Brian Cunningham’s Post

Happy Labor Day! Today, let's pause to honor the sweat and resilience of every hardworking individual. As we reflect on the essence of labor, what achievements or struggles come to mind for you personally?

Where personal and professional meet… On June 15, after a surprise c-section and two weeks earlier than anticipated, we welcomed our baby girl, Sadie, into this world. I’ve been off work for six weeks, four weeks longer than I’ve ever been off work. It’s been a strange and somewhat uncomfortable phenomenon. Until this point, I’ve been almost completely focused on my career and eduction. I admit, I’ve had a difficult time completely disconnecting. It almost seems irresponsible to completely disconnect, especially when our organization serves our community when they need us the most. And they’ve needed us these past several weeks. It’s not due to a lack of trust - it’s almost like I’m on autopilot and I’ve needed time to find the manual switch. However, I am navigating it and trying my best to be present with our wonderful blessing, Sadie, with the support of my loving husband, Matthew Breazeale. I’m not quite sure what it will look like when I go back to work in a couple months. However, I am confident that I will be a better leader and mother because of this time away. Lessons learned in these six weeks - 1. Being uncomfortable is okay. 2. Uncertainty is inevitable. 3. Time brings clarity. 4. Live life in manual mode, not on autopilot. Kudos to my interim, Steven Williams, for managing it all and kudos to the entire Mid-South team for continuing to serve at the highest level.

Well done

Next week, March 16th marks my 65th birthday. Throughout my life, I’ve had the privilege of travelling extensively and playing a significant role in developing many technologies that have become integral to our daily lives. It’s astonishing how quickly time has passed. Reflecting on the changes I’ve seen, originating from a Northern industrial town, the transformation is profound. We’ve moved from a world devoid of electronics, AI, PCs, productivity tools like Office 365, enterprise software, the cloud, the internet, Wi-Fi, mobile phones, GPS, mass storage, supersonic flight, and space exploration to one where these innovations are integral to our daily lives. Science fiction once painted a picture of the future that seemed distant, yet now, I find myself engaging with AI on my desktop, a testament to human ingenuity. Reality unfolds in both anticipated and surprising ways. While I couldn’t have predicted the emerging technologies, they have spawned new jobs, professions, and disciplines. However, on a social level, the promise of technology providing everyone with an opportunity for a better life has not been fully realized. The optimistic predictions of a three-day workweek and multiple careers contrast sharply with today’s debates over the merits of a four-day workweek. The rhetoric often misses the point, framing reduced work hours as either detrimental to capitalism or a sign of laziness rather than recognizing the potential for improved quality of life. Looking ahead, I envision a future where AI seamlessly integrates into our personal and business lives, handling tedious tasks and freeing us to engage more deeply with the world. This shift will allow us to be less reactive and more thoughtful, providing a foundation for making well-informed decisions. The four-day workweek is on the horizon and will likely become standard within five years. Embracing this change will be essential for businesses that aim to attract and retain top talent. Advances in “background technology” will drive productivity, enabling us to accomplish in four days what took five. Do I plan to take it easy or retire? Don’t be silly; I still have too much to do and achieve. I'm Andy Age hasn’t diminished my relevance; experience has only honed my expertise. Life has taught me through victories and defeats. As your fractional Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, I possess the proven ability to drive your business’s growth. Count on me as your reliable partner. Book here https://lnkd.in/emMjKSt5

Hey! Sharing a quick and candid (more) personal note on a key topic, while aiming to support sustainable business growth intents: Work-life balance. For work-life balance, mental health and personal development, having interests and be able to cultivate them, tends to be considered of quintessential relevance. In my case, among some other activities, music, crate digging and djing is something I`ve nurtured a lot in the past, not that much in recent times. Recently, incentivized by some great Exclaimer people, I’ve reserved time to refresh this interest, now sharing the output. I`ve tried to keep this as diverse and interesting as possible. Positive and soothing vibes, some less known gems, thinking about a bright, slightly golden future. 📢 More, much more about Exclaimer brand new opportunities (Sales, Marketing, Product, Engineering, IT) and work-life balance initiatives can be found here: https://lnkd.in/dXPsXygd Let's go!!! Marco Costa Carol Howley Vicky Wills Jonathan Bartlett chiara greco John Mason Sofia Oliveira Bruno Antunes Sharon H. Ashley Topping Kathryn M. Dereck Manners Eric Cullerier Lindsey Chambers Benjamin O'Dell David Milward David Willis Andy Ainger Jim Turner Dan Sloshberg Ailsa Bates Jemma Dawson Lee Jones Shashank H. R. Logan Horton Corinna Himme Holly Hines Stefanie M. John Mason Andrew Pringle Ellie Campbell Stephen L. Sandra Kaitila Sheikh Ahmed James Lewendon https://lnkd.in/dZNEfwJ3

Be thankful and appreciative of the labor of others. We’ve created a hyper-connected society where the division of labor means that we can specialize in just one thing. You probably didn’t make the clothes you are wearing, so be grateful that someone else went to work that day and did. It’s funny that we honor workers by taking a day off of work, but tomorrow when you have to get up, these words from Marcus Aurelius, the 2nd-century Roman emperor, might help: At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?” — But it’s nicer in here … So you were born to feel ‘nice’? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands? — But we have to sleep sometime … Agreed. But nature set a limit on that — as it did on eating and drinking. And you’re over the limit. You’ve had more than enough of that. But not of working. There you’re still below your quota. https://lnkd.in/enAXk86P

“Work/Life Balance” is a thing! I may or may not have been described as a “workaholic” at some point in my life….LOL For some of us, work IS our life because we are doing our passion, something we love and will continue to do until we’re done here on earth. Some of us will never “retire”… HOWEVER! That doesn’t mean we don’t take breaks or stop pursuing our dreams! Yes, Virginia, we can do both. We can take intentional breaks during our work days, resulting in more productivity, and we can take intentional breaks away (what? a vacation?!) to refuel, recharge, refocus, reflect, and reconnect…all the “re”s. Don’t give up on your dreams, don’t shove your passions into a dark closet and shut the door…do them! Pursue them! It will be life changing and healthier for you physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and it will even result in better clarity, motivation and productivity in your work life. Give yourself permission to completely break away to do something you enjoy, and spend intentional time with those you love. No millionaire or billionaire gets to the end of life wishing he/she spent more time at the office…they regret not spending more time with those they love and/or pursuing their passion. Let’s make a plan to be intentional with our time this next year. What’s a passion or goal you’d like to pursue in 2024? Not a “resolution”….a vision to actually plan for and accomplish. Mine is to record a family Christmas album featuring all of my kids and grandkids. My youngest daughter and I started working on it a few weeks ago, and we’ll release the completed project next October. The first song is a 12 minute Christmas “Mashup” (link below) recorded and produced in Nashville with the incredible Pino Squillace. 👇 https://lnkd.in/e-A4X8Xa We hope you enjoy it! It was super fun for us to break away and do together - and a personal dream of mine, fulfilled. So, to quote one of my favorite movies, “What’s your dream?” You truly can do both - in fact, it will result in a healthier, more productive and fulfilled you - as you show up and live your best life… in both work and pursuit of your dreams. I am beyond grateful to represent the incredible team at VITAL4 , the honor of serving through ANEW Life International, Inc, to be picking music back up again after way too many years, and for all the people and dreams in between… Happy New Year!!!

Learn more about our President and CEO Connie Benton Wolfe!

A-not-so-fun fact: 75% of people say they can't articulate their purpose in life. That means only one of every four of us out there are waking up and charging forward with a sense of purpose. The rest of us? Well, we're walking forward, but without a direction, a path, or an answer in mind. Here's the good news: It doesn't have to be that way. Walking in your purpose isn't something reserved only for 25% of the people. Whether you are the CEO of the company confusing your purpose with your job description, the student overwhelmed with the continual question of what you're going to do with your life, the frontline employee working the register at a big-box retail store, the guy who just got laid off, the new mom struggling to balance your new routine, the fresh-out- of-college employee starting your first job, the person closing in on decades in a career you hate, the individual anticipating the retired life and what it will look like, the person with a strong sense of purpose that doesn't seem to line up with your job, anyone, anywhere struggling to know their purpose and live it in the season they're in. #purpose #growth #customerexperience #personalgrowth #professionaldevelopment #talent https://lnkd.in/gUGCHbti

🎉 Big cheers to Stepheni Chandler, Sales & Marketing Specialist, for hitting the 9-year mark at Hughes Resources! 🥳 Let's dive into some fun Q&A from Stepheni to get to know her better: 1️⃣ Q: What's your favorite thing about working for Hughes Resources? Stepheni: "Hands down, it's my amazing work family and the lifelong friends I've made through community clubs and events. Work isn't just about the job—it's about the people!" 2️⃣ Q: What can you not live without? Stepheni: "Oh, my Yeti cup, for sure! As the kids say, it's my emotional support cup. Life just wouldn't be the same without it!" 3️⃣ Q: If you could tell your 13-year-old self something, what would it be? Stepheni: "Hey 13-year-old me, take a deep breath during the hard times. Things have a way of turning out better than you could imagine. Trust me on this one." Join us in celebrating Stepheni's fantastic 9-year journey at Hughes Resources! 🚀 Here's to more laughter, success, and many adventures together. 🎊 #EmployeeAppreciation #WorkAnniversary #HughesFamFun