Bob Seger’s song Turn the Page has always spoken to me. The powerful lyrics tell the working musician’s story—the hardships of life on the road contrasted with the ecstasy of being on stage. He passionately gives his all in every performance, yet the inevitable outcome is the lonely work of getting to the next venue, setting up the equipment, and repeating the cycle. The only punctuation in the routine is the need to turn the page as the band looks ahead to the next gig.
While I’m no rock star, I lived life on the road for many years. Instead of music though, my work has focused on helping people better understand themselves and others so they can communicate more effectively, collaborate more productively, and have less conflict. In short, my shows were about people working better together. It’s important work and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Then there was Covid-19 and everything changed. We all stopped dead in our tracks and were forced to rethink our approach. Thankfully, most of us found ways to continue our work, but with some major adjustments. This tough season also provided time to think and revaluate. For me, this meant determining what mattered most and how I wanted to proceed.
I’ve decided that it’s time to turn the page. My business partners at Core Strengths have graciously made it possible for me to transition out of the business, yet they have invited me stay connected by continuing to work with a few clients and using the tools that I still consider to be the best in the industry. However, I will be on my own with the opportunity to use my time and talents in different ways as well.
For those who know me well, you know that my faith is very important to me, so in this next season of life, I want to devote far more energy to Christian service. I’m praying for doors to open in this regard and already seeing God’s hand at work. One door that has already opened is the opportunity to teach in the doctoral programs at California Baptist University. I’ll continue to work with doctoral students at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology as well.
I will also spend more time writing and sharing my thoughts on a variety of topics. I’ll post short blogs and comments on a regular basis, so please connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter, as well as visiting my website on a regular basis. I’m also going to try to get better with Instagram.
Even though I’m turning the page, I’m not closing the book. In fact, I look forward to writing new chapters with you in the months and years ahead. Please contact me if you want to be part of the story.
Dr. Mike Patterson is an author, speaker, and master facilitator who helps leaders and teams communicate, collaborate, and manage conflict more effectively. He is the co-author of the highly acclaimed book, Have a Nice Conflict: How to Find Success and Satisfaction in the Most Unlikely Places, and he teaches in the doctoral programs at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology and California Baptist University.
© 2021 Michael L. Patterson, Ed.D.
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