I’m writing this to those who are connected to me through E@RTC. I’m worn out. We had our opening day of our car event, and I was up all night the night before answering email and messages, then on my feet all day, two days after my second COVID shot and everything on me hurts. I mean everything. I swear my own belt has nerves. It was a very successful opening day. I can’t button a shirt without wincing. It’s got to be the shot.

While it’s no secret that I co-founded E@RTC and financially support a big chunk, and sometimes take on the cost of all of our event, I’ve always preferred the background so you won’t find my name plastered anywhere, and it’s hard to find my real involvement. That’s all on purpose. Besides, it takes credit away from those who donate their time and that contribution is even more valuable than money. I mention it here for context-only. E@RTC is a group effort and I couldn’t do this alone if I wanted.

I’ve always thought it was a bit disingenuous when people claim to do something for others then get in front of it and make it about them. I step in front just enough to be accountable for our actions, and to make sure we adhere to our mission and brand as a fun community event. I’ve never signed the blog even though I write all of it, stand behind its irreverent humor, and sometimes staunch positions, and don’t care all that much if someone gets their undies in a bunch over it. If something goes wrong, I’ll take the blame.

There is huge freedom in writing that blog and website because as author, I only care about our audience and entertaining them when I put words to screen. I know them, what makes them laugh, and if I think about what they think is funny, that’s where I aim. This may surprise some, but I tend to think of what makes my women friends laugh more than men. If they think it’s funny, even better. I don’t write to everyone, so if I offend a few, that’s their narcissism.

For E@RTC, it’s a different voice, a different person when I write. It’s the pure joy as a writer of not just writing, but then writing from the point of view of a different character who’s immersed in the car scene. It’s why I love writers who use pen names. There is freedom in it and I get it, and just child-like delight in writing from that character. It’s a bit like acting, but as a writer. I giggle a lot writing it. There is so much I take out because I think, okay, I’ve crossed a line. But it’s funny!

Every year around this time, I have to fight to preserve something inside E@RTC. It’s happened every opening day, without a miss in any of our years. It’s a place where I sometimes feel alone in the fight to sustain what we began. It’s like clockwork that some show up to cause trouble and disrupt our event, and every year, we have to go after them to knock it down or we have no event. When I write as harshly as I do, I get it from all sides. I always get the virtue signaler who want me to be more of a moderate or see things, “their way.” Someone always freaks out. The song “Le Freak” by Chic always goes through my head as I write.

“One, two
Ah, freak out!
Le freak, c'est chic
Freak out!…”

Safety is everything to us and so we shut down every aspect of bad behavior and ban people from the event, not just for a season but for good. Of course, we get heat for that. The reason is simple. We don’t want such bad judgment and lack of self-control anywhere near the event. These individuals lacking the ability to make instant good decisions, can’t make a good choice without their ego overriding their brains and we call them out. You show up at our house, you behave. There is no other way to put it.

The thing that wears me out the most is defending E@RTC and sustaining those brand elements that hold it together. It feels isolating at times. We get battle weary then when someone praises us, we then have to fight off a continuous battle of people taking credit for something they didn’t do, while making sure people got the credit for what they did.

It’s remarkable to see how many people are willing to steal credit from others, claim they “run things” or manage what we do when they don’t. I get why ex military get so upset about stolen valor. They know it’s not about the person stealing, it’s about those who give up a lot and had it stolen from them. While what we do is nowhere near as sacrificial, stealing credit is stealing credit, and I’ve come to a much better understanding of why they get so upset.

Our credit goes to all those who put in the hours to make our event great. Some put in few, others put in a lot, but they are all valuable and they are worth fighting for, to protect what they built. It’s not about me. It’s about what we built for the community and we want it to last a lifetime.

The point of what I’m writing, is that things that are worthwhile sometimes require a fight. In fact, there is no such thing as a great CEO who doesn’t fight for what they believe. I can’t think of a single successful CEO who’s ever done it without standing for something, and often it’s exhausting.

Everyone wants to know what it’s going to take to be a CEO someday. I get that question hundreds of times on Quora. It’s always about fighting for something, even when you sometimes think you’re the only on in the fight. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of leaders who stand for much of anything these days.