Insert kitty picture here

Mental health day.

Got home last night just before 8pm and watched "Apocalypto" in home theater with family. Not as gory as I had assumed. Really sucked you in and made me think of a lot of things. Absent his DUI and weird associated behavior, I think Mel's film would have been highly celebrated. To me, it's a huge achievement to bring something like that to life, giving you a huge insight into how humans have survived and thrived in harsh elements throughout history. Beyond that, just gorgeous to watch and amazing performances (none of which were recognized).

Today I interview someone over phone for down-the-road employment with Enterra Solutions/Strategies. He's a young guy whose thinking I've observed from afar for a while, and whose raw conceptual skills intrigue me to no end as a possible future replicant (in effect, a protege). Vol. III has me thinking along these lines, as does the huge new influx of work at Enterra, which has now given me one helluva future vision narrative for me and Steve, Enterra as a whole, U.S. national security, and globalization/shrink-the-Gap. The long-term gears are moving, so long-term needs are being assessed.

Other than that, taking the boys golfing. Need to unwind. I can tell I won't be able to travel like this forever. At some point all the excitement morphs into a sense of bewilderment, as I've learned with roller coasters as I age (7 or 8 times in one day now--tops), so you naturally start thinking about how the next generation needs to step up, which means I am perfectly primed to write "How to Become a Grand Strategist."

Waiting on return edit of proposal from agent Jenn Gates. I'm figuring one more iteration and then we try first with Putnam.

Comments

[michael]

Tom, at the age of 39 I finally found my calling...not a new career but the same type of work in a different company that gave me the freedom to innovate, create and fail. The past 6-7 years have been a whirlwind of travel, presentations and seminars. Meetings with Big People. Publications. Fat Checks.

But I can feel the weariness of the Merry-Go-Round, so I understand completely your comment At some point all the excitement morphs into a sense of bewilderment,

[Tom Barnett]

You do wonder if what you're running toward is that much more valuable than what you're running away from.

You know, that's when religion kicks in for me. What fascinated me most in "Apocalypto" was not the misuse of religion for violence and power but the desperate reach for its comfort during stress and danger and catastrophe.

Humans rule because we can imagine. That imagination presents tremendous burdens as well as opportunities. Religion tends to those burdens, faith becoming the great balancer of hope and fear.

You watch a movie like that and you realize we need God whether he or she is there or not.

And even with all the evil committed in the name of religion, that remains a very good deal.