“Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.” – Sydney J Harris
Wait! Stop! What are you looking at? What are you reading? I’m appalled! How could you?
You do realize this is the final installment in a seven part series, right? Well, hopefully you read the previous six parts. Or are you one of those people? You, know who you are. You just can’t handle the wait, the suspense, or the buildup. You just have to know. NOW!
So, you read the end of the book first. You watch movie spoilers first. Then you start from the beginning.
I guess it really doesn’t matter. This isn’t some fancy who-done-it mystery thriller, although, it would probably make more sense if you read them in order. Your choice, though.
In the last six parts I discussed everything from business, start ups, moving, good decisions, bad decisions, being responsible, being irresponsible; basically, a variety of issues. What do they have to with each other? How do they all relate? Bear with me and I will try to sort it all out for you.
The title of the series is Jump In The Fire. Fire throughout history has metaphorically been both positive and negative. It’s been a symbol of destruction and rebirth, pain and cleansing, hatred and passion, fear and comfort, and more. I can go on and on but I’m sure you get the idea. Fire is a force of energy that can be both good and bad. The word jump, however, is pretty clear; it’s without a doubt an action word.
To bring it all home, the overarching lesson is that nothing gets accomplished in life sitting on the bench on the sidelines. I know, I know, what about the coaches, the staff, and the second and third string players? Well, they aren’t doing nothing, they are coaching, watching, learning, becoming prepared in case they get the call. I’m referring to the ones with their arms crossed doing absolutely nothing. Especially, if they are sitting there complaining about their situation.
As I have shared, I have jumped in the fire many times. Sometimes I got burned sometimes I didn’t. When I got burned, it was usually because I didn’t think it through or didn’t think at all. They key is to find balance. That fine line between stupidity and fear. Jumping in with no thought at all is stupid. Fire is hot, you might get hurt. Thinking too much will paralyze you in fear and prevent you from jumping at all.
You know what? You’re going to get burned sometimes. That’s life. That’s business. That’s also how we learn. The key is to learn from our mistakes. Each burn we receive strengthens us and prepares us for what lays ahead.
If I didn’t jump in with Streightball I wouldn’t have learned as much as I did at that time. Of course, I wish I was a quicker learner then, but the fact is I learned. The lessons made me stronger and better prepared for the next venture.
The point of all this is to inspire you to get you off your ass and do something. Do that something that has always been nagging at the back of your mind. Do that something that you have always said you are going to do someday. It doesn’t matter how big or how small. It doesn’t even have to be starting your own business. Maybe it’s as simple as changing careers, taking acting lessons, asking you partner to marry you, writing a book, skydiving, or selling the farm and moving to the city (or in my case, selling the city home and buying the farm!) Whatever it is, stop thinking about it and figure out a way to do it.
Life is too short to rim run around the fire. Don’t be the one foot in one foot in person.
Whatever it is you want to do, do what have to do and think what you have to think to get prepared. Then jump right in and do it.
All we have is this moment. Don’t allow fear and regret to own it.
So come on – Jump in the fire!
Talk Soon,
Kevin W – Owner-Operator
@LEAP272
you have to leap if you want to live!
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