3 things to tell you “about”, to best understand the perspective and intent of this site.

1^st, about Mike and this site.

From a professional standpoint, linked-in highlights my 25+ years of experience in Silicon Valley as a sales & marketing professional for five different companies: ROLM, IBM, Siemens, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle Corporation. I have a wonderful wife of 29 years and two grown children. Here’s my resume.

The objective of this site is to offer help, encouragement, and coaching to those who struggle to keep it all afloat in this valley of endless opportunity. I have a passion for helping people tackle the work/life integration challenges, which led me to become a New Ventures West certified Integral Coach® (see Integral Life Coaching).

This blog provides an overview of my story, from growing up on the beach in Southern California (see: Corona del Mar and Growing Up) to life as a cog in the high tech revolution in Silicon Valley for the past thirty years. The goal is to teach my clients and readers alike about how to gain an eternal perspective on how you are investing your time in the midst of all the chaos. I liken it to learning to surf in heaven (see: “Surfing in Heaven”, which will be the title of my upcoming book).

2nd, about surfing and my Christian faith.

I was thirty-five years into my life when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. My walk with Jesus has been an evolution of learning and understanding about the plan God has for the rest of my life here on earth. I have found great joy in pursuing that plan. Jesus has not changed who I am as much as He has changed who I want to become.

As for surfing, let’s just say I’m at my very best when I am in the water on a surfboard.

Surfing has been a large part of my life for as far back as I can remember. Dad had me out on his surfboard riding waves at a very early age. Surfing is my escape from the stress of daily living, while also drawing me closer to God and his magnificent creation. I can’t wait to go surfing in heaven!

3rd, about dad (Jack B Mulkey)

The picture on the cover of this web site is the only picture I have of my dad surfing! It was taken at Malibu circa 1949 by Doc Ball, labeled as “surfing’s first dedicated photographer” (original photo). Dad hung around with a very small crowd of post-World War II generation young adults who were experiencing freedom on the beach at Malibu way beyond what any of them could have dreamed just a few years earlier while entrenched in the war with Germany and Japan.

In this picture, dad is riding a 10’9″ Bob Simmons Plywood Foam surfboard (called a “Foam Sandwich”). This surfboard was a major breakthrough from the Redwood Planks they had been riding, which could weigh in over 100 pounds.  This exact surfboard sold for $40,000 at the Hawaiian Islands Vintage Surf Auction in 2009.  Dad did not even know this picture was taken but ran across it in a photo album at a party at Doc Ball’s house (a friend yelled out to him, “Hey Mulkey, your picture is in here!”).

Dad was living out his dream at 89 years young in Kailua-Kona on the big island of Hawaii, when he passed away peacefully in his sleep, after spending a delightful Father’s Day with his daughter Terry (see Kona Jack). This blog is dedicated to dad, for all the wonderful lessons in life I learned from him through the sport of surfing.  They have served me well.

Dad and grandson Matthew in front of a Douglas SBD Dauntless aircraft at the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor in 2014 (Dad flew in the gunner position off the USS Saratoga in WWII).