“And you may ask yourself, well
How did I get here?” – David Byrne
How did I get here? I often ponder that question; sometimes in wonderment, sometimes in shock, sometimes in frustration, sometimes in regret, and sometimes in utter satisfaction and contentment. The latter is the most rare yet most fulfilling. Nearly five decades, nine businesses, well ten if you count the one I literally registered yesterday with my son because he is not an adult yet. There have been so many events that have transpired that triggers that question during times of reflection.
There have been so many great lessons from these various reflections. Although the times of frustration, disappointment, and regret are my least favorite they tend to yield some of the most powerful lessons for me. When I can weather the storm and make it through the darkness to the other side the rewards are great. It seems to be a universal principle that the times of greatest pain and difficulty produce the greatest pay off if one can endure and make it through.
I have certainly had my share of such difficult times. Some I have weathered well, others I have not. Some I have learned a valuable lesson the first time, most however, I have had to endure and repeat several times to really grasp anything positive that I could carry forward.
So, how did I get here and what did I come to realize? Just as in part one, I am not going for the deep dive here just looking back for a general lesson that can be applied to a variety of contexts. For me that is to expect the unexpected. I have shared in many of my articles that I am a Pisces and have the imagination and daydreaming tendencies of one. I can plan, prepare, and envision how everything is going to end up in my head yet it seldom does. Sometimes the end result is so far off I have no choice but to stop and ask myself “how did I get here?”
Well, here I am; business number two, which is travel related, is on life support as a result of the corona virus pandemic. Business number nine which was purchased by business number three last August is alive and surviving the best it can consider the circumstances. The other handful of active business are alive, they are more investment businesses that require minimal day to day effort so have suffered very little.
As far as number ten goes, time will tell as it is not even 24 hours old yet. I can only hope that I can impart some of the wisdom I have learned from own mistakes onto Nolan as he follows the path of Kerry and I into the world of entrepreneurship. The best I can do for him is to not project any of my past or any of my stubborn opinions and control onto him and simply expect the unexpected from him. Let him do his thing and offer support and guidance upon request. There are more ways than my way to do things and standing in the back and watching is not always my strong suit. I guess I need to expect the unexpected from myself as well.
To close, the lesson for me is that I can only put in my best effort today. I have no control over how things will unfold tomorrow. As long as I can let go the expectations I have of the outcome and put forth my personal best, then I am in a good position to succeed no matter what end result is. I can plan and prepare all day long until the sun don’t shine, but things are going to happen the way they happen despite my best efforts. Sometimes you just have to hope for the best and plan for the worst. That way excess disappointment is removed from the equation.
Hmm, another lesson I have come to realize?
Stick around to find out.
Talk Soon,
Kevin W @LEAP272
Owner-Operator
You have to leap if you want to live
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