Focus Pokus

Well, a couple days ago I decided that I was going to have to drop the Mortgage Broker biz. Guess what? I’m not dropping it. Yea, did you really think I was going to leave half a mil/yr on the table? Well, I did. So I wouldn’t blame you if you did too.

I’ve got a buddy that I’ve talked biz with for years now. And we tentatively worked out a great deal that fulfills some of his major life goals and fits beautifully into my plans too. So I really think it’s going to work. I’m excited about it.

Also, I’ve all but inked another deal with a new client. This first project is a new web app. If it is successful it will lead to further upgrade projects in the future. It’ll probably be a 2 week project that’ll earn me about a month and a half of Rubbermaid pay. Plus the client is a good friend and will be great to work with!

Keep it comin’ baby! The biz just keeps clickin’ along! Somebody once said, “If you want to go, let go.” That’s been very true in my experience. You never know what opportunities you’ll be able to grasp if you have a wide open schedule, few committements and the right attitude. The world will be yours for the taking. And you will take. And your life will never be the same. Every day will be new. Every day you’ll feel free. If you need to work hard it’s only because you’ve got clients. Contratulations! If you don’t need to work at all, it’s because you’ve got freedom. Contratulations! If you take on a new opportunity it’s because you have the confidence that you’ll be able to handle it. If you take on new risk, it’s because you have the guts to do what most people wouldn’t consider. If you try something and fail guess what? You learned something that risk-averse people will never learn. You’re more bold now. You know that failing won’t kill you. And that you can get back up. Risk-averse people think that they’ll never be able to recover. And, in truth, they probably wouldn’t ever let themselves. But you’ll get back in the game again.

You’ve got to love the game. I remember my soccer days. I just loved wiping out in the mud. Getting kicked in the shins. The messier the better. The more sore I was the next day the more I loved the game. I’m afraid that my obsession with business is turning out just the same way. I want to have the whole range of business experiences thrown at me. I’ll get knocked down, knocked out, set back. But I’m just like a ping pong ball in a pool. I’ll just keep popping back up ready for more.

I remember when I first told my parents that I was quitting Rubbermaid. They didn’t try to stop me. But my mom’s reaction was basically, “I’m glad you’re getting it out of your system now before you’re married.” I think she half thought that I was just throwing out a crazy idea to see what reaction it would get.  But when I sat down at the kitchen table with my laptop and started excitedly typing out my resignation letter she said, “Well, I guess you’re serious, huh?” Yep. I sure was. In fact I couldn’t wait to put in my “2 weeks notice.” I felt like a kid before Christmas. I just couldn’t wait for the day that I walked out of that company with nothing to hold onto but my hopes and plans.

When my boss came into my cubicle at the end of the workday (3 days before the actual 2 weeks was up) and announced that he would escort me out of the building because it was my last day I wanted to jump out of my seat and shout for joy! We walked out of the building and over to my Xterra. He wished me the best and said that he knew I would do well. I jumped into the X and drove away. For the first time in my working life I was without a job and didn’t have another one lined up either. That was July 14 2006.

My 4 month aniversary is in 4 days. I’ll be on a jet plane flying at 35,000ft headed toward Washington, DC to visit my good buddy R for several days. Then I’ll come back home and relax for a few days before leaving again to spend a couple weeks with my family in Myrtle Beach. Basically 3 solid weeks of vacation.

So, do I miss the corporate world?