The last roadblock before the exit
It’s not always easy to see, but I have plenty in life to be thankful for. Only I realize that one single person holds you back from better.
I am in a very good mood today. For starters, the cold is quickly going away and I’m breathing through my nose again. That’s always a good feeling when you’re on the road to recovery…it’s like how good you feel when an ice cream headache finally subsides. But that’s not the primary reason. Last night I received an email from the head honcho at work that a campaign I helped work on was featured in Promo Magazine.
Granted that’s not People or Rolling Stone, but that’s definitely not bad for a guy like me and still adds a bullet point to my resume. As I drove to work this morning, I started to think that there is a lot that’s good in my life, even if it’s not always obvious.
For one, my car got completely paid off last month and I got the title. Once I pay off my credit card I will be completely debt free. I have a job that I like (most of the time) and I work around a lot of pretty girls. Granted I can’t bother any of them if I value my job, but I can think of worse environments that’s much harder on the eyes. I also realize that I accomplished my career goals that I dreamed about when I was in college. All before age 30.
But it sure wasn’t such a clear and easy path. There are people out there who will tell you things such as that you’re “not good enough” or that you should be more “realistic.” Sometimes they claim they are “trying to help,” but are really low value people that are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Parasites. And they’re not always your enemies…quite often they’ll be the people you love the most - your own friends and family.
When I was attempting to lose weight, my own mother said that perhaps I shouldn’t push it as “I looked fine” and that it “couldn’t be healthy for me.” After I dropped all the weight and looked like a new man, my Mom admitted that she was very proud of me and that she was surprised she didn’t notice how fat I was before.
When I was struggling at a job barely paying $10 an hour and trying to get out, I sent out resume after resume which all got shot down. My friend told me that perhaps I shouldn’t set my sights so high and that I needed to get a more down-to-earth job. What eventually happaned is that my resume landed in the right hands and I had finally gotten my “big break.” Within two years I was making a bit under double my hiring salary.
These kinds of people who are trying to bring you down to their level are simply roadblocks. They will take the form of street signs that say things like STOP, CAUTION, GO BACK, etc. In that same situation, I never took my foot off the pedal and plowed RIGHT through each one of them and silenced them all. It hurt like a motherfucker, but I finally got to my destination in one piece.
As I arrived at work and pulled into the parking lot, I asked myself the following question. If I could succeed so well at my career, why couldn’t I succeed so well at my love life? But I didn’t have to think about it, I already knew the answer to that.
Granted, I have also come far in that department and made great improvements to myself. Looking better. Eating better. Dressing better. Studying relationship dynamics. Educating myself on women. It’s not always easy to remain optimistic, but I do think I’m at the end of that road. But one roadblock remains, and it’s the worst one of all.
I stare at him every morning in the mirror when I get up.
Nik Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Today I needed to hear that.
I recently quit my good paying job as an Exec at a big box retailer to work at a non-profit. I have received alot of flack from family on this because they see it as irresponsible and risky. I want to help people. When I got my degree I didn’t want to go into retail, but the money was good, so I did it. Fortunately, I worked for a great company with an excellent 401K, but I didn’t feel fulfilled. I think I am doing the right thing.
The Virgin Says:
May 6th, 2008 at 1:01 am
In life you can take the safe route, or you can take the risky one. Nothing wrong with safe, but it’s pretty boring and unfulfilling. Risk taking can indeed lead to disaster and the path is a bitch, but it holds high rewards. Colonel Sanders took a risk with his social security check on chicken franchising plans. Silicon Valley has it’s share of risk takers (Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, etc.)
Unfortunately, I’ve been playing the “safe route” with my love life and I need to start being a risk taker.