When navies build a ship, it's a big expensive deal. Ships are supposed to last decades but many things change over decades. There are engineering improvements and new technologies. Missions expand and more capabilities are required. There is a real danger and, it has happened many times, that multi-million dollar state of the art warships are obsolete before they leave their builders slip.

It's called different things by different services. Refit. Modernization. Overhaul. Sailors wouldn't call it a makeover. They just wouldn't.

I found myself in need of an overhaul. If it was hardware, that would be easy. The software- now that gets sticky.

I needed to feel differently about myself. That's about as difficult as it gets.

When you get in a rut, when you feel negative about yourself, you don't expect good things to happen. And they don't. It becomes a perfectly vicious self-fulfilling circle.

I needed to make some good things happen. I needed to get back in the habit of success.

Where most people screw this particular pooch is to try to do everything at once and don't succeed at any of them.

My strategy was to pick a few strategic goals and concentrate on them. Focus on them. Succeed at them. Learn what it takes.

I started this plan in Aug. 2014. It's now May 2015. Let's have a look.

Goal 1- Improve my physical fitness.

Too many people say I'll lose X number of pounds and I'm done. That doesn't work. I need gym time several times a week. Since the project began, I've lost 30 pounds and my body shape has changed. The pounds I didn't lose moved somewhere more useful.

I look better, feel better and I'm about as hot as a fifty something guy can get without cheating (steroids or plastic surgery).

This will continue. I've discovered that I like people staring at my pecs.

Goal 2- Add additional professional/technical skills.

I decided to get an Associate degree in Electronics Technology to compliment my degree in computer science. I can do it without mortgaging the future at community college.

So far:

Digital Electronics A

Solid State Electronics A

Tested out: DC Electronics and AC Electronics.

GPA 4.0

Lesson Learned:

It takes a plan to make good things happen.

It takes consistent, persistent effort.

It takes attention to detail.

It takes focus.

So far, so good.

I'm beginning to believe in myself again.