Craig | Ashley | Russell
Another in the patience theme, mostly due to the significance this trait now plays in my life. Time, I’ve discovered is not the enemy; it is an ally.
‘Finish your dinner or no dessert.’ I think I heard that every night as a kid growing up. It was supposed to be stick and carrot but I think it was stick and stick. I just didn’t need the calories being forced into me. Forced may be too strong; encouraged, perhaps.
Either way, it developed a poor relationship with food that dominated for the next 30 plus years. I’m not blaming those who raised me. I didn’t pop out of my mother with an instruction manual.
But the lesson I slowly learned that leaving food on the plate was not rude or insulting to those who slaved to prepare my meals. Or the burger flipper who couldn’t care less what happened to his product. Because excess calories only go one place; my waist.
Not the kind that’s real like being face to face with a big cat in a small cage. The kind of fear my mind creates with no real reason. The kind of fear that prevents positive forward action based on unhelpful thoughts. That kind of fear kills inspiration, creativity, motivation and desire. This realisation has propelled me further forward on all fronts in my life. Towards greater happiness.
This piece of wisdom which I originally thought of as complete crap is actually very true. Uttered by a very successful property developer came my way during a regular WiP meeting many moons ago. It wasn’t until I started my own business did I realise how true these words were.
Appreciating this phrase at the outset of any large-scale project gives added perspective and prevents giving up when things start to get harder, cost more and take longer.
Flexibility in both body and thought have become very important to me. Many old ways of thinking have not served me well. Trying to make life fit into these outdated doctrines is like putting a square peg in a round hole. Adapting to new ideas has proven to be far more useful than fighting against them.
I’ve explored* both ends of the bell curve and discovered too few customers on the right-hand side and too many competitors on the left-hand side. Most businesses, and people for that matter, exist within the middle of the bell curve. They feel safe there because they are. The outliers might tempt them now and again but until the majority of the sheep make a move, either way, the middle of the bell curve is their home. This market is massive and much easier to communicate with that either of the pointy ends.
*wasted a lot of time, energy and dollars.
The above bell curve originally appeared here
This lesson follows on from yesterday, which if I learnt earlier in life perhaps would have avoided all the misery and expense and misery and cost of ‘uncoupling’ with wife #1. But then, I wouldn’t have wife #2 and I would be sad. Also, keeping this wife happy is relatively easy. In fact, it’s really bloody easy because all I have to do is listen, support, encourage and not tell her what to do when she comes at me with a problem. I just get to sit back and be thought a hero. Unless it’s something like, “I’ve got a flat tyre” or “Why won’t my computer <insert random weirdness here?”. Easy-fucking-peasy.
Bringing cups of tea at the exact right moment also helps.
Not everyone can or should do this but for me, it’s been the best thing ever.
Anyone who positions themselves between what you’re selling and the person wanting to buy then takes a fraction of the action from your end, without adding real value, is an asshole.
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is in my experience. When presented with opportunities like this I simply follow the money and find out who is really going to benefit. Rarely is it I.
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