Parting thoughts...

Something that has stuck with me since I graduated high school, 14 years ago, was the speech my favorite teacher, Dr. Neralich gave at graduation. He described the school as an inn and he was the inn keeper. Each of his students had come to stay but a brief time at his inn. We each learned a little bit from each other and took that with us as we went on our ways. What we took with us was up to us, but we were all better because of our time together. He had a profound impact on my life, and I am very fortunate to have had him as a teacher. I didn’t go into a similar field of study as he, but I truly feel like he has been a mentor for me, even if he doesn’t always realize it.

I feel like the business world, especially for a person that wants to keep moving up is similar. There are multiple inns along the way that we can stop at, learn, rest, and then head out again on our journey. It is important that we always learn from those times, whether they be good or bad, there is always a lesson to be learned that can and will help you along the path.

If I were to be so lucky as to be considered a mentor by another, I think I would push them to always remember why you are doing what you are doing, who you are doing it for, and remember what it is that you are looking to achieve. The first, remembering why you are doing what you are doing, help you keep focused. Find something you are passionate about, and that you won’t lose that passion for when you are forced to do it day in and day out. If the pressure will make you lose the passion, don’t do it.

Who are you doing it for? If the answer is your family, make time for them. Yes, business might be hurt sometimes when family comes first, but if you don’t take care of the personal side, and rewards you might get will be in vain. The destination isn’t so grand if you look around and suddenly you realize you are there all by yourself.

Always keep your end goal in mind, but don’t be afraid to move around on the path a little bit. If you have your vision so narrowed, you might miss out on some really great opportunities that come along. It’s like a game of chutes and ladders, you might miss the ladder that will move you ahead quickly and instead slip and fall backwards down the slide.

Finally, the most important thing is have fun and remember who you are.