Randolph Engineering - Handcrafting Legacy

Randolph Engineering is one of those companies I'm proud to show my support for. Both in my word of mouth recommendation but also with my wallet.

I ordered my first pair of Randolph Engineering sunglasses, the Aviator, a few months ago and couldn't be more happy with them.

Here's a few pics* I took with my new glasses:
*no laughing allowed, even if the pic may be cheesy.

Stop. Hammock time.

DC Metro superstar

USA - Randolph Engineering, Field Notes, GORUCK

Aviators & Brass

The White House

Ready to summit Robertson Mountain

You can't help but smile.

Want to know what I think the coolest part is about Randolph Engineering eyewear? Fighter pilots and astronauts wear these! Need I say more?

Anyway, here is your chance to get a pair of amazing sunglasses made right here in America [Randolph, Massachusetts] for a great price. Only on Huckberry.

But wait, there's more...

Randolph Engineering Factory tour by GORUCK

Randolph Engineering Factory tour by Jon Gaffney at Gear Patrol

Short URL: http://goo.gl/enxAw

When you sign up using my link, I get credit on the site after your first purchase. 

A Reflection. A Thank You.

**2/12 Update: This post is not meant to depress you or even make you think I'm feeling depressed. Simply put, life is a roller coaster. There are ups and downs and that's ok. Don't be afraid to let people know you need help now and then. We are all in this world together and need to work as a team. **

I have moments... moments I'm not myself. I act unbreakable. I act confident. I act courageous. I act outgoing. But I am none of those things. I get weak, sad, lonely. I don't want to burden others with those things. That's not fair. 

But there's some of you out there that disregard my warnings. You refuse to stay away. You want to be there for me. I get emotional thinking about how someone would want to help me. I will become strong enough someday even though I am weak now. "This too shall pass."

I don't want to be weak. I don't like it. I can't stand it. I want to be strong, I want to be tough. I have to be. People rely on me. I'm supposed to be a man. I'm supposed to be striving for virtue, honor, and excellence in all areas of my life. I need to fulfill my potential as a man. To be the absolute best brother, friend, husband, father and citizen I can be. I may get down now and then but I will not fail.

The important thing is that I surround myself with quality individuals. People of integrity. Everyone needs a support team. I like to think I can go on alone but the truth is, I can't.

You all know who you are. Thank you for being there for me. 

Fresh Snow, Bear Tracks, & New Peaks

A buddy of mine has been itching to go camping and with my newfound time off, I figured it was the perfect time to go. I was needing a bit of a recharge and spending time outdoors always helps.

We've both climbed Old Rag Mountain before but this time I wanted to try something completely new. We set our sights on Robertson Mountain.

As we left town, it started to flurry and when I called the National Park Service to check conditions, I was informed that they already had 2 inches on the ground in some parts and were closing sections of Skyline Drive.

We pressed on.

Before long we were on the trail looking for a suitable spot to setup camp. It was still snowing as we set the tent up and climbed in to warm up and dry off and finalize our plans.

The only snag was that my buddy brought his wife's sleeping bag which was made for indoor sleepovers but we improvised and neither of us froze to death. 

Getting up around 6 am was great though. The sun was started to brighten things up and we were eager to start the day. After boiling some water for oatmeal and coffee, we were ready to hit the trail.

There was still a lot of snow on the trail and before long we finished the Corbin Hollow Trail and were starting the Robertson Mountain Trail. After a short time on the trail we saw some bear tracks and these were super fresh. Luckily the area is only home to black bears and they are generally scared of people so we weren't too alarmed. It was neat to see the prints up close and each paw was the size of my entire hand.

After a quick summit we headed back down.

I strongly encourage you to take some time away from your desk and spend the night outside. You'll thank yourself for it.

But wait, there's more...

Photos on Picasa.

Short URL: http://goo.gl/QuSWW

Change of Course

I have decided to not pursue starting my own company and get a 'normal' job. 

It's a decision I've been wrestling with for a while and even though it may sound like the perfect opportunity, it doesn't feel like the timing is just right. 

This isn't something I can explain, it's just something I feel.

In the short time that I made that decision, my energy level has gone up and I'm excited to finally look at all the jobs that are available. 

I posted it previously but in case you need a refresher...

More About Me

If you or anyone you know is hiring a full time position (in the Washington DC Metro Area), I'd love to hear from you.

Some skills and info about me:

• Knowledgeable of social media outreach and trends.
• I've been focusing on building my personal brand (mostly @mikepetrucci) and I'm constantly finding out what works and what doesn't.
• Familiar with Wordpress, Blogger, and Drupal Content Management Systems. 
• I'm a very quick learner and I feel confident I could pick up the workflow of other systems.
• Can work well in a group but also handle things on my own.
• Familiar with Photoshop
• Unfortunately I can't create artistic graphics but I know the tools to manipulate and work on an image in the technical sense (like putting someones head on another persons body).
• Trained in video and audio production.
• Both TV and film techniques; everything from shooting and editing to sound effects.
• Experience in digital and film photography.
• Black and white photo development & enlargement and basic photography guidelines.

Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn if you want to see my resume and more info.

Oh and if it asks you for my email address, its: mikepetrucci [at] gmail [dot] com

Job Hunt Update

So it's getting closer to the end of the month which means closer to unemployment. It can also mean freedom. I don't mean freedom in the respect that my current job is a prison at all, but this is the opportunity to try something completely new and exciting.

A lot of people have stepped up and reached out offering contacts or leads and I appreciate that so very much. I have told most of you/them but I want to make it clear that I'm taking just a little bit of time to figure out this situation. I have a lot of options and I want to make sure I'm making the right decision as well as not wasting anyones time.

More About Me

If you know of anyone hiring a full time position or even freelance or contract work, I'd love to get that information from you.

Some skills and info about me:

• Knowledgeable of social media outreach and trends.
• I've been focusing on building my personal brand (mostly @mikepetrucci) and I'm constantly finding out what works and what doesn't.
• Familiar with Wordpress, Blogger, and Drupal Content Management Systems. 
• I'm a very quick learner and I feel confident I could pick up the workflow of other systems.
• Can work well in a group but also handle things on my own.
• Familiar with Photoshop
• Unfortunately I can't create artistic graphics but I know the tools to manipulate and work on an image in the technical sense (like putting someones head on another persons body).
• Trained in video and audio production.
• Both TV and film techniques; everything from shooting and editing to sound effects.
• Experience in digital and film photography.
• Black and white photo development & enlargement and basic photography guidelines.

Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn if you want to see my resume and more info.
Oh and if they ask you for my email address, its: mikepetrucci [at] gmail [dot] com


It may be fairly standard but I want you to know that I'm a hard worker and teachable. If you want to see a more personal level of how I operate, look over some of these recommendations that have been written about me*:

*The goal isn't to boast but I wanted to show you what others are saying about me.  And a HUGE thank you to everyone that took the time to write me a recommendation. There are even more on my LinkedIn page.

“Mike is a profound example of a man who strives for excellence and challenges himself daily to be extraordinary at all that he does. His enthusiasm and passion for helping a company to succeed is definitely not what you get from the average teammate. Mike is an ideal candidate for any business looking to compete in the modern global arena. His knowledge base and intellect will provide a competitive edge to any business willing to add him to their team.”
- Kelly Black, Chief Operating Officer, ITS Tactical, Inc.

“Mike is very detail orientated, driven, passionate, and thorough. His work at ITS Tactical is always informative and entertaining. As an aside, I always try to keep up to date with the latest trends in social media, but inevitably Mike beats me to the punch and is already familiar with the service when I sign up. I proudly recommend Mike. Top qualities: Great Results, High Integrity, Creative"
- Brian Timmer, Lead Software Engineer at SPEAK! Creative

“Mike Petrucci is one of the hardest working people I know. Work is almost an inaccurate word to use with Mike, though. He approaches life with so much curiosity and enthusiasm, it's like watching a kid after their first roller coaster ride. You can tell by talking to him that he's always firing on all cylinders. He thinks of things from every angle and always has something to add to the conversation. Mike is encouraging and supportive, but not for the sake of flattery. Skilled at being objective, Mike is able to see when something is working well or poorly and, if needed, always has a solution for improvement. After spending many years with Mike on a personal and professional level, I've seen that he prides himself on being a jack of all trades and a master of implementation. He likes to know a little bit about everything, how it works, when it works, and who it works for. I would confidently and highly recommend Mike Petrucci.”
- Joshua Peterson, Film & TV Composer and Owner, Lark Studio

“Mike is one of those few people that you meet that has the magical mix of deep technical knowledge, brilliant design skills and a savvy social media understanding that immediately makes any project or team he's working with successful. He is a great writer and marketer who instinctively understands the nuances of social media and leverages it to his advantage. He just gets it! I have had the pleasure of working collaboratively with Mike on several small projects over the past two years. His level of professionalism and commitment to his work is impeccable and he is a delight (and a lot of fun) to work with. I would have Mike on my team without hesitation, if I were ever lucky enough to snag him :)”
- Brian Green, Vice President, Enterprise Social Computing, Bank of America

“I worked with Mike on a few freelance communications projects and have always been thoroughly impressed with what he brings to the table. Mike is very well versed in Social Media and its marketing value, continuously searching out new trends and platforms to evaluate their potential. He displays a firm grasp on branding and ability to execute digital strategies to support that branding. Combined with excellent communication and writing skills, he's someone I would highly recommend as a consultant or valuable addition to a workforce. I look forward to the opportunity to work with Mike again.”
- Jon Gaffney, Senior Strategist, Isobar

Thanks again for everyone who has offered their support. It means the world to me to have people on my side willing to help me land on my feet. I look forward to bringing you good news soon!

GORUCK Challenge - Baltimore

Baltimore GORUCK Challenge. It starts February 11th so you still have plenty of time to eat and party for the holiday season.

Remember, it's all mental anyway.

Although, if you are in the area and want to do some prep work, Charm City Yoga, via Semper Fidelis Health & Wellness can help get you in shape.

Don't forget to check out my post on past Challenges if you want some more insight and feel free to ask me any questions you have: mikepetrucci [at] gmail [dot] com

But wait, there's more...

Short URL: http://goo.gl/qkKGx

'What is the GORUCK Challenge: http://goo.gl/V11Kl

GORUCK Challenge Recommended Reading: http://goo.gl/SJcBL
When you sign up, add my name to the 'How did you hear about the Challenge.' Thanks!