Check out last week’s newsletter: Planes, Trains, and Missing Suitcases: Why Resilience is Your Best Skill

59 days of madness (and what I learned)

We’re only 2 months into the new year, and it has been off to a fairly busy start.. even for me. For those who are newer to the madness that my life can be at times, WELCOME! For everyone else, you’re probably not surprised.

I hit the ground running with travel and went to Wisconsin for my engineering job for a week and it was “warm” for them in the 30’s but it was in the 60’s in Nashville and that was the beginning of my “luck” for the year

It was a successful week and was home for a week and guest starred on another podcast and you can see that episode below with my new friend Chris Schwenk who’s the host of the Tech Jobber Podcast. 

Following this week, I had another trip for my engineering job to Toronto and that trip was successful as well. The week wrapped up and I planned to fly out that Saturday after exploring the city, but ice storm that gripped the South and hit Nashville had other plans. My flight was cancelled and rebooked to Sunday. Much longer story that I’ll probably talk about in a future newsletter, but ended up being in Houston for 4 days and fortunately got to catch up with a couple friends that live there.

The following week, I was in town and recorded for another podcast (Coming Soon!). The following week, I had a short trip to Alabama for my engineering job that was mostly successful but a long day.

Two weeks ago I went to Nevada for my engineering job for majority of the week then went to California on Thursday evening to speak/attend a conference on Friday & Saturday and that’s where the story for the missing suitcase from last week came in. Funny enough, I also had missing luggage in Houston just a few weeks prior so I was prepared for this. Conference was Incredible and including some pictures below!

This past week, I finally caught my breath at home. I hit a networking event, caught up with interns from two different summers on the same day (talk about timing!), attended a church small group, and even squeezed in a Jazz performance all in 4 days while working during day!

Obviously this isn’t everything I’ve done, but some things I wanted to highlight I was doing while still keeping things going with the podcast, newsletter, and social media (shout out to Ambassadors support)!

So why share all of this?

If these first eight weeks have taught me anything, it’s that you can’t control the weather, the airlines, or where your suitcase ends up, but you can always control your response.

I’ve realized that being "prepared for the madness" isn't just about having an extra change of clothes in my carry-on (though that would have helped me). It’s about building a mindset where a flight cancellation isn't a disaster instead it’s an unexpected dinner with friends in Houston. It's about finding the "success" in a long, grueling day in Alabama or the "warmth" in a 30-degree Wisconsin day.

But more importantly, I share this because, in the middle of all the logistics and the missing bags, there was a common thread: The people. From guesting on Chris’s podcast to the "random" timing of seeing two different years of interns on the same day, I’m reminded that we aren't meant to do life (or business) in a vacuum. The madness is only worth it because of the connections we make along the way. Whether it’s a conference in Cali or a small group at church, the "magic" happens in the moments you didn't see coming, but only if you’re resilient enough to look for them.

The Lesson: Resilience isn't just a "survival skill" for travel; it’s the secret sauce for our relationships, too.

Speaking of resilience and connection, I just released a new episode that dives deep into this exact topic. We talk about how to navigate the "ice storms" in our personal and professional lives without losing heart.

LINKS BELOW TO STREAM!

Whether your "luggage" is currently missing or you’re just trying to keep up with the pace of the year, I hope this episode gives you the tools to keep moving forward.

TL;DR: The first two months of 2026 have been a masterclass in the “Art of the Pivot.” Between trips across five states, a Nashville ice storm that turned a flight home into a four-day Houston detour, and my luggage going missing twice in three weeks, I’ve spent more time adjusting my plans than following them. Yet, amidst the travel madness, the momentum hasn't stopped; from guesting on the Tech Jobber Podcast and speaking in California to catching up with former interns over dinners. These 59 days have proven that while you can't control the weather or the airlines, you can always control your response. I’ve realized that resilience isn’t just a survival skill for travel; it’s the secret sauce for our relationships, too. My latest episode dives deep into how to navigate these unexpected "ice storms" in life without losing your heart.

STREAM THIS WEEK’S EPISODE

In this deeply personal episode, Paul Faronbi shares his journey through divorce and relocation to Nashville, Tennessee. What was meant to be a fresh start with his then-wife turned into an unexpected separation announcement on the same day they closed on their new home.
Paul opens up about the emotional toll of navigating a divorce while starting a new job, maintaining his podcast, and continuing speaking engagements, all while little knew what he was going through. He candidly discusses how therapy became a lifeline, helping him discover patterns he didn't recognize, particularly his tendency toward people-pleasing in intimate relationships.

INCREDIPAUL PODCAST COMMUNITY

Are you an aspiring Podcaster or know someone who’s been saying “they’re going to start the podcast soon”, but is still sitting on it? Or maybe it’s you… sorry not sorry. Well I have just the thing for you!

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