Writing is writing

 

Planning to write is not writing.  Outlining a book is not writing.  Researching is not writing.  Talking to people about what you are doing, none of that is writing.  Writing is writing.

E. L. Doctorow


Today, I received letters from two NIOC COs, a NIOC XO, a NIOD OIC, a retired Navy Captain colleague, my sister, a priest and a NWC graduate attending the Warfighting school.  As you can imagine, it was a very good day for me. These men and my sister understand what it means to write.  

As per H.L. Mencken's example, I will send out my responses by day's end.  I will be writing.

"Write on, write on, write on."  Matthew McConaughey (Uvalde native)

10 Reasons I've Enjoyed Posting To This Blog Over The Years

In no particular order.

1.  It allowed me to engage with a wonderful author and to write the Chapter 1 opening vignette for a Wall Street Journal/Amazon best-selling business book.  Dr. Stephen Covey and Bono 'open' for me.

2.  It gave me the opportunity to help a Pulitzer prize winning author with research for his story on The SeaWitch in TIME magazine.

3.  It has allowed me to remain connected to the Navy's cryptologic community, which I love.

4.  It earned me an invite to speak at a Women In Defense forum and to contribute ideas to numerous professional publications.

5.  It has allowed others to freely express their frustrations on a variety of topics important to them. 

6.  It allowed me to expand the network of Sailors of all paygrades that I mentor and with whom I share lessons learned.

7.  It allowed me to collaborate with the former CNO on avenues to gain recognition of the Navy as a TOP 50 Employer in the United States.

8.  It allowed me to keep alive the memory of some stellar Sailors.

9.  It has allowed me to write everyday, which I love.

10.  It has connected me to some great Navy veterans and many others who proudly serve today.

Seth Godin's NEVERs - My ALWAYS

 Seth Godin - Delivering on never

I will never miss a deadline
I will never leave a typo
I will never fail to warn you about a possible pitfall
I will never charge you more than the competition
I will never violate a confidence
I will never let you down
I will never be late for a meeting
There are lots of sorts of never you can deliver to a customer. You can't deliver all of them, of course. Picking your never and sticking with it is a fabulous way to position yourself.

Mike Lambert - Delivering on always

I will always answer the mail.

I will always give my best advice.

I will always deliver on a promise.

I will always give you a second chance.

I will always have your back.  (You know who you are).

I will always remember every Sailor.

I will always try to make it better.

I will always have something to add to this list.

What's your always?