Entrepreneurship Personal Growth

Bumps in the road

August 5, 2013

So, what do you when things don’t go as planned and you find yourself in the middle of a tough situation not knowing how it’s all going to work out?

You focus on the positive, learn from the experience, and embrace the journey, right?

While that’s the cliché answer and what you’re supposed to do, it’s a whole lot harder (and scarier) to actually do that when you’re going through something difficult.

Claudia and I are at an interesting place right now. While our music school is going very well overall, the summer didn’t go as planned. Business took an unexpected downturn when we thought it was going to continue to grow like it did last summer.

Result: business profit down 20-30%.

Just before that happened, Claudia quit her part-time job to focus on and launch her book project. We have a marketing plan in place and thought we would start seeing income from this back in June.

Reality: The book hasn’t been printed yet. Claudia is doing an amazing job and is super efficient with the little time she has to devote to this project, however, it turns out there’s a whole lot more to the project than we originally thought.

Claudia with her finished manuscript!

Claudia with her manuscript!

And just to throw in an extra dash of uncertainty, we’re in the process of selling our house via short sale and will need to move in the next one to ??? months. We have to wait till the bank says, “OK, go!”

I’m not telling you all this to vent or plead for sympathy. I hope that it encourages you. You’re not the only one hitting obstacles or scrambling to figure things out as you go.

As cliché as it sounds to “focus on the positive, learn from the experience, and embrace the journey,” this is exactly what we’re learning to do.

You see, I want to become a stronger, better person. I want to become a more effective leader for my family, employees, and friends and colleagues. I want to become an all around more successful person in every sense of what that word means.

Goofing off with our two year old!

Goofing off with our two-year old!

I know it’s going through experiences like this that are going to get me to where I want to be. We can’t grow in a vacuum; we grow by doing and going through things, coming out on the other side a changed person.

Because I know that and because that’s what I choose to focus on, I am grateful for this time of our lives and all the challenges we’re presented with.

No, we don’t know how it’s all going to work out. But we’re not letting that paralyze us or keep us from moving forward. We’re showing up everyday, working hard, and continuing to invest in the other areas of our life besides just business and finances.

In spite of our current challenges, all is well. Life is in the living. This is my life and I’m embracing the now. I’m not falling for the trap of “things will be better when…” Bumps in the road make the victories that much sweeter!

Photo Credits: Jeremy Brooks and Stuck in Customs via Compfight cc

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  • Ann Musico August 5, 2013 at 6:22 am

    Yes they certainly do Michael! I’m hitting a few bumps of my own although not nearly as “bumpy” as what you describe. I know you and Claudia will come out on top and I will certainly lift you up in prayer. If there’s any way I can possibly help – let me know!

    • Michael Good August 5, 2013 at 10:14 am

      Thanks, Ann. I appreciate that! I’m confident we’ll come out on top too. It’s all about adjusting and realigning. 🙂

  • jodyberkey August 5, 2013 at 7:03 am

    I remember the short sale stresses all too well. The frustrating part, at least for us anyway, was that we had so little control over the process and so many little parts had to fall into place for things to go smoothly.

    I know that your typical rule for project completion is x3 what you anticipate the project will take, so I know you guys planned as well as you could for the book project. I agree with Ann, if there’s anything we can do to help, please let us know. Prayers, my friends.

    I was just watching a video of Brendon Burchard’s this weekend. In it, he quoted the following poem. I love it. It really speak to me and our journey right now.

    Faith by Patrick Overton
    When you walk to the edge of all the light you have
    And take that first step into the darkness of the unknown,
    You must believe that one of two things will happen:
    There will be something solid for you to stand upon,
    Or, you will be taught how to fly.

    • Michael Good August 5, 2013 at 5:54 pm

      Jody, thank you. I love that poem! Doing this stuff is always an adventure, isn’t it? I saw you linked that video on Facebook, I’m going to have to check it out!

  • Donna Yates August 5, 2013 at 1:31 pm

    I too would love to help if you need anything. Sorry things are not going as they should. You are both in my prayers also.

    • Michael Good August 5, 2013 at 5:57 pm

      Thanks, Donna! I appreciate that. You know, I don’t know that I’d say things aren’t going as they “should.” They’re not going as I WANT them too, but I think everything has a purpose.

      Thanks for the encouragement and prayers!

  • Andy Traub August 5, 2013 at 2:36 pm

    Thank you for being honest. it’s hard work.

    • Michael Good August 5, 2013 at 5:58 pm

      Thanks, Andy. I appreciate that. Thanks for being an inspiration!