Business is important, and being good at business is something that takes constant effort. But, and that's a big but, life interrupts business. Over the past two weeks, both my mother and step-father have been in the hospital. My mother came home New Year's Eve. My dad never came home.
Today, I changed hats again and had the surreal experience of speaking at my
step-father's funeral service. In the past decade, I've buried my grandmother, my brother-in-law and now my step-dad. On December 28th, when this all started, all I could see were the three deals I was negotiating, the classes I am preparing to teach, the new out of state office I'm preparing to open and the potential for an amazing year. Then tragedy struck. My dad died and all of those important things didn't seem so important.
Ironically, the three contracts made it over the hurdles that challenge contracts. I do thank God for the technology that our industry has provided for us mobile entrepreneurs. Because of that, I was able to continue business negotiations while traveling between family events.
I know, I probably should have set everything on the shelf during this time, but we all manage grief in our own ways. When you're the primary in two companys, you have to do what you have to do. It was easier for me to speak today because I didn't quit conducting business. I'll have my moments later, but today, I needed to be strong and composed for the family.
I love to see into the future and envision where I want things to go and hope that they surprise me and go further than I could imagine, but sometimes, life interrupts and you have to take a breath, pull back and deal with the things that are important. Nothing is guaranteed. Don't be so busy with business that you can't stop to smell the roses. I fear that I fall into that category far too often.
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