Tweblog - Toby Getsch

From the 4×4 Weekend Blog…

As of today, Tuesday, July 18, 2006, 4×4 Weekend is on indefinite hold.

There are a number of reasons for this, which I’m about to go write about here in a few minutes. This is a good thing, and a positive decision. I’m excited for various other opportunities!

I have learned a whole lot during the past few months. I have no regrets about 4×4 Weekend. It’s just time to take another direction. Please stop by tweblog.com. I’ll be updating that blog regularly.

In HIS grip!
~Toby Getsch

Over the past 3 months, I’ve had quite a bit of “stuff” happen in my life. I’m going to bullet some of that here, and include some of the reasons why 4×4 Weekend has been put on indefinite hold. The order of these bullets is not specific. I’m just writing them down as they all come to mind.

1. I’ve had some vacation time and time to get thoughts squared away.
2. “Too much geek.” - That’s a big reason. I’m just into gadgets and systems and technology a lot. The draw to do a whole business outdoors and away from a bit of that is huge. However, there is too much geek pull that keeps oozing it’s way back into various aspects of my life.
3. I visited some family and friends for a couple weeks.
4. I sold my motorcycle.
5. I drove my motorcycle from Seattle to Minneapolis before I sold it.
6. I had a dear friend pass away due to cancer.
7. I have a younger brother, that I’m very proud of, just graduate from Army’s basic training.
8. I’ve had the most regular exercise routine since moving out here to Seattle in the summer of 2002.
9. A number of friends have purchased new/first homes recently. I think I’d like to own a home sooner, rather than later.
10. I do like the stability and structure of a job with an established organization.
11. Getting a new home requires some more financial stability rather than more risk.
12. 4×4 Weekend was going to require more debt to proceed. At this time, that’s not something I want to pursue.
13. Listening to many people respond as I talked about 4×4 Weekend made me realize that I can have that same passion in other ways and can share passion without needing to be as drastic as starting a whole business.
14. Perspectives. I’ve hear many people’s perspectives over the past few months, and I’m enlightened to learn from them, to reject some of them, to adhere to some of them, and to make my own perspectives.
15. I have a lot of confidence right now in my abilities. Harnessing that confidence and turning it into productivity is something that I can do in many different ways. I can have a big impact on many people, and can positively affect different situations.
16. I’ve been humbled many times over, by realizing how much more I need to listen.
17. Leadership has many forms. Making decisions is a big portion of leadership. Putting 4×4 Weekend on indefinite hold is a leadership move, and a decision made.
18. I don’t like when people in power are poor leaders, that do not make decisions, and do not make convicted decisions. I want to become a good leader.
19. I started attending a new church, and have really liked the challenges and energy and worship.
20. It was relatively low risk for me to try to start a new business, in terms of who it affects. It’s just me right now. But, like many things, that really isn’t consistent. What we do affects many other people. Who we affect in one setting or another can impact a life. I know my life has been impacted by others that way. So, it really isn’t that low of a risk to try to start a new business. It’s a big risk.
21. People can be encouraging. That can feel good. It’s important to not “let that go to your head.” Doing the right thing should be doing the right thing. It may be influence by others, but it should be done on it’s own merits.
22. I may not be as adventurous as I’d like to think I am.
23. I’m OK with learning from my mistakes.
24. There are a lot of opportunities out there. I face lots of choices every day.
25. Because I can. And, because I can, does not mean that I should.

Hmmm… 25 bullets seams like a lot more than I had in mind when I started. This has been a good decision. And now, I’m officially unemployed. That’s not so exciting, but it is a new challenge!

Let’s see. What’s next?

UPDATE: #26. I want to get a boat! Sat by the water in Downtown Kirkland last night (Friday, 7/21/2006). After growing up in Minnesota and being around water my whole life (See: “The Lake”), a boat would be very fitting. Yeah, I believe a new job is in order…

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