I’m one of the few guys I know that actually do what they set out to study. I have always loved technology and frankly technology’s ability to transform business. I just love it. And I’m good at it. I studied information technology in school, went on and got an MBA in international business and subsequently traveled all over the world doing IT and ultimately owning a company overseas. It’s been an amazing ride …one that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Except one problem. I have been “checking the box” for 30 years. I had built a business, been in consulting, failed miserably in one startup, bought a business, grew it, worked for huge global consulting companies and built systems that help power the world’s energy industry.
I was controlled by ambition and building the most amazing resume I could build. But, I was changing. Older, mellower. Less intent on being right all the time, or winning all the time.
We sold my business a couple of years ago. That business had consumed me, my health, our finances and mostly, I simply didn’t enjoy it anymore. But, I had done what I set out to do, build a strong career, a financial plan that works and a beautiful family. We lost my mom a few years earlier and it impacted my view of life, and how long we really have.
After careful thought and planning, we executed a successful sale of the business to a large corporation. At the end, they turned out to be bozos and managed to pull back almost half of the value of the deal. Aside from being annoyed, I had accomplished my objective. Escape.
Now, this is a longer story for another time. But after 30 years, I was tired and Mary and I wanted to travel. So we did. Alot.
- Ireland
- Germany
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Mexico
- Cuba
- All over the USA
- France
- Spain
- Hawaii
I’ve constructed a new business and it’s still a work in process and always will be. I have constructed this one in a way that it will never consume me the way the old one did – and I can run it from anywhere. The reason I am sharing this is there’s a HUGE lesson here. Do it while you can! Get out there …I will write MUCH more about this.
