I mentioned recently that I had concluded my tenure at Spatial Networks, Inc. and would be working on developing the next steps in my professional career. I’m not the “retiring” type in the conventional sense (I don’t golf, don’t really have hobbies per se, and still have a fair amount of ideas that I’d like to explore). Many of the replies and DMs to this announcement were curious about what my plans are for the future. So, I’ll lay this out simply and will have more posts with greater details over the weeks and months to come.
I have a few things up my sleeve already, not to mention a number of concepts that I am cooking (thinking through to a point where I am comfortable making the next decision on whether to do something with it or shut it down and forget about it).
- A Tampa business associate I’ve worked with for more than a decade has recommended that I sign up for Florida Funders to get a look at new and emerging companies looking for startup capital & based in or with significant operations in the Florida market.
- I’ve started and am the primary investor in a new global business intelligence company that looks to capitalize on the cumulative years of experience between myself, the Chief Executive Officer and the initial core team to address business requirements from a niche customer segment.
- Collaborating with colleagues & friends from the GEOINT community that continue to work on new capabilities and hope to provide advisory and consulting services in the coming months.
- I continue to support the American Geographical Society as a Council member (essentially a Board member) and I am excited about having more time in the coming months and years to advance their mission.
- I have no less than 26 books that I have purchased over the past few years that sit on a bookshelf that I now have time and renewed enthusiasm to devour. As has happened in the past when I make the effort to devote time every day to reading, I expect that behavior to generate new ideas to explore. Along with this, there’s a number of blogs and podcasts that I need to resubscribe to and stay disciplined in consuming that content. Writing more, especially here, with a range of topics and themes.
6. Travel more when possible, and while that seems improbable at the moment during social-distancing and #COVID19 quarantining, this won’t disrupt travel forever. There’s a wide variety of experiences to be had in the United States, not to mention Canada, Mexico and other parts of Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia. I’m looking forward to exploration of cultures, foods and environment around the world. As Mark Twain is famously quoted:
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
There’s also a number of other personal endeavors that I will be devoting significant time to in the coming weeks, months and years — but initially delayed in part due to this global pandemic.
I’m open to various opportunities and discussions and look forward to what the near future yields, but if you’re interested in engaging in one form or another, I’d welcome and encourage that. Thank you for reading.
