Morning—Clay here.
Welcome to Campfire Gentleman, where we talk about what really matters: family, purpose, growth, health, and simplicity—the Core Five that keep us grounded.

This week, I’m sharing the story of the moment everything changed for me—when a layoff, a pandemic, and a failed backup plan forced me to burn the blueprint and rebuild a life that actually made sense.

It’s not just a personal story. It’s a reminder that most men wait for a crisis to finally make changes. Don’t be that guy.

Let’s get into it.

Burn the Blueprint – How I Rebuilt My Life After Hitting Reset

“Clay, can I see you in my office real quick?”

I looked up. The HR Director stood in the doorway. I shrugged. Sure. It wasn’t unusual for me to get pulled aside—I had a habit of forgetting to clock in and out.

But this wasn’t that.

Laid off. Just like that. As the office filled with uncomfortable silence, one thought slammed into my brain:
🚨 How the hell am I going to tell my wife?

That conversation? Turned out to be the easy part. What came next—a failed safety net, a flopped freelance hustle, and a global pandemic that wiped out every plan I had—was the real test.

And yet, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.

The Punch in the Face I Didn’t Know I Needed

Before getting laid off, I thought I was playing the game right:
✅ Grind.
✅ Stay “secure.”
✅ Keep climbing.

That’s what we’re supposed to do, right?

Then COVID hit, and I saw it for what it really was—a hamster wheel leading nowhere. For the first time in my adult life, I had nothing but time. No job. No clients. No ladder to climb.

So, I stopped chasing.
I played video games with my kids.
I worked in the woodshop with my dad.
I built the desk I’m writing this on with my own two hands.

🔥 This is it. This is what actually matters.
Not the title on my business card. Not corporate approval. Not grinding myself into dust for people who’d replace me in a week.

👉 Family. Purpose. Growth. Health. Simplicity.

Most guys wait for a crisis to figure this out. Don’t be that guy.
Look at me—hard at work and getting nowhere.

Three Hard Truths You Need to Hear

1️⃣ Stop Waiting for Things to “Go Back to Normal.”
Life doesn’t have a pause button. It keeps moving. You can either adapt and start building something real now—or waste years waiting for the “right time.”

2️⃣ Be Where You Are.
I spent years sprinting toward the next thing—until everything stopped. And you know what? I realized I’d been missing everything.
🔥 Video games with my kids.
🔥 Movie nights in the garage.
🔥 Slow mornings without rushing out the door.
Your kids won’t be this age forever. Neither will you. Quit living like you’ll get a do-over.

3️⃣ Stop Delaying What You Know Needs to Happen.
There’s no perfect time to make a move. If you need to have the conversation, start the thing, make the change—do it now.
Too early beats too late every time.

Burn the Blueprint. Build a Life That Actually Matters.

Life is a series of choices.

You don’t control everything, but you do control:
✅ How you show up for your family.
✅ How you spend your time.
✅ The kind of man you become.

🔥 Burn the blueprint. Start living on your own terms.
👉 What’s one thing you’ve been putting off? Reply and tell me.

The Spark is about small moments that lead to big change.
What’s one thing you’ve been putting off? Hit reply and tell me.

Keep the fires burning,
— Clay

Worth Your Time

If you’re digging Campfire Gentleman, check out a few other newsletters I actually read and recommend. No fluff—just solid stuff from like-minded guys trying to build something that matters.