete! If you don't think you can do anything 206 times... remember today is the 219th day of 2024! So if you brushed your teeth once (hopefully 2-3) times a day every day, you would surpass 206! What has this got to do with having a baby?? There are several themes but I'll only mention 3 here: 1. It takes work -- PRACTICE -- because it is not always the same winner each year. If you put in the work, you will get the results! 💪🏼 2. It takes a team 🚣🏼♀️-- not 1 person. And it's not only the 4 rowing in the boat with the cox; there are coaches, boat maintenance and more. 3. It has to be something that you would LOVE 💖 -- why else would you put all your TIME ⌚ and ENERGY ⚡into doing it?? TODAY I ASK YOU: What action step could you take today, that would move you in the direction of YOUR DREAM? Whatever that dream may be. To gain greater insight, take a few quiet moments to breathe and sit to ponder this question. Write down everything that comes to mind. Circle the items that excite you! Put at least 1 into your calendar. This process is a success process. Try it!! What have you got to loose? 🤭 #netwebcomparty #getpregnant #haveababy #infertility #dothework #success

Do you talk about things like this at work? As in, do you understand the different experiences your colleagues have in the world? At SAIR, we do. For several reasons. First person stories help destroy bias. And when it's someone you know and you can feel the impact of, bias dies quicker (for me). Don't expect your colleagues with marginalized identities to do this labor, AND if you have a colleague who does share their experiences, and you want to show up for them - sit in it with them, listen, and believe their experience, especially when it is unlike yours. Oh, and use it to find opportunities to show up as an Ally. Clearly, we are still needed in the pools.

OfCourse you are swamped with work. OfCourse you are trying to impress your boss. OfCourse you are not friends with your colleagues. But OfCourse that is NOT ❌ the #LifeAtNICE   All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, so here is me brewing some #creativity to win this years #NICErsChallenge hopping on the crazy famous #OfCourseTrend to meet #TaylorSwift 👀yeeppp yeeeppp!!! 💃   Challenge for you: Can you guess the number of gifts raining? 🎁 ☔ #erasTour #VIPtickets #swifties #financialmarkets #fraudManagement

We watch athletes retire when their bodies can no longer handle the rigor of their sport, and we empathize with their dilemma of wrestling with their identity change - if I can’t compete in this sport, who am I? Truth is, many of us who play or complete not in sports but in another professional context experience this dilemma. If for any reason (layoff, a family move, a change of heart) we stop doing this professional activity that we’ve come to identify ourselves with, what now? The simple answer is to remember that we are more than our jobs. In addition to being a ____ (fill in your professional identity), we are also friends, partners, children, parents, creators, volunteers, teammates, readers, makers, community-members, alumni, players, runners, home cooks, gardeners, the list goes on... The more complex answer is to explore these other parts of our identity and discover where they fill our cups the way that work can at its best. You can explore these kinds of questions in your journal, or with a friend or professional: ❓ What kinds of activities satisfy my sense of purpose beyond work? ❓ Where else do I feel a sense of responsibility and accountability that grounds me, beyond work? ❓ Where else do I feel a sense of belonging, of being appreciated, of being valued, beyond work? ❓ Where else am I challenged or learning, beyond work? ❓ Where else do I feel the sense of accomplishment, beyond work? Maybe you'll notice that in fact there's a lot going on for you, beyond work. Maybe you'll notice you've allowed work to take up too much space and it's time to readjust. Would love to know what you find! #identity #morethanwork #professionalidentity #worklifeintegration Eric Johnson Kate Howells https://lnkd.in/eugr7t72

Blue Collar Spouses Club. I am in this club. Proudly so. If you are in this club, I don’t need to explain to you how special those with Blue Collar blood racing through their veins are. I don’t need to explain to you how hard they work. I don’t need to explain to you that there is no separating who they are and what they do- they are the same. But, I do need somebody to explain something to me. How can I better support my Blue Collar husband?   When you have a bad day at work, you go to your partner. Sometimes looking for comfort, other times looking for practical advice. That’s the same across every industry. However, the challenges that our partners face in the Blue Collar industry are just so unique. Some are hard to even comprehend. My husband had a bad week. Like I got a call from him that made me cancel the rest of my day and drove to the jobsite to see him kind of bad. There was a small incident that had some rather large consequences. This incident is very much unique to his industry. Fortunately, I have come to love what he does, so I played the role of encouragement. Unfortunately, it’s still not completely resolved. His job took a hit, and that means so has he, deeply. This brought me down two paths. 1) It scares me to think that there are people that don’t fully understand the importance of what their partners do in our Blue Collar world. When things are bad, it can be easy for them to say, “Why don’t you find a job in a different industry? A job that is safer. A job that won't freeze you to your bones in the winter. A job where you can avoid the heat in the summer. A job that is less stressful. A job that you don’t have to get up so early for. A job where you don’t have to work so late.” Of course this is only said with good intentions out of the love they have for their partner, but what can we do to influence these people to happily stay in our club? 2)To the proud existing members of the Blue Collar Spouses Club. I want to hear from you. I’d love to hear what you and your spouses have been through- laugh, cry, and vent. I’d also love to ask you questions. What helps you best support your spouse with the harsh demands of their industry? What resources do you use to better equip yourself to handle the hard days? Why are you happy to see your partner be apart of the Blue Collar World? How has their job brought happiness to your family? There’s so much untapped camaraderie to be had here. For both our partners and us. It feels like I unintentionally wrote a letter at this point. So I guess I’ll sign it. Sincerely, A (newish) Blue Collar Wife #bluecollar #bluecollarspouse #dirtworld

Life can often feel like a marathon, a long and solitary journey with its own set of challenges and hurdles. However, the analogy of running a relay race offers a refreshing perspective on navigating through life's trials. In a relay race, teammates work together, each running a portion of the race before passing the baton to the next runner. Similarly, in life, collaborating with others and relying on a support network can lighten the load and lead to greater success. Running a relay race emphasizes teamwork, communication, and trust—qualities essential for achieving goals in both sports and life. By dividing tasks and responsibilities among teammates, individuals can focus on their strengths, knowing they have others to rely on for support. This division of labor can prevent burnout and foster a sense of camaraderie and belonging. Moreover, running a relay race encourages accountability and accountability and accountability and accountability. Each runner knows that their performance directly impacts the team's overall success, motivating them to give their best effort. Similarly, in life, being accountable to others can drive individuals to strive for excellence and maintain focus on their objectives. In essence, the relay race analogy underscores the value of collaboration, support, and accountability in achieving success. By embracing these principles, individuals can navigate life's journey more effectively, realizing that they don't have to go it alone. #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork #LifeIsARelay #StrengthInNumbers #TogetherWeThrive

What a great quick read! I had the opportunity to share meals with strangers/families every single day for 2 years. I noticed that a lot of people who are boring when I asked them “what are you into?” responded with “well i have a family so i don’t do much now” what a sorry excuse and a restrictive mindset. I've met really really really cool, fun, outgoing, and passionate people in their 60s and 70’s who didn't let ‘family life’ restrict their zest for life. They continue to be involved with their friend groups, travel, involve their children in their hobbies, and inspire their children cultivate their own hobbies/passions. That’s the key - the moment you say “ope, i have a kid - time to get boring’. It’s game over. Your family should be your number one priority, but part of that is teaching them to live life. How can they learn to live life if you don't live yours? Aging isn’t scary. Life just keeps getting better and better and better and better with each passing year. Life is amazing when you live it and not exist in it. Eat your whole foods, practice mobility/stretching, and stay active. Age only really starts limiting you around ~80. But even then, this article shows otherwise.

Teams matter. Everyone on a team matters. This is the clip I took of my daughter’s last high school swim this weekend, the last leg of the 400fr relay. She goes into the pool in a distant fifth. It was fairly clear that she would catch fourth place. She’s objectively fast. I absolutely appreciate her talent, but seen that before. The race isn’t exciting if only one person is doing their part. Who cares about a close fourth vs just making fourth, regardless of how many gains of body lengths are closed? It’s all just theatre or adoration of self in that case. This race was special because a small public school made the podium, was only 0.01s from Second, and a school record was set. None of that happens without EACH girl having swam their best. And they did that! How are your teams doing? Does each see the importance of his/her roles and contributions? Are they all engaged? This one is nagging at me as I transition from the weekend to the work week. We need our teams at their best to hit our goals and win! What can I do for my team today is the challenge. #team #teamcollaboration #motivation #energizeyourday

F A I L _ 2 _ P R E P A R E _ P R E P A R E _ 2 _ F A I L Really?? Or is it a case of mind over matter, a positive attitude and crack on. Going from a pretty regular cyclist and club chairman for Sheppey Velo CC, I stepped back from the club, dropped off the scene for about a year with work / life balance, but decided it was time to get fit again, dust off the bike and see if the lycra still fitted. The Welsh Dragon was a challenge I'd not faced in 10 years - so why not! Coercing 7 other club members to sign up, we were set.. However, it wasn't going to be that easy. Training was planned to start in February when on my first ride outside in over 12 months, I fell injuring my hip quite badly. Regular osteopath visits, acupuncture and physio improved the issues, but with the weeks and months passing, I needed to get some training rides in or just pull out from the event. In May I managed to get 4 rides in, just 4, one was a good distance, but it's hard to train for Welsh mountains in Kent. I decided to go for it regardless. It hurt, boy, it really hurt!! With friends by my side (or waiting at the top of the climb), perfect weather and awesome organisation by Human Race Ltd - we completed it! Mentally and physically one helll of a ride! Goes to show, with the right mindset, gritted determination and positive vibes - anything is possible! #Wales #cycling #friendship #strava *if you think this post isn't for LinkedIn - go back and read it again.