I am occasionally overwhelmed, just like everyone else. I want to go hide in my hole, and not come out. Ignore all of my responsibilities, stop training my guys, stop pushing them to be as good as they are, stop pushing myself and the company, and let the email pile up.

The thing that keeps me going? The 12 guys that are counting on me being their motivation, their light, their direction.

It may be corny, but I know I’m the leader, the pusher, the fire under their asses.

For saving me in my most self destructive times, and for just plain being awesome, I talked the bobs into letting me take the guys out for a meal. Each shift has picked a place (or had one assigned, if they weren’t vocal enough). Each shift will meet a time that works well for the shift, have a couple drinks and some food, paid for by the company.

It’s not a small amount of work to organize, but damn is it a good time, and makes a HUGE difference in the morale, and in the interaction of the team.

This is gonna be awesome. I love it.