First of all, welcome to the first installment of One Less Dog In The Hunt.
Kind of a crazy name for a blog, huh? You’re probably thinking, “What the heck is that about ?”
Well, that’s the name of this place. To be honest (TBH as the kids say), it wasn’t my first choice. I ran through ideas like “off the wheel” or “one less rat in the race,” but those sites were either unavailable or way outta my price range. I’m a bit of a hick anyway, so I started to work on something which would fit my personality, and this is what I stumbled upon. Hopefully it will make a little more sense as we go along.
Let’s get a little philosophical for just a second or two. What’s in a name anyway? Identity. Meaning. Message. Especially names on the internet, right? I mean we didn’t necessarily get to pick the name we’re called by, but when we create a website or a business, we have the pleasure of creating some kind of identity. One Less Dog In The Hunt seemed unique enough and once you get the drift of my message, it makes more sense.
So, what is this One Less Dog In The Hunt stuff all about? (I can tell I’m going to have to initialize that or make an acronym. OLDITH? Sounds like a lisp, but I suppose it works.) What is the message? The message is that there is life beyond the regular 9 to 5; beyond Corporate America; and within doing something you enjoy. It means there is one less dog in the hunt; one less person climbing the ladder; one less rat in the race, and one less hamster on the wheel.
After nearly thirty-three years in retail management which ended with a corporate layoff, a year applying for other corporate positions, and fifty plus years of life on the planet, there is now one less dog in the corporate hunt. One less dog to fight over the bones of promotion, self-aggrandizing, and general ass-kissing. That came off a little negative, didn’t it? Stick with me; this isn’t about being negative. It isn’t about bitterness or judgement; it’s about finding your way.
Does that mean this site is about giving up? Tossing in the towel? Living off society? Heck no! Am I gonna be one of those lazy dogs that lays on the ol’ porch? Not happening.
One Less Dog In The Hunt is about exploration, independence, and adventure. There’s something here for everyone, whether you are a millennial trying to find some way to independence, a midlife crisis sufferer looking for a change of pace, or a retiree trying to keep busy. It’s about one less dog hunting with the pack and one more dog hunting for himself.
I wasn’t ever a good pack dog anyway, even after spending more than half my life with the same company. I never did the [deep breathing here] “What is your bidding my Master?” thing well anyway. I tended to operate better with a mind of my own. That doesn’t always work for Corporate America, but fortunately for me, most of my superiors understood my individualism was an asset and accepted my honest opinions with complete understanding that I would do what was best for my people and my company. I wasn’t defiant; I simply didn’t operate as a corporate zombie. If my opinion differed — I stated it, and if the direction still stood — I carried it out.
So, after putting out a more than reasonable amount of effort to re-enter the corporate world, I’ve taken my individualism and put it to work in a different way. I’m a dog on my own. I am a dog looking for my path, and maybe making my own path. I’m a dog forming my own pack, but one which allows for uniqueness and individuality, and in fact, celebrates those characteristics. A place which allows for sharing of experiences rather than holding them tight as an edge against the competition in corporate gain. And it’s not all about me. It’s about others who are breaking from the pack and discovering life on their own.
This idea has sort of evolved with time and fermentation. The original idea hit me early on when I was kind of just getting used to the fact that I was no longer employed. The thought was to set up a blog which focused on people who had abandoned the rat race or jumped off the wheel. It was originally met with a, “Dad, millennials will eat that shit up?” response from my millennial son. He’s right. Millennials in the workforce are looking for their own thing. They want to make their own mark and not just be part of someone else’s story — someone else’s success. But I was looking for more than just a millennial play.
This is not just another anti-corporation blog. It’s not about giving a finger to the man, and it’s not just about people who have left the corporate world behind. Honestly, I have nothing against corporations or companies. My company supported my family and gave me stability for almost thirty-three years. I saw others lose their jobs as a part of business, so somewhere in the back of my mind I knew it could happen to me too. There is a place for corporations; they offer stability when they are well founded. They create jobs and many offer great benefits, but they aren’t for everybody, and sometimes we outgrow them even when we don’t realize it.
Despite the impact on our income, the disappointment of not finding a job right away, and the uncertainty of the future, there are things I can look to as positives. I’ve spent more time with my wife, and been able to see my grandchildren more. And in some ways, I’ve even spent more time with my kids, though they are spread all over the place. According to my wife, I’m less grumpy and I make her less grumpy. Honestly, I think I’m a better person now. Though I’ve seen my share of personal stress over the last year, it isn’t the same as being under the pressure of day to day activity in a fast moving organization.
I’ve lived a life. I’ve gathered knowledge. And I want to use it; I want to offer it, where possible. So this blog may take a few different directions (see the categories up above). Another of my sons (I have three and a daughter to give me much needed advice), offered another direction. “Dad, a blog’s good, but have you ever considered a podcast? I think you’d do good with it.” Hmm. Another development in this evolution? Possibly. There may even be some lessons from the corporate world along the way.
I’m going to show off some of the things I’ve experienced/done, and some of the pathways I’ve considered since getting the Big Boot. Maybe throw out some advice, if appropriate, for others who have experienced the Jolt of a Lifetime. Aside from chronicling my own journey, I want to examine the journeys of others. I want to highlight the individuals, the entrepreneurs, and the trailblazers out there; not just those who have left the corporate world behind, but those who are following their dreams or making their own path. I want to recognize that we don’t all have to be part of a large organization or carry a masters degree to succeed. I want to nurture the idea that success isn’t just about the size of your wallet and the size of your home. Success can be achieving a place in your life where you are happy with who you are, what you’ve accomplished, and where you stand.
It’s a big wide world and there are lots of opportunities out there. I’m just getting started. Maybe I’m just a dog on a different kind of hunt.
