Crash But Don’t Burn

I don’t have the energy to go for a job interview, she said. She looked tired. Body and soul. He said, what can we do, we need you to get the job. And she nodded.

I know these people. My coffee shop friends. We’ve been on the entrepreneurial journey together. The wild ups and the crazy downs. hope

I remember the day he got the bank manager to agree to the loan so he could buy out his partner. He did it by telling his story – it won him a fortune and a phenomenal opportunity.

And the time they decided to take the kids out of school and head off to a far away beach house so they could live the dream – their laptops all they need to keep it all going.

And the excitement as his busy season kicked in and so did the sales.

They were gone for a few months but I thought about them a lot. Was the beach house life as good as they had dreamed?

Did the kids settle in?
How were they managing?

When they returned it had been as they had dreamed…even better.

He would get up in the morning and surf. Each a slow breakfast with the kids. Do  a few hours work and then take them surfing. They managed the business in between quality time with the family.

He lost 15 pounds without trying. Just from being active and healthy.

Meeting back at the coffee shop, they had gone through some more difficult turns. As he described the roller-coaster there was no regret.

Just a kind of rolling up his sleeves and getting stuck in to the next stage. That’s what we do folks, we ride the highs and the lows. I remembered the project that I’d put my heart, soul and money into that flat-out failed. It sucks. And I remember my friend at that time, telling me to hang in there, this is our way.

And I rolled up my sleeves and got back to it. Not without meltdowns, swearing I was going back to a job and giving it all up (for a few crazy days) but ultimately knowing, this is the journey. It’s tough, and yet there’s none better.

What they know now is that she may have to get that job or some other. For a while. Until they recover from this hitch, until they put in place the amazing learnings that this particular problem has given them. Until they have created the foundations, that we all need, to become financially resilient.

Great lessons. There are none better.

So many times I’ve said to myself – I know that this is a good lesson but it truly and honestly sucks now. That’s for sure.

And yet when you roll up your sleeves and get yourself back out there – you feel alive. Most entrepreneurs fail because they give up. It’s a simple as that. And for some, that’s totally the right answer – to say enough is enough and find another path.

For others, my coffee shop friends included, they seem to be made a really tough stuff. I admire their tenacity. I love their steadfastness. I know they will succeed.

They tell a powerful story. All of us on this crazy journey do.

What’s yours?

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One comment on “Crash But Don’t Burn

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