Got quite a bit done today.
I had another meeting with my potential business partner, and I think I’m going to make a real run at this with him. The current plan is to help build something from the ground up, which is both exciting and, if I’m being honest, just a little bit terrifying.
Mostly exciting.
Everyone I know who has started a business says the same thing: you learn an enormous amount, very quickly, whether you were ready to or not. In this case, I’m not starting from zero, my partner has already put in some solid groundwork and realized he needed someone with my skillset to help take it to the next level.
And apparently, my timing is impeccable.
I won’t be able to share much about it for now, but this feels like I’ve found a really strong path forward. Worst case, I learn a pile of things I already wanted to learn and build something useful. Best case… maybe this is the next chapter.
Or maybe more accurately, it found me.
I also set up a Snowflake trial account today and spent some time talking things through with a good friend. It’s always grounding to have people around you who you can bounce ideas off of.
It’s also a helpful reminder that there are people out there who tolerate me.
(Joke. Mostly.)
On the practical side, I think I’ve finally sorted out my medical situation.
Alberta Blue Cross Non-Group coverage is set up and should be effective April 1. Not an April Fools joke, which feels important to clarify given the timing.
So for now, that’s one big thing off the list.
I also got an email from my former company asking how to disassemble a foosball table.
Which, in fairness, is not something you want to get wrong. (The table is in near perfect shape right now, I’ve cared for it over the years. I’ll be more than a little perturbed if it comes back home ruined.) I’m glad that they asked!
It might be easier for me to just go in and do it, but instead I sent back a carefully written set of instructions. I may have emphasized, more than once, that under no circumstances should anyone lift it by the rods. Bending a foosball bar is, as far as I’m concerned, unforgivable.
I also framed the instructions around company values.
Protect What Matters.
Do It Right.
Make It Better.
Do It Together.
Values that I helped shape a couple of years ago, and still believe in. It felt like the right way to explain how to safely dismantle a foosball table.
The rest of the day was pretty normal.
Took my parents to the airport, walked the kids to school, picked them up later, and generally just had a good, steady day.
I thought I’d add a bit of honesty here for anyone reading this and trying to understand what this kind of transition actually feels like.
I haven’t been exaggerating when I say that I feel happy and optimistic. I do. This has been, in many ways, a positive reset. I use “Day X of unemployment” partly as a bit of self-deprecating humour, though I know it probably raises a few eyebrows.
But alongside that, there are moments.
Not many, and not lasting, but real.
There’s a small voice that shows up once in a while that says I’m not good enough at what I do. I know exactly where that voice came from, and it’s only been there a short time.
Fortunately, there’s a much louder voice that immediately tells it to sit down and be quiet, because it clearly has no idea what it’s talking about.
Still, every now and then there’s a flicker of doubt.
A moment where I wonder if I’ll (ever) find the right next role.
A moment where I think maybe I should just take whatever comes first.
A moment where I briefly consider whether I’m about to be replaced by AI and a very enthusiastic intern.
Those moments pass quickly.
And when they do, I remind myself of the things I’ve done, the people I’ve worked with, and the impact I’ve had. I think about the messages I’ve received recently. Things like:
“You were the light trying to lead us out of a dark tunnel.”
Or the shorter, but equally effective:
“You’re still a genius.”
Those words matter.
They quiet the noise.
I think that’s something worth saying out loud.
A kind word can make a real difference. More than we probably realize at the time.
I’ve had a couple people write thoughtful recommendations for me recently, and those are things I’ll hold onto for a long time.
And more broadly, I’d just say this:
You are better than the worst voice in your head. You are more than you think you are.
I’ve said that to people I’ve mentored over the years, and I still believe it.
If you’re struggling with imposter syndrome, or uncertainty, or just one of those days where things feel heavier than they should, reach out.
If I know you (the internet is a weird place), I’ll gladly tell you what I appreciate about you.
Today was a good day.
Looking up.
Looking forward.
And, every once in a while, being honest about the parts in between.
Brett Wiens 