What's Worth Doing
September 2007
"If I'd known this was how it would turn out, I'd never have done it."
In one day, two clients and a friend said the same thing. And I've said it more than once myself.
When you stop to think about it, after the fact is a crazy time to declare you weren't really willing to take the risk or make those sacrifices.
We've all been there: that stomach-sinking moment when you realize events are not playing out the way you'd hoped. The promotion, relationship, business success, whatever it you're striving for, isn't happening. The time invested, sacrifices made, believing it's worth it, believing that if you work hard, play by the rules, have faith, do the right things, watch The Secret, bend over backwards (fill in your favorite), you'll reach your goal.
Except it doesn't always happen.
My client Margaret spent fifteen months working her tail off for an unreasonably demanding boss who painted lovely pictures of all he would do for her. Bordering on burnout, with virtually no personal life, she was convinced the big promotion and exciting opportunities would make it all worthwhile. We'll never know if her boss would have delivered. As she was eyeing her future and sacrificing her present, her boss left for another job, taking his promises right out the door with him.
Margaret was stunned. "He never even suggested he might leave."
You never know what the future holds. That's part of the adventure, and avoiding risk won't keep you safe from hurt or disappointment. But before you trade off today for tomorrow, consider all the outcomes and be sure you're willing to say, "Whether it works out as hoped or not, this is worth doing."
And that will help you live your day the way you want to live your life.
"The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination."
~ Don Williams, Jr., American novelist and poet
© Copyright 2006 Sherry Essig, All rights reserved. You are welcome to use this article for reprinting in any ezine, website, or print journal as long as it appears in full and you give full attribution including the website: www.PriorityVenturesGroup.com
