I can say with certainty that desperate moments bring amazing clarity of hindsight. I have a friend that is in the process of likely losing his business. At this trying time, I have been stretched to the core as both a friend and coach as I work to help him see the silver lining in this darkest cloud of his life. I find myself wanting to plant lessons into my friend’s mind, desperately wishing that the mistakes he has made have not been in vain.
I have to admit, there are some times that I just can’t get through to him.
So what is a friend or family member to do? The lessons may or may not be lost on my friend. Only time will tell. But the lessons will not be lost on you. I’m drained, feeling emotional, and I’m searching for my own wisdom in this experience.
Read with me as I sort out my own learnings from this heartbreak—I will be literally defining it as I type:
1. Business is Personal
As business owners, our lives become entwined in our businesses. The business becomes an extension of who we are. This is especially true in the consulting industry, when we are our own brand.
Please do not fool yourself for one moment that any decision you make can be safely tucked away and forgotten. The way you live your personal life can and will affect your business. It might be a little. It might be a lot. But how you live your life personally can make or break your business. Period.
2. Always seek the open door
When one door closes, another always opens. Always.
It may take a huge leap of faith to find the door. It may take you a long time to find the door. You may find a door open that you really wish would have stayed closed. Or you may spend the rest of your life looking at the closed door, wishing forever that you could reopen it.
The point is, it’s not your job to knock on a locked door. It’s your job to take responsibility for the fact that your choices locked the door in the first place. And your job is to find the open one. No matter what.
