Hello, I am Coach Tony… Welcome to Operation Melt!
My name is Coach Tony, and I am a coach, author and project manager on a mission. I am working to build a world where no goal ever dies of loneliness.
I almost allowed one of my biggest life goals to die without ever being attempted for forty years. My goal almost died, not of failure but of loneliness. But, I took a risk and leveraged a simple, logical process that helped me wildly exceed my goal.
I transformed my life, and you can do the same with the help of Operation Melt.
Operation Melt provides engaging, practical content and hands-on coaching to inspire, motivate and equip project managers and other left-brained high-achievers to pursue and accomplish their biggest goals.
Ask Me Anything…
In Ask Coach Tony, you can put my Operation Melt coaching to the test by asking me questions about how to achieve your goals.
Because a question asked by one is often a question had by many, I am regularly sharing these answers via the Operation Melt blog.
Amuse Bouche
Before we get to today’s post, I offer you this light “amuse-bouche” to entertain your mind before we get down to business. Like any other amuse-bouche, you may hate my “dad joke,” but it is worth every penny you paid for it, right?
Obviously, Karl Marx is a famous historical figure. But why does nobody ever mention his sister, Onya? I think she invented the starters’ pistol.
Ask Coach Tony: Why Do You Share So Much?
Coach Tony: I have been following Operation Melt for a while, and you share A TON of content – I don’t know where you find the time. Why do you share so much? Also, why do you share such personal content?
You’re right! Each week I produce a significant amount of content.
- I write weekly blogs and an email
- I share a weekly Meet Coach Tony social media post
- I post on social media at least 2-3 other times per week
- I share content with my clients
- I also have published two books and am working on more
I usually invest four hours or more per week in producing and publishing content.
I am glad you asked why I do so much… I sometimes ask myself the same question. I have concluded that there are multiple reasons I do this. I have shared some of this information before, but it is important enough that I want to share it again.
I am an artist, and so are you!
Every one of us is an artist in our own way. Whether it is painting, music or countless other things, we each have creative outlets that we engage in for self-fulfillment. We are all artists.
It has taken me years to discover, but my chosen artistic media is content creation. I love simplifying and communicating complex information. I also love telling stories that interest and resonate with people. I do this throughout my professional life, and I do it in my personal life.
This is my art.
There is a difference between an art and a hobby. A hobby is usually an activity we engage in for fun and because we enjoy it. Conversely, art is more of a calling. Art is something that we can’t just not do because it feels like we are missing a part of ourselves. I know my writing is an art because I sometimes lose track of time when writing, and the words just come flowing out of me.
In short, I produce content for personal fulfillment. Even if nobody reads what I write (which the stats say is often the case), I will still write. For example, I have been journaling daily for 6 years, and I do it just for me. This means I don’t necessarily have to share my art (content), though I clearly do.
I am a processor!
No, not the kind of processor that would get hired by Chandler Bing!
Writing is how I think.
When I am thinking through something, brainstorming, trying to figure out my point of view, defining a process or planning a conversation, I like to “see” my thoughts. So I open OneNote or PowerPoint or just grab a notebook.
Often, things that start as a tool for me to process my thoughts turn into something I share with others.
When I create something, I ask myself, “is this something that would be help somebody?”
This brings me to my next point.
I am here to help!
Allow me to share a story that I have shared many times before. On October 13, 2017, a coworker walked into my office and asked me if I had a minute to talk. He told me that my weight loss journey had inspired him to start his own, and he was making progress. This was a pivotal moment in my decision to share highly personal content on highly public forums.
As it turns out, this was just the first of many such stories I have from my journey.
I have always hoped that the work I do, the content I produce, my mentoring and coaching, and many other creative outlets impact people around me. That is why I have mentored so many people and taken on multiple coaching clients at no cost. This is also why I love leadership so much. Leadership is an opportunity to make an impact on people.
I want to make a meaningful impact on people. I want to help people achieve their goals. I want to help people make their own dreams come true.
I never know when a piece of content I have written, a story I’ve shared or a moment of vulnerability will resonate with somebody. Any one of these items has the potential to change (or maybe even save) a life. I know that my stories, perspective and continuing journey contribute to the success of others.
I know I have a point of view, which makes me happy to share. I am just getting started!
This is why I developed my vision statement: To create a world where goals never die of loneliness.
I am proud of my accomplishments!
Sharing isn’t only selfless; there is another side of that coin. I am super proud of my accomplishments, and there is a degree of humbly patting myself on the back.
I have done a lot of unique things in my life.
Any idea how many people actually run a half marathon? It is less than 2% of the US population. How many people do it 16 months after reaching the peak of a lifetime of obesity? I bet it is (or close to) zero!
This story merely scratches the surface of the accomplishments I am proud of in my life. Like everybody else, my origin story takes many twists and turns (poverty, wins, losses, laughs, tears).
It took me more than forty years to become legitimately proud of myself (even of my mistakes), and I am not afraid to share that with others. I want everybody to reach a point where they are proud of themselves and can share yet still maintain humility.
I gotta be me!
All of this brings me to my final and perhaps the most important point.
This point explains why I have decided to share highly personal stories like my weight loss journey. It also explains why I share so much on a professional networking site like LinkedIn. This point has taken me a while to understand, and many people struggle with it throughout their lives.
As I explained in From Dread To Delighted: Rethinking One Painful Small Talk Question, I am more than my job!
I am not just building a career. I am building a life of contribution and fulfillment! My accomplishments outside my job say as much or more about the kind of asset I can be to individuals and organizations as any certification, degree, recognition or other professional achievements.
Many people have learned to “spin” their profiles and posts as a self-marketing tool. I can’t really blame them for doing this t put their best, most polished foot forward. But, this makes it difficult to get a true sense of the person.
This isn’t me!
I hope my current and potential connections get to see the real me, not just my branding. By publicly sharing such personal content, people can see what makes me tick. It is important to me to be real and honest, always act with humility, and not just sell myself.
Suffice it to say that I am not scared to put myself out there.
If this appeals to potential connections, I hope they reach out as I love to meet new people. Maybe I can help you achieve a goal (personal or professional).
Do you hate this decision? Do you think I am crazy for sharing so much? Do you disagree with my message and think I am unprofessional? I completely understand and respect your opinion. As the saying goes, I’d rather be someone’s shot of whiskey than everyone’s cup of tea!
Either way, thank you for reading my content and giving me a chance!
To wrap up, please allow me to ask you a question… what’s holding you back from being vulnerable and sharing your story?
Ask Me Anything!
Do you have a question you would like to submit for a future Ask Coach Tony post?
- Do you want to know more about me?
- Do you want to know more about my weight loss journey?
- Do you want to know more about my books or my creative process?
- Do you have a question about how to achieve your goals?
- Do you want to know more about coaching?
Whatever your question, I am here to help. Ask Me Anything!
If you want to have a deeper conversation and get more one-on-one help, click here to learn more about my Operation Melt coaching services.
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