Semper Gumby!
One of the few remaining memories from my time in the U.S. Army is one of my bandmasters saying the phrase, “Semper Gumby!” in response to some quickly changing circumstances with our unit. Army bands have two seasons: busy, and not busy. The not busy times are, well, not at all busy. And the busy times are, well, rather busy. This is one of the busy times in which the man said this. A lot of changes were being thrown at us very quickly and we had to adapt with what was thrown at us.
In case you’re wondering what the heck does “Semper Gumby” mean, it’s a play on words from the Marine Corps’ motto, “Semper Fidelis,” which is Latin for “Ever faithful.” So what the bandmaster was essentially telling us was, “Alway be flexible.”
Wise words, whether for a military band, or any endeavor in life, be it with a family, a business, or any type of career. And I would venture to say that advice is far more relevant in 2023 than around 2009 when I heard this phrase. The world was changing at an insane pace then, and it’s exponentially more insane now.
At least on a superficial level.
As much as all this new tech is changing how we communicate, the basic fundamental cravings of human beings are still there.
Community, respect, adventure, integrity, divine energy.
I believe in these things so much, I started an entire podcast series with this idea as its central theme.
As I said in yesterday’s email, I’ve had a healthy dose of skepticism regarding things like AI, but as I’ve tinkered with it, I’ve realized it can most definitely be useful. It’s like the most well-behaved, respectful, obedient employee you’ll ever meet. And its salary is a measly $20 per month! I can tell it to write something, with a set number of words, then I can tinker and tweak to my liking.
Now, in case anyone is wondering, to date I have not used any AI tech for any of my writing of emails, client podcast show notes, etc.
That is to date. It doesn’t mean I won’t, assuming I can learn how to use the tech in a way that the writing is done in my own voice (or a client’s own voice) and simply eases some of the more tedious elements of the work. But that’s a topic for another day’s musings.
But all the changes in the world don’t take away our natural cravings for simply hanging around people of like mind. I take the attitude of be firm in principles and my message; ever flexible in how that message gets shared with the masses.
I’ll close this email out with some wise words from my new BFF, ChatGPT: “Let us embrace the spirit of “Semper Gumby” in our careers and lives. Let us celebrate the power of adaptability, remaining open to change, and welcoming the opportunities that arise from this transformative era. Together, we can navigate the ever-changing landscape with resilience, curiosity, and the courage to pursue a future brimming with possibilities.”
To that, I offer a resounding “Hoorah!”
And a call to action to check out my podcast called This Is What We C.R.A.V.E. There has been quite the diverse array of guests and topics discussed on the show thus far, and there is much more to come!