In conjunction with this website I have started a YouTube channel and an Instagram account. Combined with this website I believe I have a good starting point from which I can begin to grow. Here is how we got to this point...
I created GO FAST LIFE with a general vision in mind but lacked a clear direction. (You can read the genesis here, https://gofastlife.com/pages/about-go-fast-life)
That was 2018. I kept this vague concept in the back of my mind, but for years it was not my priority…and as it so frequently does…life intervened. A few years went by and each time I thought I had it figured out, I would begin questioning myself and struggling with what this GO FAST LIFE concept actually was. It was a side hustle and I was not agonizing over it but still I just never had it nailed down.
I grew up on the water and have a passion for boating and go fast boats in particular. My Dad has been racing his entire life and is still chasing the checkered flag at his local dirt track at almost 80. So, the racing environment I was raised in and my passion for go fast boats provided the Go Fast name and underlying theme….chase your passion.
But what exactly does that mean? I was told by a trusted, and brutally honest friend, that my concept had nothing to offer, no content. A cool name but it did not stand out and was just another logo on a T-shirt. That stung a bit…but he was absolutely correct.
Then recently, two things happened that provided some clarity.
First, I recently I submitted my retirement paperwork for the military. I will retire with 28 years of service a great network of friends and colleagues, and a million stories. (I have been Army and Navy, active duty and reserve, enlisted and officer…but those are stories for another time.) I began thinking about the next phase of my career. Technically I’m retired, but I’m only 48 and certainly not done. In fact I’m reenergized. What do I do with this extra time on my hands? As I wrestled with this, I began thinking there are probably a lot of other folks out there going through this same thing. For whatever reason, entering a new phase in life and exploring opportunities without a clear path ahead.
Second, I realized my son’s interest in gaming and technology is not a phase but becoming his passion. Any conversation with him and this becomes immediately clear. Gaming and tech are not my interests, nor have they ever been., in fact I have typically been a late adapter. With increasing frequency, I struggled to even understand what my son is talking about, but I knew I needed to somehow participate in his world. I immediately assessed that I was not going to become a gamer…but he also talked about his interest in being a “YouTuber”. After a little research, I figured this was something I could use as a foothold. We could build a YouTube channel together. He is excited about it and so am I…So here we go.
Now this brings me back to the issue of content. What is going to be on this channel? What problem am I trying to solve?
Looking back at my life and career, the times that stood out as providing the most purpose and satisfaction was when I was mentoring and helping others. My strongest bonds are with those that mentored me and those that I somehow, in some small way, was able to guide to their own success. Nothing feels better than knowing you were able to genuinely help someone on their own journey and provide them something of value in their life or career.
So while I don’t have this whole thing mapped out, content will be centered around the two main reasons why I am here; chasing your passion and exploring new opportunities.
I plan to accomplish this by putting out one video a week, all the while guiding my son in his role as the producer of this channel. We will learn all the behind the scenes work; planning, filming, editing and all that goes into the finished product both in front of and behind the camera. Content will begin with sharing lessons I have learned along the way that have gotten me this far and that will guide me in exploring new opportunities. Hopefully this will add value to someone watching…if anyone is watching…other than my parents, Hi Mom.
So there it is. That is what I believe is a solid starting point. I’m excited to see where this goes and what doors it opens as we progress. Thanks for reading this and your interest. Talk again soon.