Matt Walsh on LinkedIn: #lineworkers #utilities #energy #inspiration (2024)

Like my new company car? It’s electric! This 1918 Detroit Electric car is said to have driven 211 miles on a single charge back in its day. Duke Energy Corporation bought it in the 1990s, and the folks at our Toddville garage restored it.Since then it has been used to promote the development of electric vehicles:“Duke Power Company's Detroit Electric car was manufactured by the Anderson Electric CarCompany (previously the Anderson Carriage Company) in Detroit, Michigan.The company advertised the Detroit Electric Car as a car that would ‘take you anywhere that an automobile may go with a mileage radius farther than you will ever care to travel in a day.’”(For the record, This is not actually my company car—it only goes 30 miles an hour🙃)

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Some real interesting finds at the thrift store today 🙃⚡️🔌💡🔋 Duke Energy Corporation #energy #innovation #history

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I did something hard this weekend. I ran the Charlotte Marathon - my first. And — I ate candy the entire time. I’ve never run a race longer than a 5k. But two months ago, during my trip to climb Mont Blanc, we watched runners finish the prestigious UTMB race. It was beautiful to see strangers from around the world cheering for other strangers. Many doing the hardest thing they’ve ever done. I wanted to experience that level of humanity. And yesterday I was brought to tears seeing my friends, co-workers, and especially my wife, on my journey. So why candy? I listened to Courtney Dauwalter on a podcast saying you can do hard things, smile, and eat candy.I encourage you to go try to do something hard. Something you don’t think you can do. Even if you fail it will be rewarding. Plus, there’s always candy.

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This sounds like really cool research on advertising/ ad buys—Sharing for those who may be able to contribute!!

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Let’s gooooo John Mitchell!!!!!!

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When we were halfway up Mont blanc at 2 am, just a few hours before we pushed for the summit, I virtually addressed our County Commissioners to argue against pickleball courts replacing basketball courts in Charlotte.I joined my neighbor Sharon Ford who was there physically:https://lnkd.in/gwPRKmCiClimbing this mountain is something I have been training for for over a year. It’s a mountain that —honestly—humiliated and injured me last year, and this was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. So why stay up all night before the most physical and potentially dangerous event of my life to argue against pickleball? It’s not pickleball. I love pickleball. I am arguing for accessibility to recreation that makes kids— and all of us — better people. Pickleball courts in my neighborhood —and seemingly in my city— are replacing basketball courts that are also very popular. A Pickleball court replaced a freshly renovated basketball court in my neighborhood about a month ago. It happened over night. Sharon and I have been in the news a few times about it, but this is the first time I’ve posted anything because I am not totally comfortable speaking out.My argument is against cutting one recreational activity, and adding another that does not serve the same community. On the way up I thought about how lucky I was to have such an adventure. To have the money, the privilege to climb, the time to train, a job I am passionate about and most of all people who love, encourage and support me. I have the ultimate form of accessibility, and I believe everyone should have access to the same in some form or fashion. But folks cannot have that if we take options they love away from them. If you played sports of any kind you know the lessons they teach, and how they fundamentally shape you. It’s not about going pro. It’s about learning to grow. They help people prepare for the battle of their lives, no matter what that may be. The timing of this meeting was not part of my journey. It was not planned. It was thrust upon me and others. This was actually a major interruption. But I felt extraordinarily compelled to speak up with my neighbor because I am afraid others aren’t aware of what is happening. So here I am addressing an audience, 4400 miles away with my cell phone propped up against a rock halfway up a cold mountain in the middle of the night with almost no service. My remarks were hand written with a pen and scrap of paper I borrowed from the Tete Rousse hut. There was a positive outcome: We learned at the meeting the county is going to make this right. People are coming together, dialogue is happening, and it is a beautiful thing to watch unfold. The other obvious outcome for me: the same morning I addressed the county commission; on no sleep, and fueled by only hope, love and nuts, I summited Mont Blanc with two close friends. This concluded a major personal journey.On to the next.

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We had a really great set of interns at Duke Energy Corporation this year. I am very proud of two in particular: Juan H. and Olivia Fricks. Both of them did tremendous work on some complicated projects this summer. I am so sad to see them go back to classes, but it makes me feel really good that we have such a bright future with them helping shape it.

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No surprise here :)

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My final 2022 takeaways: 1. My wife is a really tough person and 2. There’s a vast community for those silently fighting through the struggle of caretaking. Cassie has suffered from Hallux Rigidus in both of her feet. (Basically a big phrase for arthritis.) To paint a better picture: She could not walk a mile or stand for 10 minutes without immense pain, and she has suffered for years. In early December, she had the joints in both big toes fused. An intense surgery, with an even more intense recovery, especially being unable to use both feet. We prepared for her recovery the best we could.We knew recovery would be long and painful for her. I also knew I would have to carry her to the bathroom, upstairs, downstairs, to the car - basically everywhere. I knew we’d have to protect her feet so the dogs didn’t step on them. I knew we’d be super limited in travel and leaving the house. I knew I would be responsible for 100% of any and all physical work around the house. That’s only what I was prepared for. I was not prepared for the helplessness I feel every time she’s in pain. I was not prepared for insurance to initially deny a massive part of the surgery shortly after the procedure took place. I was not prepared for how frustrated, scared and angry that made both of us. I was not prepared for the emotional toll this kind of thing would take on me personally but also on our relationship. So I have three more major takeaways from this:1.I am not alone in my (temporary) caretaking role. To be honest, I never recognized this before her surgery. My eyes have been opened to have a small understanding of it now.I am grateful that in the end of all of this, Cassie should be able to walk better than she’s been able to walk in the last five years, and hopeful we will get to enjoy a really wonderful life. Most are not that lucky. While researching, I read one of the most startling lines I have ever come across anywhere: “Your job as a caretaker usually ends when the person you are caring for dies.”More than 53 million Americans provide unpaid care to an adult or a child with special needs, according to AARP’s The National Alliance of Caregivers 2020 Report. These people do not get paid. They’re caring for a loved one, who, in many cases will die with the condition they suffer from.It is underreported and unrecognized how many people are living with this reality.2. The community for this condition is tremendous. And no matter how rare the thing you are suffering from is, there is also possibly a global community via social media. We followed an HR Facebook group a few years ago and that has been a huge resource and help.It’s pretty hard to express how basic but profound I have found the online support group. Hundreds of people encouraging each other, giving advice about shoes and surgery and sharing their stories. 3. My final takeaway: There isn’t a tougher person than my wife, and that is the bottom line.

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