We Can Fail; We Just Can’t Suck

January was a tough month for business.  For starters, profit was low, and sales were slow.  I also designed a fantastic room addition that got rejected. I prepared extensively for an early morning meeting and got stood up.  I lost a multiple offer negotiation.  It’s a tough tone to set for the year; those are just the highlights.  By all accounts, it feels like I failed.  That affects my mood too.  So, what do I do?  Like all of us, I suck it up.  Try harder and re-commit.  Let’s Go!

If that were all it took, February would be better. Unfortunately, no indicators are suggesting that February will be better.  Woof!  So, depressing.

How do I overcome the darkness?  What prevents me from moping around the office complaining about the market and blaming Jerome Powell for ruining my plans?  One simple reminder.  We can fail; we just can’t suck.

Go back to January with me.  It was the worst production month in more than five years.  I failed to reach many goals, but I didn’t suck.  I communicated more, loved my clients, followed up more closely, met deadlines, monitored my goals, and controlled my spending.  Personally, I went to bed on time and woke up early.  I adopted a meaningful morning routine, eliminated alcohol, and read good books. Heck, I even learned how to tile a backsplash.  Best of all, I enjoyed my wife, my children, and dinner with good friends.  Together, we planned a vacation and dreamt of hot summer nights.  That didn’t suck.

I enter February with a whole heart, nervously.  The cold weather, the darkness, and the market will persist.  I cannot guarantee financial success.  I may fail, and you may too.  That’s ok. We just can’t suck.