I’m F’n exhausted.
An update on me getting cancelled.
The last two years have been an absolute whirlwind. Dozens of trips to DC, the White House, The Pentagon, plane rides with Hegseth, meetings with three secnavs, countless Admirals, think tanks, conferences, shipyards, seatrials… all while running the most visited maritime website in the world.
Wrote a good chunk of the SHIPs Act, several NDAA provisions, helped with the Navy budget and DOW reforms, BATTLESHIPS, FIREBOATS, went through a grueling appointment process only to not get it.
On several boards and significant advisory duties with over a dozen startups.
Emotionally my kids are both off to college. Which hurts. I turn 60 next year. My mom, who I love, is aging and moved down the block. My company is kicking ass but every penny goes to tuition. MSM hit piece after hit piece are taking a toll. Two major campaigns to cancel me (“stolen valor’ for saying the USMM is a military service and my dragging Canada)
And my primary job, running
@gCaptain, is busier than ever thanks to disruption in shipping not seen since WW2 but also the accuracy of my predictions means I get a lot of calls from people managing huge fleets and global logistics… some of them billionaires.
These are just the highlights I want to share. The hardest things I don’t want to share but I have been putting an enormous amount of work into returning to the Catholic Church.
I’m F’n exhausted.
Mentally. Physically. Financially. Morally.
This isn’t a bad thing. I feel like I’ve just finished a marathon. I have lots of pride in what’s been accomplished.
John Wooden said, “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable.”
But it’s not just me of course. It’s a tram effort. I’ve pushed and supported a team of the best people who are getting this nation back on track to build ships and pull the Overton Window back from batshit crazy.
But right now I got nothing left to give. I’ve been in California on my yacht for weeks and I don’t have a return ticket home. Just been puttering around the local harbor and going for long walks.
At the height of the absolute shit storm that cane first with a major Bulwark hit piece, then the ‘stolen valor” nonsense, the tidal wave of anger from Canada then 9/11 which hits hard because dad was FDNY.
And nobody realizes the amount of reading and writing and serious mind hurting thinking being effective at this level takes.
As that was all washing over me I called a lot of friends and mentors. All were impressed with what’s gotten done these past two years, all said to keep pushing, but all had suggestions.
Keep posting but…
Don’t make it political or
Don’t be such an ahole or
Cut ties with Trump or
Stop being critical of Trump or
Spend less time on x or
Give the Admirals a break or
Don’t beat up on allies or
Write shorter posts or
Stop promoting that person or
Really focus on a new appointment or
Just consult and make big money
…the list is endless
But what they don’t understand, what so few understand, the secret I’ve learned getting sh!t done in DC is all those things are links in the chain of influence. Remove one and the chain breaks.
I don’t enjoy trashing military readiness in Canada but IT MATTERS, I don’t enjoy being both critical of the Iran was while deeply impressed with our military’s actions. I don’t enjoy threats of violence for saying the USMM is a military service but that’s the truth I know.
And the hardest part?
I’ve been hanging on my boat and going on long walks thinking about the hardest part. The source of my exhaustion and uncertainty what to do next…. 1/2