I have noticed something in all my FB friends/family we are all on journey’s. Before you say OH NO THAT IS THAT WORD! or I thought you said I had new material!!! Let me explain. My FB friends range a full gambit of people. In fact, I haven’t met most of these people in person for all I know there are a few 13 year old Philippine girls in my myst (just kidding I hope). This weekend I have given a lot of thought on how wonderful FB really is, because without this medium and technology this would have never happened. My FB friends range from crazy lady that seems to race IM like they are Tic Tacs to people that would never run a 140.6 miles race let alone a 5K. They are actual family members to actual FB people I have met. They are fast, they are slow, they are big, they are small, they are black, they are white and everything in between. They live from coast to coast and I even have some from other countries (non from the Philippines I think).

So what is the point to this? Well in some way or another and whether they would admit it or not they are all like me. Searching. Searching for what? Well that is were it differs, but we are still searching.  I guess the Ironman is a perfect example. Why do such a crazy thing? Well again the journey’s are still all different but still one common thread continues… we are all searching for something. Is it a spot in that race on that wonderful island in Hawaii? Perhaps… or Is it just the fact to see what our limits are and when we find it can we push through that barrier to a level we never knew existed? Perhaps… Or it is just the thought of being something bigger than we currently are… Can I finally get out of my own way?

Listen I really don’t care if you finish 100 Ironman or are just starting your athletic journey and are training for a 5K, my friends/family are special to me. There is a reason I chose them to be my friend and I hope they feel the same about me. We are all on the same blue marble and even at the best of times most of us struggle to keep on moving forward. But that is the key in any journey, keep moving forward. There will be plenty of time to rest when we take our dirt nap.

This weekend I got to step back and watch this and no it just wasn’t the people doing this week’s Ironman. This journey is usually filled with time feeling like you are all alone, it doesn’t matter if you are on mile 97.25 or simply sitting a home. Keep in mind you are never alone when I am around. I been in some pretty dark places since I realized I have been on this journey, but the true character of a person isn’t always trying to figure things out by yourself. The true character of a person is to know when you might need some help. There is nothing wrong in asking for help whether it is in learning more about the Ironman or simply in life itself. We don’t have all the answers, but the more people you surround yourself with great people it is amazing how those people might just have the answer you are looking for.

Can you tell I went out for a long bike ride this morning?

Oh no, this is turning back to me… you knew it had to happen at some point, I mean this blog is all about me, right?

This mornings ride had a lot of similarities to this blog. As I train for #3, I haven’t really had any long rides as of yet and I am 98 days away, plus there are two 1/2 Ironman’s that are even closer than that. The goal was 70 miles or just over 4 hours. I don’t know what it is but I always get some butterflies as I go out on my first solo long ride. I have been doing this long enough this shouldn’t happen but it is the thought of riding into the unknown. I have done 70 miles plenty of times in my life but this was the 1st attempt of the year.

A note to myself, don’t stay up to midnight watching an Ironman when you are suppose to get up at 5 am. Well getting up at 6 I was already behind. I wanted to beat most of the building heat of the day, plus the wind that usually comes along with the building heat. TOO LATE! Head winds almost all the way out to planned turn around point.

Remember me talking about deep dark places, headwinds are in that category. There isn’t much on a ride that plunges me into a deep dark place, but winds are near the top of that list. When you look down and see 13 mph, when you know that stupid thing should be saying 18, 19 or even 20+ it really puts a person in an unhappy place.

Remember me talking about the test of ones character is to ask for help? Well being a solo ride there wasn’t another rider to help pull me along, so I did the next best thing. I called on my FB friends. No I did not pull out my iPhone and clicked on FB. Instead these people became part of my inner conversation. NOT WEIRD!!!! Ok maybe a little, but I called on them to help me through this dark moment. I thought about the conversations we have had over the months and years I have known these people. I thought on how much I enjoy watching their journey’s. I thought about how much we have changed over the months or years we have known each other. I thought how lucky I have found these people and in someway how they bring the best out of me. See I called for help and my friends came a running. It didn’t matter if they were Ironman or not, you where all there for me today.

I was never really alone.

As I made it to my turn around spot we had some good conversations. I turned into a wind that was pointed directly at my back and I took off!!! There is nothing on a ride that makes me feel like I am at the top of my game as a good tailwind. Suddenly I could feel what being a pro was like, 22 mph, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, all the way up to 31 MPH!!!! I knew of course some of my FB friends (you know who you are) can do this speed into the wind but finally I got to feel what they feel on every ride. I found a couple of rabbits (not the animal, but slower riders) and made it my goal to catch and pass. Let’s just say it took be 1 hour and 50 minutes to get out to the turn around point and 1 hour and 15 minutes to get back home.

OK I will close this out by saying… I don’t get why people trash FB. I find it to be the exact opposite. I have found some great people all over the world that help me be the best I can be. Sometimes they slap me around and then there are times I slap them around. We are all sarcastic to each other (me being the best at it of course) and that is the point. IT IS JUST FACEBOOK!!! We start out as strangers but over time a friendship develops and when the time comes to meet face to face it makes the meeting that much better.

My ride? Did I hit 70? No I did 58, but it was one of my best rides ever.

To my FB friends and family thank you.

Until next time Your Fitness Buddy.

Today started like many I have experienced in the past 3 months, waiting…

I actually woke this morning in a pretty dark mood, wondering when all the hard work, perseverance and determination would finally pay off. I was angry, sad, frustrated at everything, at everyone and started to think about that awful word, settling.

I had a enough, laced on the shoes and out the door I went. Turned on the iPod and hoped that the music pounding into my head would at least take away some of the pain, some of the frustration, some of the anger away. It didn’t take long until I was soon being slapped around by a wind that I never ran through before. This wind symbolized everything that I have been going through just not in the past few months, but this journey that I started over 8 years ago. In fact, it was blowing so hard I could actually hear it laughing at me, daring me to quit, screaming at me to settle. All that hard work was not going to amount to be anything and it was just a waste of my time and I was just fooling myself.

As I rounded a corner I knew I was about to hit the teeth of this wind, but that was it… The battle was on! Call it a moment… ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH! The wind hit me hard and it tried as hard as it could to stop me in me tracks, push me back, slam me to the ground and I had none of it! It didn’t matter if the gusts of wind were 30 mph, 40 mph 50 mph or faster, at the moment the wind didn’t even have a chance! One foot in front of the other.  Another gust of wind, I screamed is that all you have? Another gust of wind and I just laughed! I didn’t stop, I persevered, I was kicking the winds butt and it knew it…

This run was my journey!

In 8+ years I couldn’t even count how many times I was knocked down, pushed around and just when life thought it was winning, I got up dusted myself off and charged forward.

As I approached the turn around I knew the wind would be at my back and that represented the times where I was cruising along on this journey. I don’t want you to think this entire journey has been a struggle. How can you call losing all that weight, completing 2 Ironman’s and have the greatest support system starting with Kim a struggle? Let’s just say it has been a roller coaster or simply it is a thing called life.

As I walked though the door, sweaty, wind blown and breathing hard I checked the iPhone just to see if finally after weeks waiting did Timex call… There it was a 203 area code! The call came from Timex headquarters. I as I nervously hit the voice mail button not knowing if their answer was going to be a yes or a no I waited. Then it was like a 600 pound gorilla lifted off my back, I was happily employed once more.

A new chapter!!!!

I am not sure where this chapter will lead, but I am now a clean slate and it is time to write this chapter!

I learned plenty during this time and maybe after some thinking I will write about it in more detail, but for now I have pen in hand and ready to write.

What does this mean for The Fitness Buddy, you might be asking? I am not sure. I will always be The Fitness Buddy and I am certain I will continue this blog. At the very least it is a good therapy for me and if you would like to continue to read be my guest. Beyond that? Like I said it is a new chapter and I haven’t started to write it.

This journey isn’t over and there will be many new adventures ahead and I hope to be apart of yours as we move forward.

Jim Ristow has a job with Timex! Hmm… Didn’t they have a saying “It takes a licking, but keeps on ticking”? Hmm.. Kind of reminds me of someone…

Until next time… Your Fitness Buddy!

How come a guy who can swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles all in one day has a hard time waiting?

Last week I had two interviews. Both went well. One was the second interview and one believe it or not was a pre interview. Yes there is such a thing called a pre interview in the career searching world. Ah the joy’s of career searching in 2012!!!!

As I said both went well, both mentioned I was a top candidate and they will be calling me this week. Now I know today is Wednesday and Monday was a holiday so they are playing catch up on their duties, but everyday that goes by seems like a week versus a simple 24 hours.

I am really done with this career searching thing, but it is all I can do. The goal is to do something positive everyday that moves me one step closer to that new career. In a way I think everyone should go through this at one point in their lives. I don’t mean for that to sound mean, but it does give you a better appreciation for the idea of simply having a job. By no means has my career search been on the bad side, but still the feel on not having one simply plays on the idea of your self worth. Day in and day out, thus the reason to do something positive everyday.

It is easy to see why so many people have difficulty in their career searches. Everything around your tends to focus on the negative and it is constantly in your face. Day in and day out it is easier to slip into more and more self doubt, making it harder and harder and harder to crawl back to the positive area.

The waiting…

Well all I know is this. Until that moments happens, there nothing to do but to push forward. It is not that I am on the computer 8 hours a day searching, networking and simply conducting my career search. I do make sure that almost everyday I am on that computer two, three or four hours. I do other things that help keep my sanity and surprise surprise surprise I turn to fitness. Just the other day the weather was nice enough I was able to go for the 1st outside run of 2012. I reintroduced myself to the bike. My swimming is almost back to Ironman levels. Just as it helped through my tough days at my previous job, exercise/fitness is my therapy for this chapter in my life.

Yesterday someone asked me what I was training for and I suppose they expected me to say another Ironman or perhaps a marathon, but my simple response was life. I am not sure if he fully got what my meaning was and said that is nice… As he turned and walked away probably thinking that this guy is nuts, I smiled! I didn’t even think about my response it just came out. I found myself sitting in a quite sauna and reflected back on my answer.

I could take the path that most people take, which is the easy path. I could have a job right now as a lawn care specialist, a car salesperson, a life insurance agent or a personal finance agent. There is nothing wrong with these jobs, I am not to the point of settling. In fact, I am not sure if I will ever get to that point. Kim has a job, I can get unemployment and I do have a handful of clients that I workout, so right now I am not settling. I did not go through this whole process just to take steps backwards. Call it pride. Call it stupidity. Call it whatever you like, but I am still waiting.

The waiting…

It is clear that my mind set is different than most. I accept it. I do seem to take the more difficult route when it comes to almost anything in life. If given a choice of doing it the easy way or the hard way, I tend to lean towards the hard way. Not because I like working harder than most, but I do believe the reward is greater. Again it is easy watch life go by. Or choose the harder and work your way to a better solution and experience life.

The waiting…

So I sit here with my phone next to me trying to will the phone to ring with good news. I am blessed with have two companies in the industry I am moving towards have an interest in me. If something happens, great I move onto a new chapter in my life. If something doesn’t happen you better believe I already have my next few steps planned out.

The waiting…

Until next time… Your Fitness Buddy

I walked into my favorite running store and after poking around a bit at the shoe wall I was approached by the salesperson… We started to talk and she stepped back gave me a look over and said, “Oh you are a heavy runner.” I stopped for a brief moment and thought that was strange, she never even asked me how many miles I ran and she could tell just by looking at me?

I replied I guess I run about 25 miles a week and before I could finish the sentence she interrupted me and said, “No you are a HEAVY runner.”  I stood still…

Finally the light bulb went on and I understood, the word heavy was used as far as poundage not distance… You know at that time she was correct. I probably was weighing close to my top weight of 250 lbs, so I used that along with a certain picture I have mentioned from time to time to motivate me to become the person I am today. It is funny how those moments stay with you. Perhaps they even define you.

I had another one today, just as impactful as “Oh you are a heavy runner”, but this time it was at the opposite end of the spectrum.

I walked into a new sandwich shop near my home for lunch. I of course decked out in my usually Ironman clothing walked in and started to look at the menu. While I was looking the first employee in the sandwich line said “You are an Ironman?” (Take it from me this NEVER gets old). I looked away from the menu and said excuse me? He said it even louder, “You are an Ironman?” I smiled and I said no, I am a 2x Ironman (Take it from me that is even better to say). As I progressed down the sandwich making line one employee after another the topic continued all the way down to the cashier/owner. I heard everything I could never do that to I run cross country to I ran my first marathon. The best was the last. When I came upon the cashier/owner he looked at me and said this sandwich is on me. For someone to show such dedication and passion for something that is so difficult it would be an honor…

WOW!!!

How far I have come…

It just proves that the scariest part of the journey is taking that first step. Why are we so afraid? All it takes is one moment in time to let the dominoes start to fall. No it hasn’t been easy but the rewards far outweigh any of my fears. Why doesn’t everyone do this? I have accomplished many things in these past few years and I am excited to see what the next chapters bring. I enjoy helping people on their journeys and see how I have touched so many in a small portion of time.

As most know these past few months have been a struggle. I tried to get my own fitness company up and running, was lay off from my job of 15 years, suffered from the post Ironman blues, sent in countless resumes, networked until my fingers hurt and I wasn’t seeing the results I was hoping for…

Lately I have begun to see a new light at the end of the tunnel. All of a sudden my workouts have found a new step, the networking is starting to show some life and I am going into a 2nd interview with a company that I believe is a good fit. Whether or not I get this job… Whether I run 3 miles, 6 miles or 10… Whether the business side of The Fitness Buddy is done for now…

I have this… I am not a heavy runner anymore. That person is in my past. I am not going back.

So am I an Ironman? Yes, yes I am…

Until next time… Your Fitness Buddy

If one more person tells me it is a marathon not a sprint I swear I will go postal, even worse I have had people tell me this and they have never ran a marathon!!!! HOW DO THEY KNOW!!! In fact I do know that it is the darkest before the dawn, things will get better and so on and so on and so on and SO ON!!!!!!!!

If you don’t know what I am talking about I will catch you up… Hi my name is Jim Ristow, I was laid off and I am unemployed. Maybe you have heard of us, it has been kind of been on the news for a while. For those who have gone through it I now get it.

So this is not your typical Happy Joy Joy post usually seen on this channel, I am sorry. Listen if there is a person on this planet that always seems to be on the positive side it is me.

So why am I down?

This sucks (pardon my french)!

I went into this possible lay off, which turned into a real lay off as prepared compared to most. I could see it coming from 5 years away, still nothing can prepare a person for the day in and the day out of being unemployed. Don’t get me wrong I am far from alone. My support is wonderful! Plus preparing for those little races called Ironman taught me plenty about myself! I am a different person from the person I was 6 or 7 years ago.

SO WHAT IS WRONG, you might ask?

Well this is what is wrong. I have tried to be a better person. In fact I can say I have gone so far as to say I have actually influenced others and helped changed their lives. From helping people lose weight, become runners, triathletes and so on. The last 6 or 7 years is exactly who I want to be. Life is good! No life is great!!! The accomplishment of finding one self and then broadcasting that to others and others see hope that they too can change has been a highlight of this life.

SO WHAT IS WRONG?

I am getting to it. I did not go on with this journey ever asking what is in it for me. I simply went where the journey takes me. There are sure a lot more smiles, laughs and good thoughts than there have been in the past. BUT… That old life keeps on calling and it is shouting at me these past few months.

I know at some point I will find that career (I hope). I refuse to settle. I worked too long, spent too much money and simply I AM NOT THAT PERSON ANYMORE just to go back. I can’t settle, I won’t settle. It is what I tell people to do, how can I?

SO WHAT IS WRONG?

This is what is wrong? I am asking for a little payback. Isn’t that how things work? You pay so much into the good karma side you are allowed once in a while to ask for a little of it back, when you need it? I have talked many times about this journey I am on and yes I know I am still on it, but there are times where you just want to find the nearest hammock, jump in and say I am not playing today!

I feel that more often lately. Even though I am surrounded by this world wide support group, I feel alone. I know what has to be done and I have taken steps to keep this moving forward, but if something is basically out of your own control what can you do? I mean who flies out to trade shows on his own penny (reminder that is an unemployed penny) to network? Shouldn’t that alone tell these people, HEY THIS GUY IS DIFFERENT? HEY THIS GUY IS SERIOUS? HEY MAYBE WE SHOULD MOVE THIS GUY UP NEAR THE TOP ON THE INTERVIEWING PILE?

I remember there was a time I talked all about this Ironman thing. My hope is I can at some point again. I sure like Ironman Jim a whole lot better than Networking Jim.

To my future employer I have a message for you. I am humbled and thankful for this opportunity you are giving me. What you are getting in me is something you never had in your company before. No not just because I am an Ironman, but you are getting everything that an Ironman represents. Hard work, determination, loyalty, passion, a strong belief in one self and the ideals he stands for, the knowledge that nothing is too tough, scary, or impossible to overcome, a person that will look at fear straight in the face and says BRING IT! No I will not be 100% successful all the time, but you better believe it I won’t quit. Why? Because Ironman DON’T QUIT! No better yet, Jim Ristow doesn’t quit!

OK it is time to pick myself up again, dust myself off again, and get moving again…

Pity Party is over!!

Thanks for coming!

Until next time… Your Fitness Buddy!

Oh yeah one last saying…“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” I JUST NEEDED TO REMIND MYSELF…

So here is my question can 60 seconds of doing something be just as hard if not harder than doing something that can take up to 17 hours?

You would think the answer would be NO WAY! I mean it is only a minute. You can do anything for a minute, right?

Well…

I can think back back as if were yesterday, my first Ironman was about to start. I can feel the coolness of the water as I waded out towards the start line with 2,500 of my closest friends. I can remember the sun rising, the slight breeze hitting my face and the songs leading up to the canon firing. I remember how nervous and calm I felt at the same time. It will be forever etched into my memory. I remember thinking I am about to take on the biggest challenge of my life and there probably will be none bigger.

Boy if the Jim Ristow of September 10,2010 could only meet the Jim Ristow of January 20, 2012. I am sure the Jim of today would have a few words for that Jim of September 10, 2010.

60 seconds not 17 hours, is all I have to prove to a complete stranger that I am worthy of becoming an employee of their company. Again I am battling with a large amount of people to prove I am the one worthy of becoming an employee of company X. You want to talk about elbows, knees, hands and feet flying! 60 SECONDS! First impressions are everything. I remember hearing someone say the last 5 minutes of an interview are the most important of the day. BOY ARE THEY WRONG! No matter the argument, it is the first 60 seconds of meeting someone do we make our impression of this person. Why is an interview any different? No pressure right?

So as I come to the conclusion that the idea of having my own fitness studio has to be put on hold for a awhile and I am putting on the big boy pants, I find career searching as difficult as training for an Ironman. I do find many similarities to both, that I hope my time training and doing an Ironman helps me through this process.

The main comparison I find is leg work. Completing an Ironman really is all about what you do to get to the starting line. Leg work. Did you swim enough? Ride enough? Run enough? Did the rest of the training go according to plan? If you are true to yourself one thing builds onto the next. If you are not true to yourself during the race everything will crumble like a house of cards.

The same can be said in the career search. This is the time to put all those lessons learned to practice. Those who succeed have trained properly. Those who haven’t will collapse like that house of cards during the interview process.

I am doing everything I can and I am always looking to you for your suggestions. I will be prepared for those 60 seconds. The pressure is on, but there is one difference I have over most already. I prepared for the most important 60 seconds of my life, by preparing for the most important 17 hours of my life.

Who knew? Jim Ristow of September 10, 2010 surely didn’t.

Until next time… Your Fitness Buddy

If you remember from my last post I was headed out to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show. For those who don’t know what this is, let’s just say this is my old stopping grounds. The Consumer Electronics Show is the largest show of its kind that shows the world what is coming out for them to play with. Just as expected get ready there are some pretty cool things soon to it your local electronics store or Internet site.

My goal was two fold.

1. To see if I had any passion, excitement or joy for this industry anymore.

2. Network and come home with a handful of contacts that I could work with, leading to a new job somewhere down the line.

Cutting the story short I never got to #2. Going into the trip I figured I had a good shot at #1, looking to other segments in the industry focusing around anything Apple or Droid because this is by far the future of the industry. The days of people wanting Home Audio/Car Audio (my old career) are over, plus this technology is leaving the TV and computer manufacturers scrambling.

So what happened…

As soon as I got into the trade show I came to a quick conclusion… As I walked around I was paying more attention to the attendees, rather to the companies. What I noticed disturbed me. I had nothing in common with these people. These people are who I used to be. I am sure that most of these people are great people, but I used to be more like them. I AM NOT THAT PERSON ANYMORE! Why was I looking to get back in the same rat race again? Soon after I realized that, I simply couldn’t approach any of these companies. The Electronics Industry is my past. It was a good ride for the most part but I walked out of that convention center knowing that chapter is closed. I walked out HAPPY! I am moving on…

Friday the 13th Part 2.

That day signaled my final severance check from Harman. I am officially off the Harman payroll and moved into the official unemployed ranks!!! As I walked out of the final day of the trade show I was done much earlier than expected. I was meeting my brother for dinner at 6, so I had 5 hours to kill. I didn’t feel like walking around the trade show anymore, so I decided to take a drive.

I ended up at Hoover Dam just as dusk started. For those who haven’t been to this area, there is nothing, Rocks Rocks and more Rocks. In an interesting way it is actually very nice (especially since it wasn’t 116 degrees), with the sun setting slowly the rocks changed colors.

Then it happened… A moment…

Before you roll your eyes let me explain. These moments are very far and few in between. The best I can describe these moments is a calmness, almost like everything around me slows down, colors are more defined and even smells are heightened. Don’t believe me? Think back to my recaps of my 1st Ironman, I had one of these experiences wading in the lake just before the biggest race in my life. Through my history I have had these from time to time and I was wondering if I was going to have one during this career search.

Where did it happen?

Well, see they built this new bridge over the canyon Hoover Dam sits in. Before this bridge all traffic going between Nevada and Arizona had to drive on a skinny road and directly over the dam. At peak driving periods I was told it could take hours just to go 30 miles, this new bridge saves a huge amount of time. They also made a walking path on this bridge that allows people to walk out on and get a great view of the dam. Now this bridge is long and it is very high (800+ feet down to the river). So I don’t know which is more unnerving? The 800+ foot drop or traffic zipping next to you at 65 (more like 80) mph. I parked in the lot and notice this car with 2 Tri bikes and by closer inspection these bikes were owned by Ironman. As I walked towards the bridge I met up with these Ironman and had a quick conversation. This totally perked up my trip. What a contrast to those people I hung out with at the trade show.

As I walked out on the bridge the height was a bit unnerving, but I soon found myself alone in the middle of the bridge. This was when the moment happened. My breath slowed, I watched as the colors of the rocks changed with the ever moving sun and felt the cool breeze blow past my face as it blew up from the canyon. I have to admit a small tear started down my cheek as a huge smile came to my face. At that moment I knew my decision was the right thing and everything was going to be OK. I drove back to Las Vegas, knowing this was the reason I came to Vegas, not The Consumer Electronics show. I had a great dinner with my brother, probably talked way too much and headed off to the airport for my 1:39 am flight.

January 13, 2012 could easily become the turning point in this whole career search, it just happened to be a Friday.

So where does this leave me? Next weekend I am off to another trade show in Salt Lake City. This time it is a trade show that focuses around the fitness industry, in fact a handful of companies that where in Austin will be at this show. Better yet I will be surrounded by like minded people that value the fact that health and fitness are very important in ones life. I have contacted a few from the Austin show and they all mention they are looking forward to seeing me again. Networking! What will be different this time around I know with out a shadow of doubt this is my future!

It took me a long time, but I finally can see my future…

Until next time… Your Fitness Buddy

I know what you are thinking about, but you would be wrong. This trip is another step past the fear most feel during their time jobless, unemployed, or laid off.

If you are reading this you already know one person that has been effected by this rough patch our world has been in, but chances you know more and perhaps you yourself have been touched by this in some form or fashion. Company downsizing, freeze on raises, cut back on perks and so on, but unless you have faced being without a job it is hard to describe the feelings you have on a daily… no a moment by moment basis.

I have already run into a few examples of experiencing the double edge sword called HOPE. HOPE is a mighty powerful thing. HOPE is what can carry you through the difficult times or it can crush you the very same moment when it is pulled away from you in a blink of an eye. You really have to be careful on how you use HOPE in a career search.

An example or two.

If you remember back in December I traveled down to Austin, TX to network at a trade show, with the goal to come away with a handful of contacts that I could network with in the coming weeks. In a strange way these companies where interviewing with me just as much as I was interviewing with them, they just didn’t know it. The goal for me was not a job offer, but to build a contact. Their goal was not to hire anyone, but when the time came to hire someone to remember talking to this person at the trade show. Still all the work falls onto me. So like a good little career searcher as soon as I got home I sent off “thank yous” to the companies that impressed me. In this message I asked for permission if it was OK if I sent them a hello and a reminder from time to time. Everyone I sent a message to, said sure…

HOPE!

Now that it has been a month and the first round of reminders are being sent out. I wanted to see if all the expense and effort was well worth it and happily it was with all of them responding back to me. In fact, one company is attending another trade show I am attending in a couple of weeks and said he was looking forward to stopping by their booth…

HOPE! or HOPE?

See how great and evil one single word can play into a feeling. “He is looking forward to seeing me?” What does that mean? Did I make a huge impact that he is interested in moving this networking to the next level? Or was he just being nice? It reminds a little of high school dating, ugh! Who really wants to go through that all again. So with his kindness I will side on the positive side of HOPE, although keeping my guard up.

Example #2 came from a friend and totally out of the blue. Again having others keep their eyes out for career opening has proven a worthy move. This time I was point to a career opening with a nice company and based off their websites highlights things like, employees are family, tight knit, forward thinking, quality products and made in the USA. From what I know of the company they are telling the truth. If I were a hand, this glove would fit perfectly. The position that is open would mean leaving Chicago for another place (warmer), being treated as a valued member of a company not a number, and most importantly a career with purpose… HOPE!

Positive HOPE!!! BUT…

There is always a but, my HOPE is based on sending them a resume through their company website, hopefully making it through the dreaded filters of a person/computer. HOPE? We will see, I still have a thing up my sleeve or two for this position (they are located a days drive from my house, I might just pop in and hand them a resume).

Example #3 brings me to BOLD MOVE #2 – Las Vegas. Trade show #2 and it just so happens to be the largest one of its kind and also happens to be in the industry I worked for so long, The Consumer Electronics Show. It is a biggie folks with 3,200 companies at my disposal. I guess the first thing I will have to address as soon as I step foot in the trade show is to see if there is still any interest, passion, or love for industry I have spent my entire adult life in or has that ship sailed? We will see on that, but out of 3,200 companies just like in Austin the goal is not to find a job, but to find contacts. I would HOPE in a trade show this big I should find a handful of companies and contacts I can work with as far as building a network. If not, I can finally put a close on a chapter in my life.

HOPE…

This isn’t the end of the bold moves, there is a #3 already planned and paid for. There are also possibilities for a #4 and #5, but hopefully through this network building, through my friends passing along leads and my simple searching, I will find that glove I am HOPING for.

HOPE…

In a sea of millions, my HOPE is I am separating myself from a large chunk of the fish looking for a job. I want to make enough people I come into contact with know how valuable I will be for the future of their company. Where I end up, I have no guesses as of yet, but I have HOPE!

So if you find yourself in the same situation I understand. It is much easier to give up HOPE, than using HOPE as your ally. Things happen, in fact things happen for a reason. It is hard in fact it plainly SUCKS! There are plenty of days were I wonder about my self worth. In fact, there are times where I take it hour by hour, minute by minute but I have HOPE!

HOPE… is a powerful tool in the fight against hopelessness!

Until next time… Your Fitness Buddy

This is your 2011 self speaking to the 2012 Jim. There are many times when you think to yourself I wonder what life is going to be like at this time next year. I just wanted to write to you reminding you what happened to you in 2011. So when you reread this on December 26, 2012 I hope you find yourself smiling of the accomplishments you made in these next 365 days.

As you remember 2011 was a very trying year. It had it’s ups, but sad to say it was the downs that seem relentless as you tried to move forward. Remember the downs were not earth shattering compare to many others, but still when they happen to you the troubles seem a little bigger than they actually are. So let’s start this off with the good stuff, shall we -

1. Kim. She is there be your side every step of the way. Never forget this, that no matter how stupid or silly the idea she is there encouraging you and standing by her man.

2. The Ironman. Hey you didn’t think it would be any lower on this list, did you? You completed #2 and killed your IMWI time by a whole hour and 40 minutes. Yes, some might point out that the course was easier than IMWI but to take that much time off is still an accomplishment in my book.

3. Friendships. Whether they are face to face friendships or to those on Facebook this group of people I call friends help keep me humble and smiling day in and day out. I hope they understand a few years back very few would have wanted to be my friends.

So if you focus on those three items it was a very good year…

Still with all of that the big news fell on the career side. As huge the strides have been on the personal side of Jim Ristow, sadly the same cannot be said on the professional side.

1. Laid off. I knew going into 2011 the chances of me ending with the same job when 2011 closed was small. I knew either by my choice or theirs this was probably going to be it for my days at Harman. In fact, I have been preparing for this for sometime but when it actually happened it still sucks. Still I was OK, because I was already moving another direction.

2. The Fitness Buddy. Yes overall the idea of The Fitness Buddy and becoming my own boss looked great on paper and being laid off it was the perfect timing to see where I could take this. Well the answer was not very far. Not because the dream and vision wasn’t there, simply it was because the capital wasn’t there. I took it as far as I could without placing Kim and I in any real financial troubles. Still making lemonade out of lemons I think of two things. 1. I learned a lot, in fact more than I could have ever learned going back to school. 2. The Fitness Buddy isn’t dead. Who knows in 5 years, 10 years or some unknown date I can revisit it. In fact, when that happens who knows what it will look like in this pumpkin size head.

So on the drive back from the Ironman I came to the conclusion it was time to put on the big boy pants once more and start the career search. I know you are worried. I know you are scared. I know you are afraid that you will revert back to the Jim Ristow of the past. There are a ton of worries swirling through that noggin.

Here is the advice from the 2011 Jim… STOP!!!! Just think how far you have come in these past years. You used to be the bone head no one wanted any part with. You were lost, sad, overweight and stuck looking at a fork in the road. Now look at you. Slimmer, healthier, happier and an inspiration to others. Oh yeah, I almost forgot YOU ARE A FRICKEN IRONMAN!!!!

Cut yourself some slack, which ever company you choose to work for is getting someone special and your best days are NOT behind. Just as you had to fix yourself personally, it is time to do this on your professional side. Things happen for a reason at you are standing at a new fork in the road. DO NOT STAND THERE! Get your butt moving. You are going to do great!

Yes, you might not be able to do an Ironman in 2012. That is OK, because you had it mind that it might have been an off year anyways. Find that job that is going to make you as happy as you are in your personal life.

Do this and come December 26, 2012 there will be a much different letter to yourself.

Until next time your Fitness Buddy…

A. Training and completing a race (2x) that most people think impossible

B. Career searching

I think back to all the emotions I had for training for my Ironman’s that I have completed and the emotional roller coaster I put myself through on a daily basis. I never thought that training would be training for a career search. Let’s face it since I am going through the career search I am finding that the career search is at least equal to training for the Ironman, but in fact it is probably more difficult.

Why?

Well so far what I have come up with is this: You do an Ironman really for yourself. To see how far you can push yourself physically and mentally for 140.6 miles, plus the countless miles and hours leading up to the race. Now I know there are people out there saying they are doing it for a loved one, a cause and so on, but when it really comes down to it, it is done because of yourself. Can you really compete in a race that will take you through every single emotion through a 140.6 mile race and survive?

Career searching I have found you do control many aspects of the journey, but there is one more phase that the Ironman does not have. Ultimately there is another person involved that gives you either a thumbs up or a thumbs down. That is out of your control. The decision just for an interview rest based on a few words written on a sheet of paper. This person doesn’t know you from the next, but there was something not worded correctly or something missing that simply makes that person respond back to you saying such things as:

• Even though your qualification are excellent….
• Thank you for responding, but your qualifications don’t meet…
• We will keep your resume on file and we will review them when another position becomes available…

There is a lot of weight that goes into a sheet of paper or two.

Listen I knew going in that this was going to be tough and I can’t be so emotional about a complete stranger’s decision but it is hard not to start thinking that there might be something really wrong with me…

What worries me even more is I have just started this process. What am I going to be like if this lasts into spring, summer or ever further?

What will save me during this process?

It is very easy to sit on the couch, open a carton of Ben & Jerry’s and sit there feeling sorry for myself. I get it and I am beginning to understand why so many people in this economy are probably doing that right now. I just started, they have been doing this much longer than I and probably were filled with as much optimism as I when they first started. So what made them stop? What broke their spirit? How can I prevent that from happening to me?

Here is my initial plan:

1. Ironman. Remember that I am an Ironman and that if I could complete one and now two of these things I can do anything as long as I put my all into it. Use what I learned during that journey and apply it to this journey.
2. Workouts. Feeling low? Feeling beat up? Feeling that the whole world is on my shoulders? Simple go into The Fitness Buddy, or go to the gym, or go for a run. I used this technique many times through my ups and downs at my old job and the results at the end were I was 70lbs. lighter and a much happier person.
3. Blog. I put you all through the torment of my Ironman journey and now all of you will have to enjoy the new soap opera in my life. ENJOY!
4. Music. I forget how much comfort the right song brings when played through an awesome sounding system. Some songs are played softly, while others are played at ear piercing levels. Either way the right song can put me in the right frame of mind.
5. Never give up. I think going down to that trade show in Austin was an excellent idea. Has it produced the result I am looking for? Not yet, but it is still early and I am dealing with the knowledge it is the holidays, fiscal year end decisions and so on. I will continue to search for ideas like this to help me standout in a sea of unemployment noise.

So in the mean time I apologize once again if this seems all to familiar to my Ironman posts. It is a new journey and all journey’s have their peaks and valleys. I have a feeling this journey is going to have some biggies along the way. Please keep me in your thoughts, but simply when it comes down to it, IT IS UP TO ME!

The show goes on…

Until next time… Your Fitness Buddy