Becoming a Resonant Leader

March 8, 2017

This blog is supposed to state a personal vision for myself, list at least three learning goals and milestones for each action, and key people who will help me achieve these goals.  Full disclosure to the professor.  You will not be enlightened by any of my writings here.  Between being goal oriented, with a secondary tendency towards direction oriented, I have achieved nearly all my objectives to gain retirement.  What will retirement bring me?  It will bring me time and financial freedom.  I am so close to that goal, that I don’t need to do extensive introspective exercises that are more useful for a person in their late twenties or early thirties.  That is not me.  Therefore, I will state that I did the exercises at the end of chapter 6, “Becoming a Resonant Leader”, but the output will probably disappoint.  It is not disappointing to me because I have fought hard to reach my goals.  I will briefly describe my struggle here, but to the point, my goals are nearly all achieved.

I have been destroyed financially in total three different times in my life.  I have persevered.  My assets are probably just over a million $.  That is not a lot of money, but compared to where I was at just 16 years ago, it is.  I have almost no debt.  The main exception is a house that I just recently purchased in Corpus Christi, TX.  I plan on paying that house off in total in about 5 years.  I have money in the bank, money invested, and multiple income properties.  I am ready for a worry-free financial retirement.

I have worked hard at my military and civilian education.  With my graduate degree, I will have attained the level of education that I aspire to.  I do not feel the need or want to continue.  I have completed 33 military schools and/or training courses.  So, that puts to bed any aspirations of higher learning beyond this degree.

What about a career?  As stated, after nearly 34 years in the military (which includes 5 years and 5 separate combat deployments), I am ready for retirement.  I am interested in getting a civilian position (federal civil service) at the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD).  Why?  Because I can then buy my active duty years in the Army, combine them with my years as a U.S. Customs Inspector, and be vested in a position with 28 years’ seniority.  It will not take away from my reserve retirement and will give me the option of only working for two years before I could retire with a 30-year retirement from the federal civil service.

So, it appears that I have it all worked out.  Right?  Well, another reason I am in a hurry for retirement, is that the genetics in my family don’t work out so well.  The men tend to die at or before 60 years of age.  I will be 58 this summer and do not wish to work until the day I die and never get to enjoy retirement.  That happened to my dad.  I don’t want it to happen to me.  So, what is left?

With my degree finished this Fall, I will have completed all my military and civilian educational goals.  I will have locked in my military retirement.  The only two “goals” left are gaining civilian employment at CCAD, and whether that employment consists of a supervisory position. I understand that there may be some challenges to adjusting to retirement, but I think that I have thought about them deeply enough to where it won’t affect me.  I plan on living financially free, accomplishing my bucket list, and living in love and contentment.  That is the plan.  It is a simple plan.  It is a plan that can all be accomplished in the next three years.  I simply do not wish to set goals beyond this.  My ultimate goal is retirement.  Once I have retired, then I could reflect upon a personal ICT plan if necessary.  Right now, I don’t see it.

In the immediate future, I plan on spending 6 months out of the year in my home in Michigan, and then 6 months at my home in Texas.  Both homes are on the water.  I have boats that are in both places.  I want to enjoy the things that I have worked for, travel, and work on hobbies that I want to get better at. These hobbies include playing the guitar, fishing, hunting, and real estate investing.  I have plenty of things that will consume my time, energy, and cognitive talents.

Respectfully,

John D. Hescott

Reference:

Boyatzis, Richard., McKee, Annie., & Johnston, Frances. (2008) “Becoming a Resonant

            Leader”. Boston: Harvard Business School Press