There and Back Again (A Hobbit-Like Tale)

The Hobbits of Middle Earth were never known to be adventurous. That held true until Bilbo Baggins stepped outside his front door one day and began an adventure unlike any other. And so it was that ‘There and Back Again: A Hobbit’s Tale by Bilbo Baggins’ began.

Bilbo’s adventure would spark the epic chronicles of The Lord of the Rings. Following in his over-large footsteps, Bilbo’s nephew Frodo would later inherit the One Ring and lead the campaign to destroy it. Dark times awaited him and his fellowship. But despite the dangers and difficulties, Frodo and company prevailed.

I’m no Hobbit. But the arc of my life as of late has made me pause to check, just in case. (Nope, my feet are still normal. Phew!) Nevertheless, my There and Back Again tale begins…

Where I’ve Been

There is a good likelihood that you’ve been wondering where I’ve been lately. I’ve been on a meandering adventure filled with highs, lows, sacrifices and triumphs. Vanishing temporarily from my writing has been one of the much regretted casualties. That ends with this essay.

But where truly?

First, I’m proud to share that I’ve exited Corporate America for good. At the end of May I left to become a full-time independent. My days are largely filled now with business consulting and next-gen book editing. It’s a marked improvement

I’ve also become the Editorial Director of the Accidental Creative. It’s founder, Todd Henry, is one brilliant man (not a Hobbit either). His new book is surging well and laying the road toward many new things. It’s a pleasure to be onboard and help guide that journey.

These are wonderful events! But they came with an upfront cost – my personal creative time. I found myself overwhelmed with commitments and expectations during these transitions. Coupled with a foolish continuance to over-consume information, I kinda choked. Hence the absence from writing.

So I unplugged to regain perspective on what’s important to me. That involved dissecting my online message (for this site), my entrepreneurial career path (now in full swing), and – perhaps most importantly – what’s not important and only abusing my time, space, energy, and sanity.

That deep cleanse has helped, tremendously. I found many answers, which I’m now very pleased to share!

Where I Am

I’m plugged back in now with a recharged drive. (Look out orcs.)

My time on the sidelines revealed a powerful theme that intertwines much of my experiences, beliefs, and values. And not just me; I see this theme as a current flowing through much of humanity. I call this theme Iterative Design. It stands in direct opposition to Linear Design, the default path that conventional wisdom expects us to follow. The thing is, linear living is plagued with lies.

I’ve chosen to expose those lies and teach the ways of Iterative Design. From work to play to health and happiness, the world ebbs and flows in cycles. All that is linear is unnatural, man-made. There are no straight lines in nature.

This Iterative Design message – to favor steering over aiming, to learn by doing, to embrace the art of possible – is the culmination of my many thoughts, feelings, and previous writings. That’s not to say that it won’t evolve further. I hope it does, with your input as a prime influence. But as it stands, it’s a unifying paradigm. And that makes me feel good about where this site (and my life) is going.

Where I’m Going

What’s next?

Well, publishing is my top priority. This essay marks my resurgence. And my queue is full of ideas, insights, and kick-starters to follow.

This moment is also an opportunity for me to challenge myself to become a better writer. Clarity, consistency, and brevity matter a lot. I can do a better job on these fronts. So it is my intention to write more compact essays; shorter yes but also far more penetrating.

Amping up my engagement with you is a related goal. I’ll be introducing new ways to subscribe to my writing, gain deeper access to me, and (hopefully) galvanize you to engage each other. Dialogue is the oxygen of progressive ideas. And it’s no-kidding time to catapult our ideas forward.

My second priority relates to my ever-present spirit – that of a Big Kid.

As this essay infused with Hobbits, magic rings, and other-worldly things further proves, I adore the realms of make-believe. I find imagination and improvisation fascinating. They’re essential to the creative process, to health, to relationships, to happiness and so much more. Not surprisingly, these forces operate on the non-linear principles of Iterative Design.

The Big Kid archetype resonates with me like no other. And I’m not alone. There is great magic to command by embracing it. So it is that new, exciting schemes are in the works to bring the Big Kid movement to center stage. Stay tuned!

The Return of the Writer

I have returned from. My personal ‘There and Back Again’ is complete. The overwhelm I combatted these last several months has been thwarted. It’s now time for a new age.

I’m thrilled that you’re here. Whether a long-time reader or a new recruit, thank you. As the Hobbits, Elves, Dwarfs, and Men of Middle Earth knew, fellowship is everything. I’m honored that you’ve joined this one.