The First Step

Welcome. I'm glad you're here.

But why are you here? Or rather, what is this blog about?

Well, the answer is simple and it comes in two parts. First and foremost, I want to provide more transparency about what I do. Secondly, I want to keep an open record of my progress.

Beginning today, each Wednesday I'll post a blog entry about the projects I'm working on, lessons I've learned, setbacks that inevitably arise and what I do in those situations, along with other related topics that I have no idea I'll be writing. It is my great hope that, over time, this blog will not only improve my writing, but also lend insight about what I do and the career journey I've chosen to take.

I'm a born and raised Midwesterner. Anyone who knows anything about Midwestern folks knows that we have an ungodly difficult time talking about ourselves. This often goes double for reserved introverts like myself. That said, let me kick off this blog by stepping outside of my comfort zone for a moment: My goal is to be vulnerable and transparent in this blog. Some weeks will see positive entries about growth and the steps I took to accomplish milestones; other weeks will see entries written to remind everyone the importance of being kind to themselves. The grass sways to the direction of the wind, so to speak. So do I.

Finally, I invite you to interact with these blog entries. I want to hear your thoughts. I want you to ask questions. I want to answer questions. One of the most important lessons that I continue to learn is the value of communicating with each other and sharing information. I want to do that here, and I want you to feel welcome to take part.

For today, as cliché as it is, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The first step of my blogging journey is this entry.

I'll leave you with this to think about: What is your journey? What is your first step or your next step?

-Jacob