Now Archive: November 2020
_This is my Now page and here’s what’s up for me these days (as posted on 11/01/2020). For my current Now page, go here.
The new gig I stepped into back in July as Global Learning Technology & Analytics Manager for ConvaTec is getting real now. I’m building out the team, creating integrations, defining visions, making new processes, and generally throwing everything I’ve got at it. Good things are happening as a result, and I’m certainly flexing my professional muscles in the role. I’m grateful every day to have this opportunity, especially with all that’s going down in 2020.
As I posted about last month, my Snap Synapse LLC is closing up. I considered trying to sell it, but…sadly there’s really nothing to sell. I’m the one that made it all work, and I’m not doing that anymore. I’m getting closer to the official shut down by the end of the year, as well as Clear Mind Products (currently a subsidiary). I’m keeping Clear Mind Products and (for the moment) Doable Change, another mostly dormant business shell that I ended up with as part of my application for permanent residency in Panama. Though I’m looking seriously at the best structures going forward, and pulling out of the entrepreneurial game altogether. The truth is that I’ve been successful only ever through my personal and direct hard work, and have yet to count any passive income efforts as successes. What if I let it all go for now? Spinning it up again if I need it?
My Data Analytics & Visualization Bootcamp program is getting good now! Last week we started with Tableau, which is blowing my mind! I plan to put these skills to good use with some epic end-of-year reporting for ConvaTec. I’m also thinking about modeling more generally useful visualizations that others in the L&D field can put to good use.
The greenhouse is done, I’m happy to report! Well, not done done, but done enough for winter. It’s solid and there are plants in it now. I won’t heat it or try to keep anything alive through the coming subzero months, though I hope to start planting as early as February. We’ll see how that goes. So far I’m very happy to have put in the time and money to get it going this year.
It’s beautiful here in Utah right now. Oh and Denise and I had a fantastic getaway to Yellowstone National Park for her birthday last month! It was our first time going anywhere since February. Stunning scenery at the most colorful time of year, and a great time to cash in on all those hotel points I’ve not been using at all in 2020.
I’ve not really been in touch with many people lately, family included. And I haven’t been making much music either. This year has been full of upheaval for everyone, I think. And honestly I don’t think anyone wants to hear my raw thoughts on it all as they tend to get scared and depressed. Though I did share some of my political predictions recently [here.](https://sam- rogers.com/PoliticalPredictionsNoOneWantsToHearRightNow) For the record, I am neither scared or depressed, I’m simply cautious about creating any more such sentiment in the world. So I’ve focused inward and on work more…and faded from view.
Here is where I would usually list out the personal projects I’m working on for the month. This month, between the upcoming chaos of the country and the economy and the pandemic, and some more local family issues that will take a lot of my time, I doubt I’ll get to much else.
My partner and her mother are both getting surgeries this month, which adds a lot to my plate in terms of caretaking and coordination. I’ve also got a dear family friend moving to Utah soon, and will try to steal away to go help them move in to their new place. So this probably won’t be a very productively focused month for me. Family is important, and worth it! Personally, I’ll be lucky to keep up and catch up on the boring stuff. If I can introduce more indoor/winter exercise to keep myself healthy and strong amidst it all, I’ll call that success :)