In 2022, after ten intense years of work, I left my first business start-up. I was exhausted. All my spiritual and intellectual energy had gone into that business. We opened seven locations in three markets. 25,000 square feet minimum per location. Hundreds of employees. Developing the operations of a business while simultaneously expanding. Managing through the closing and reopening of the facilities during COVID. Constant work without a break.
And then the work was gone, and I was gone. Out of the business. Left trying to figure out what my next endeavor might be. I spent some time working with lawyers to recoup some of the value I created. But, more of my time was spent parsing my motivations and analyzing new retail opportunities. Meanwhile, interest rates rose and demand fell. The economy took a frightening turn. What was I to do?
After languishing at home for a while, I went on a two-month road trip around the United States. From Chicago south to rural Tennessee, then west to Phoenix. Then, north to Wyoming and from Wyoming back to Chicago. Every day, I hiked at least three hours. Even in the rain or the blazing heat, I camped outside. I contemplated my past and my decisions. And I thought about my future.
I always loved spotting birds on my hikes: Crows, Pileated Woodpeckers, Roadrunners, Ruby Throated Hummingbirds, so many captivating avian creatures! When I was walking through deep woods full of lush green trees the birds could be nearly impossible to see. But in more desolate areas, like those scorched by wildfires, the birds were easy to spot and observe. Paradoxically, bird watching was easier in burned-out forests than in the lush green ones.
As I hiked, I thought about how despite exiting my business during a tough economy, I see so much opportunity. I’m in the desolate burned-out woods, and that’s made it easier to see and simpler to decide. In green forests the trees block our view of the birds. Similarly, when business is booming, it is harder to see past what’s right in front of us. There is so much to do and react to. So many emails to answer. So many calls to make. Angry staff. Happy customers! All of it.
Our vision can also be blocked by our response to that abundance–to success itself. As success builds it becomes easier to feel proud and entitled. We’ve got it. We are a leader. We have customers. We’re in the money. And, now that we have it, we aren’t letting it go, ever.
Clenching tightly to old victories, though, can mean sacrificing future ones. As we guide our career, if we insist on going in a single direction, we blind ourselves to the best opportunities. Drive and ego can be essential to success. But they must be balanced by humility, because how things turn out isn’t entirely up to us. Recognize that there is risk in every endeavor. Notice the good fortune that comes with any success. Understand that if twins with the same intelligence, education, and ability worked the identical endeavor, one could succeed and one fail.
The beginning and end of the trail
Be thankful when the economy is good and making money is easy. Also, be thankful when the economy is bad, and opportunity is easy to see. A bullish economy can make you stronger–but so can a bearish one—if you can shift your mindset. If things aren’t going quite as well right now as you hoped or expected, don’t just stand there with your hands clenched. Ask yourself what’s next. Let go of success. You never owned it anyway. In letting go, you will invite new opportunities to be successful.