Blog Family,
The life of an entrepreneur is not always glamorous and desirable. Let me be the first to tell you, if you never heard that before.
Yesterday, was an unbelievably cold day in Chicago, IL. I know that surprises you, right? The temperature was four degrees. I had a 10 o’clock appraisal appointment that was an hour and an half from my home. I left out at 9am. A little after my two children went to school.
It was a relaxing ride. Rush hour had past, so I-294 was wide open…except for the construction that is going on. I am riding a long for about an hour and 15 minutes when I began thinking that I have passed the street. Tried to call the homeowner, but no answer. So I exited the freeway to figure out where I was.
Thinking ahead, I brought my map book of the Chicago six county area. Whipped my book out and the home owner called me. Verified that I got off a few miles to soon and I got back on the road. This time I knew where I was headed.
Changing the music, started vibing to something I liked, when BLAOW!
I ran into a humongous POT HOLE! Seriously, I am surprised the car didn’t fall into the center of the earth. This was ridiculous. I thought I was in an accident. Incredible.
After feeling for my teeth to see if everything was still in place. I noticed the care was running a little funny. Then all of a sudden, it was fine again. Bewildered, I continued down the highway in search of my appraisal inspection. Then the car started to drift to the left. I had to pull right just to get the car to go straight. Pulled over to the side of the road. Flat tire…BOOOO!!!
Staying Positive
Ok. I stayed positive and looked at this as an opportunity to see how quickly I could change my tire. Challenges work very well for me as for motivation. I think that is why I was a decent athlete. I just couldn’t stand to lose, so I was willing to do what it took to win. Anyway.
I popped around the car to the trunk to get my tools, jack, and tire. But before I could get everything out, a large semi-truck passed along side of me on the freeway. Quickly, I realized that the side of the free way changing a tire is not a good place to be since there would be maybe four feet of road between me and 1000s of pounds of metal motoring pass me at 70 miles an hour.
I wasn’t far from a ramp where car could enter the freeway, so I drove on the flat to that location and got as far over to the side as I could. It was a good spot and really worked out for me. It was only about 1/4 of a mile down the highway.
James from Toll Way Assistance pulled up as I was getting my tire out of the trunk and gave me a hand. Basically, that amounted to an hidralic jack. Wow! What a difference that makes when changing a tire. It was basically nothing. Might have taken 15 minutes total. Maybe not even that long, but I am including the conversation. James was a good guy and says he sees waaaayy too many flat tires everyday as a result of all the Pot Holes on the freeway.
My rim was bent badly, so I just threw it all in the back of his truck to dump. I must just get a new one. Life goes on and I made it to my appointment. Naturally, during the ride to the side of the ramp I called the homeowner and informed them of my misfortune and to give me an additon 30 minutes to get there. Good business is keeping in touch. I made it there at about 11am, which was good. I got it done.
Pot Holes for a reason
Have you ever considered that we may have Pot Holes in our life for a reason? Serious question. Maybe we have set backs, obstacles, disappointments for a reason. Maybe there is a lesson or intervention there. You never know. How many times have people been able to turn set back into accomplishment? Disappointment into victory? It happens more than you think, even on a smaller scale. Maybe there is just some lesson for you to gain during that experience.
I think for me the lesson was to just keep it moving. Keep going towards your goals and dreams. Keep getting your task list done. Keep on planning, working, acting, learning, doing, reading, growing. Just keep it moving. The things that happen are suppose to happen and it is your job to just keep it moving.
Surrender to the Pot Hole
You may as well surrender to the realization that there are always going to be Pot Holes in your life. Remember what James said, there are waaayyy to many flat tireds caused by these Pot Holes. They are going to be in your life. You just have to rise above them and keep it moving.
Coming back from the appraisal inspection, I was feeling good and ready to go to my next one. There was a traffic jam. Staying positive, I didn’t trip out at all. Can’t stand traffic jams or traffic, but I was good. Had some good music on and it was all good.
When I finally got to the front, turns out there was a traffic accident. Not sure exactly what happened, but it didn’t look good. Remember, it was 4 degrees in Chicago, with snow on the ground. It didn’t look good.
Whenever we are faced with mortality driven situations, it causes us to speculate, wonder. You know? Your mind races from thing to thing. Well, I started thinking out precious and special our lives really are. And it is so fragel. We are but a split second away.
Naturally, I couldn’t help but think that could have been me. It could have been anyone. Be careful on the roads. But it made me realize that maybe that Pot Hole was more than just happenstance, maybe I was suppose to get a lesson and avoid an accident. 30 minutes was the window created by the Pot Hole.
Whoa. That is interesting, but point remains…things are going to happen in your life that you may not or get frustrated with, but look for the lesson or opportunity and keep it moving.
For years, when I got caught in traffic, or couldn’t leave the house in time for an appointment, I often considered that maybe I was being protected from an accident or worse. I still think that today.
It can be really difficult to be thankful when you hit a bump in the road (literal or figurative), but I really think in that way lies peace of mind.
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@ WordVixen – Yeah, you are right. It is going to be difficult to think of these things as a blessing. Yet, I believe the Universe is perfect and everything happens for a reason, so with that perspective maybe it really is a blessing.
Think about it. The bad things, good things, and everything in between in your past has lead to making you the person you are today. Were all those things blessings? Maybe, but try to have a positive outlook despite whatever you are going through.
Remember, we are not our circumstances, but something greater!
I freakin’ LOVE pot holes! Bring ‘em on!!!
Pot holes build character man, plus even if it’s a bit frustrating while you’re driving over them, you’re going to feel more confident hitting the next one after realizing that surviving he first one wasn’t so bad after all.
Plus, you’ll be rollin’ on a shiny new rim.
I hope I slip on a banana or somethin’ so I can bust out a personal story like this on my blog.
Cheers!
Sweet Jizzy
SuiteJs last blog post..Day 11: Are You Still On Track?
I like to tell myself that. "Yeah I hit the speedbump but it's allright, it builds my character!". But in reality I'd rather avoid them at all cost.
LOL! I try to stay positive. Don't think for one second that I wouldn't have liked to have seen that one coming and got out the way.
We have to be ready at all times.
Appreciate you dropping by the site.
@ Suite J – You are a nut, Man! Slip on a banana peel! LOL! And yes, I am rolling on a shiny new rim.
You are the eternal optimist, but in this life it is necessary. Keep that attitude and career aiming for the starts BIG HEAD!!
I managed to get a flat myself the other week. It did make me late for something – but I didn’t let it bother me. Why stress about things that you cant do anything about?
Tom – StandOutBlogger.coms last blog post..Entrepreneur Blogs: 10 You NEED To Be Following In 2009!
I’m glad you survived! I don’t know why, but many of the best things that happened to me in my life happened as direct or almost direct results of catastrophe. I remember when the worst thing happened to me that had ever happened to me before or since. At the time I stood there wondering, what is the point of this? What good is this doing?
Half a year later I found out, and the irony was that the best thing in my life would never have happened if the worst hadn’t happened. I simply would not have wound up being in the right place at the right time, that’s all.
I don’t really believe in divine intervention. I believe that we are all in control and causative over our lives as well as the lives of those around us and the state of the rest of the world. I do find truth in “God helps those who help themselves.” But somehow I have just managed to turn the worst misfortune into great opportunities and excellent outcomes, over and over.
What I really think is that it starts with deciding. You decide, “something good is going to come of this.” “Something will result from this which is more than worth the trouble.”
@ Tom – That is the total truth. No reason to get all bent out of shape over things that are not in your control. Keep it moving!
@ Anna – Wow! Thanks for sharing that awesome comment. You seem to have an OUTSTANDING skill of turning disaster into triumph. If that is not one of the worlds most successful traits, I don’t know what is.
I think you are onto something with the “God helps those that help themselves” and the fact that things turn around for one when they DECIDE this is going to be positive.
Around here at FreddieTaylor.com, we call that FIRST IN THE MIND, THEN IN REALITY!
Stay positive! Stay hungry! Stay in action!
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Thanks Freddie! You are very smart and you always make my day.
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Keep it moving!
Definitely some good words to work by. At my “office” I have a whiteboard with slogan ” Get it Done! Get it Out There!” – I think it has same meaning as “Keep it Moving” basically just keep on going, pot-holes will come and go but we’ll keep on moving forward.
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@ Wynter – Yes! I would say they are the same. Call it what we must, but we must keep it moving and make it happen!
surrender to the potholes indeed! life is full of ‘em and you have to learn to stop for a second, and ask — why did this bad thing happen? i always get stuck behind a slow driver, just when i need to rush the most not to be late somewhere, for instance. i try to stop and say, what am i doing? i’m being reminded to be patient right now.
Portland Roofers last blog post..Understanding Rain Gutters in Portland, OR
Indeed, Portland Roofer.
Thanks for joining the discussion.
We need potholes. If our lives were all nice and smooth, we couldn't handle any serious problems when they came. Or stress for that matter.
Generally a pothole keeps you awake and aware, you pay more attention to the road and avoid further potholes that lie before you. Both while driving and in life.
Wow! that's really amazing. Thanks for sharing
potholes is something to look forward to. There's no such thing as perfect life. Life is journey and in every journey you will encounter different kinds of barriers and on of it is potholes. But that's life, it's either you win or you learn. Smooth journey in your life until the end of the road doesn't exist, you will still encounter potholes, it just a matter of how are you going to deal with it, it's either you avoid it or fill those potholes. It's a choice.
With 20/20 hindsight, I can honestly say that the potholes in my life always led to another opportunity to grow or opened another door for me. Thanks for a motivational article that puts life into proper perspective.