I’m Tired. The Kind of Tired You Can’t Sleep Off: Or So It Seems
“I’m tired. The kind of tired you can’t sleep off.”
Tom Selleck’s character on Blue Bloods uttered that line in multiple episodes, always while standing in his palatial office with his back to the camera, staring out the windows at “his city.” Whenever I heard him say it, I immediately knew what he meant.
A Scarf by Any Other Name: Be Curious, Not Judgmental
From a very early age, for reasons I still don't completely understand, I found myself defending people.
Maybe it was because of the chaos at home. Maybe it was simply who I was. Whatever the reason, if someone was being picked on, threatened, or treated unfairly, people seemed to know to come get me.
That was pretty amusing in elementary and middle school because I wasn't exactly an intimidating kid. I was slight, wiry, always moving, and probably more fiery than was good for me. I didn't get into many fights growing up unless someone was mistreating someone else. Then all bets were off.
Grieving Ourselves: Losing the Person We Used to Be
I've written before about being analytical and always having been pretty good at understanding cause and effect. You would hope that is the case given two engineering degrees, working as an engineer for several years, and then transitioning to a global Supply Chain and Operational Excellence consultant. If I hadn't been good at cause and effect, I would not have been in those jobs very long.
The Addictive Brain: It's Not a Choice
I was speaking with a long-time friend of mine several months ago. We don't chat often enough, so once we get on the phone he tends to give me the complete download. That's who he is, and I enjoy the updates so when my ear gets tired we say goodbye for another few months.
Life Before Anxiety: European Adventure
I was asked recently how I made the decision to move to Europe for Accenture.
The funny part of the answer is, there was no "decision." I never really considered not going once the question came up. Although I do vaguely remember a conversation while walking through Bern one evening. I was on the phone with my mentor, a Partner from Philly, and he did ask, "Are you good with being over there?" But at that point, I was already there.
Let me back up.
The Legend of Jack Lemley
The first time I saw Jack Lemley was one of those small, perfect introductions you don’t realize the importance of until much later. It was a mild Boise morning, and I was already seated outside the Starbucks at 18th and State — the one tucked into a worn strip with ivy climbing its brick, and a steady stream of regulars who never bother to look up from their phones.
I was halfway through a dark roast when Jack rolled up on his Giant adult tricycle, pedaling in from Warm Springs like it was the most natural way in the world for an 80-something retired engineer to arrive anywhere in Boise. There was no sturdy bike rack nearby, no special accommodation for a piece of equipment like that, but Jack didn’t need to ask. He just pulled up next to where I was sitting, turned the front wheel a crisp ninety degrees, and rested both hands on the handlebars with authority — his unspoken question hanging in the air.
“Mind if I park here?”
Quicksand: Our Minds’ Attempt to Reason Its Way Through Mental Illness
As with most of what I write, this topic has been on my mind for a while, mostly while I chuckle at myself for continuing to attempt to use intellect or reasoning to deal with anxiety and depression. A fool’s errand if ever there was one.
Old Athletes Never Die They Simply Fade Away: Actually, Not So Much
For most of my life, or at least the first four and a half decades of my life, I was a consistent runner. I use the term loosely, partly because I am aware what true “runners” do with 5ks, 10ks, half-marathons, and marathons, and partly because of one of the idiot adults that was around for my upbringing who would give me crap because he insisted what I did was “jogging” not running because of my pace, or what he perceived as a lack thereof.
Suffering in Silence: The Battle from Within
This title makes me chuckle to myself a bit because the reality is that silence is something those of us struggling with depression and anxiety, especially when in its depths, try hard to avoid. Sometimes it is not an entirely conscious choice, but more force of habit. The reality is, if there is music, television, or even just the collection of background noises from a coffee shop it is harder for the intrusive, destructive thoughts to get in.
You Thought You Had Forever: A Lesson In Legacy
A good friend of mine has said to me on more than one occasion (to be read in a heavy Southern accent) “Rocchio, do you know what your problem is...you thought you had forever.” He had a long list of what was wrong with me, but this one was at the top.
For a long time, I didn’t really know what he meant, but lately, his meaning has become all too clear.
Naughty or Nice: How You Treat Your Employees is How They Treat Your Customers
I firmly believe, and have proven over my career in many roles working with many Fortune 500 and 100 companies, that the most important part of ensuring customer happiness, success, loyalty, is ensuring employee happiness, success, and loyalty. I know this sounds simple, logical, like common sense, but unfortunately most companies either don’t understand this principle or simply ignore it.
hashtag#customerexperience hashtag#customercare hashtag#customerservice hashtag#customerloyalty
Like a Snowball Rolling Downhill
I had actually never had anxiety, at least not noticeably, before the COVID days, with one exception.
It’s Not Your Fault
A thought popped into my head earlier in the week that I wanted to share. This came from a conversation with a good friend of mine who has been trying to help his brother through some troubled times. His brother is a really cool, very intelligent, and capable young man who also just happens to struggle with severe anxiety, depression, and the “occasional,” or not-so-occasional, thought of suicide. My friend and I had chatted a bit on the phone and then I was sending him some thoughts via text to share with his brother when this one thought, I think the most important thought, surfaced. It’s not his fault!!
Imposter
I have been thinking about, hearing about, and talking about this thing called the "imposter syndrome" for some time now. Ironically, this all started shortly after I took the photo above while traveling through Sedona, Arizona on my way back to Boise from visiting my family in the spring of '21.
I vs We
vs We, or probably better stated We vs I, goes back as far as I can remember but very specifically has at its roots my father Anthony Michael Rocchio, or The Rock as he was known, and yes he was the original, long before Silvester Stalone's Rocky and WAY before The Rock of wrestling and movie fame.
Irrelevant
I used to be relevant
At least I thought I was
Occasionally I would even say things others wanted to hear
Or so it seemed
