In our last live show before I head to Asia, Chance and I took a moment to slow down and reflect. This week’s episode of The Collective was “The Calm Before the Journey,” an unscripted conversation about the importance of the pauses in our lives. We used Chance’s recent hunting trip, with all its challenges – from being ambushed by his tent to a critical missed opportunity – as a springboard to discuss how we learn from failure. The necessity of a “deep reset” and how the quiet moments of camp routine are where the real work of bonding and reflection gets done.
This Week’s Storytellers:
– Shaun: Co-host, preparing for a “deep reset” in Southeast Asia.
– Chance: Co-host, fresh off a wind-battered hunting trip and a three-hour wait for a tow truck.
Key Insights from Our “The Calm Before the Storm” Discussion:
1. The Best Lessons Come From Failed Plans
Chance’s hunting trip was a case study in things going wrong: the collapsed tent, the missed shot, the truck breakdown. None of that was in the plan, but these failures provided the richest learning opportunities and the most memorable stories. Chaos is where theory gets tested.
2. The “Bird in the Hand” Principle of Decision-Making
Chance recounted the moment he decided not to take a shot at a Whitetail, hoping to find it later, only to never see it again. It served as a potent reminder that regret often comes not from acting, but from talking yourself out of a good enough opportunity in search of a perfect one that never arrives. Sometimes the disciplined move is to take the shot that’s in front of you.
3. The Power of the Deep Reset
I explained my philosophy of travel. It’s not just a vacation; it’s a “deep reset.” After pushing hard for months, the trip is a time to shut down the intense grid and engage with the world differently. These intentional periods of calm are not luxuries – they’re how you stay in the game long-term without burning yourself to the ground.
4. The Friction of Forming a Team
We broke down the dynamic of Chance’s hunting party. When it was just the two of them, a rhythm quickly formed. When the third person arrived, the group dynamic had to recalibrate, if only slightly. That early friction is not a bug; it’s the bonding process. Learning to move through that phase on purpose is a core leadership skill.
5. The Art of the Artful Gripe
We discussed the Infantry’s “God-given right to complain” versus being a “Complain Machine.” There is such a thing as the “artful gripe.” A complaint delivered with style and humour can be a powerful bonding tool that turns shared misery into shared morale. It builds it because everyone hears, “Yeah, this sucks, but we’re in it together.”
6. The Acceleration of Time
I shared how, as you get older, time feels like it’s moving faster. This isn’t just a feeling; it’s a shift in perspective where you realize there aren’t that many seasons left, and being sloppy with them is wasteful.
7. Every Interaction is an Opportunity for Connection
The end of Chance’s hunting trip took an unexpected turn when his truck broke down, leaving him stranded on the side of the highway. His frustrating three-hour wait for the tow truck left him in a bad mood. However, when the tow truck arrived, it became an unexpected opportunity for connection. The driver’s genuine curiosity about hunting opened the door to a deep, hour-long conversation that moved from ballistics and hunting ethics to the personal struggles of being a new father. For Chance, it became a real-world application of The Collective’s ethos, turning the tow truck drive into a private podcast on wheels. It was a powerful reminder that even in unplanned pauses, there’s often an invitation to connect if you choose to engage instead of sulk.
Final Thought: The calm places are not empty spaces; it’s where other work gets done.
A well-lived life is a rhythm of intense effort followed by deliberate rest, reflection, and reset. The storm gives you data; the calm is where you process it, assign meaning, and decide what changes next. Skip that step, and you’re just surviving events instead of learning from them.
What are you reflecting on in your own “calm before the storm”?
Listen to the full “The Calm Before the Journey” discussion here: The Calm Before the Journey
Keep resetting,
Shaun & The Collective Crew
