Success In Failure

I failed. I took 2017 to try and start my own business. I failed. I missed my financial projections which were quite low to start with. Apologies to the family for the continued belt tightening. 

Due to the belt tightening, we are no longer eating out. I may not have disposable income, but I have extra time to do things I love. I love to cook and am cooking almost every day. So I failed going out to eat. I won at enjoying one of my passions, cooking. 

Due to the belt tightening, we’ve had to travel frugally. Yes, we did go to Disney World as that was planned before I left my big agency job. But to cut costs we drove instead of flying. We stopped just outside of Orlando the night before our check-in. I didn't want to pay for an extra hotel night. I put the tent that goes over our Envoy (which has a retractable roof) on and the whole family slept in the truck. It took a while to find sleep because it was in the 90s that night. To keep the tent as cool as possible I did not put the fly on it. Then I felt the temperature begin to drop, followed by a big drop of water on my head. Within seconds we were in a Florida rain storm, I made the kids crawl into the covered section of our Envoy and I took down the tent to close the retractable roof. I was soaked. I drove to the hotel we were going to be staying in and asked if an early check in was possible. The time was 1 or 2 am. They said no. I returned to the truck, told the family to curl up and get as comfortable as possible. We slept in the parking lot until 7am. When we got up we still couldn't check in so wewent to one of the parks that opened at 8. The kids were troopers throughout and they now had their payoff. I failed at traveling. I won at creating memories that will not only last a lifetime. This will be a story my kids tell their kids and grandkids. 

Due to belt tightening, the kids camps were canceled. They spent the summer with me. Almost every morning at 8am, we went for a run, followed by some strength conditioning and yoga. We then explored our amazing city with all the free things it has to offer. The kids love to read so this included weekly treks to the Harold Washington library. I decided to take the family down to the Shawnee National forest to witness the Eclipse in the Path of Totality. We drove down the day before, checked in to a campsite and the next day we witnessed one of the most amazing phenomenon in the sky. If you have seen an Eclipse in the Path or Totality you know what I am talking about. If you haven't, there is another happening in the US in 2024. We are already planning on being there you should too. If I had been at my big agency job, I am sure there would have been some meeting or deadline that would have “been more important.” I guess I have failed at having my calendar constantly booked with “important meetings.” I have won at enjoying all the free and amazing things around me.

Due to the belt tightening, I could no longer afford my yoga studio membership at CorePower. I became a member of their SET team that does the cleaning in the studio to get a reduced rate. I did that for about three months until I became an actual instructor at CorePower. As an instructor, one of the benefits is that I can practice for free. I failed at paying my yoga membership. I won at actually deepening my connection to my tribe as a student and an instructor. 

Due to belt tightening, I can't afford Ubers, parking rates or spending a ton on gasoline. I took to my bike this Spring, I bike everywhere now. If it's within 10 miles and I am going somewhere where I will have to pay to park, I'll bike instead. Even as the winter temperature has gotten colder. As long as there is no snow on the road, I'm on my bike. I failed at getting places in a car. I won at spending more time with my thoughts while I get a good workout in. 

I have plenty of other failures. For example, I have not landed any big jobs yet. I am networking with old colleagues and meeting new people. I have a lot of potential opportunities in the horizon, I have to keep putting one foot in front of the other because I am loving what I am doing and at some point the financials will follow. Although financials are a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) it is not my ultimate measure of success. My ultimate measure of success is to unleash my inner light as I help others unleash their inner light. I have been successful in doing this. 

That said, I am hoping for an uptick in the financials in 2018. If you hear of anyone that needs soft skills training, career coaching or marketing help. Tell them “I know a guy that can help you out.”

Happy New Year!