“Rome wasn’t built in a day and it sure as hell wasn’t built by only one person”
Flash back to one year ago today… I was cleaning up from hosting a huge community event for my previous employer. I remember thinking how proud of that event I was. We were expecting approximately 200 people to attend and I remember my boss telling me that he was concerned that I didn’t do enough to get the word out to ensure that we would get enough attendance. I knew that I had been dedicated to advertising and promoting this event for months, I had given it all of my effort. The thought that maybe I didn’t do enough completely crushed my energy. I then walked in on the day of the event with the “lets just get this over with” attitude, I was disappointed with myself before the event even began.
So a funny thing happened… 20 minutes into the event, there were so many people there that we ran out of food, the parking lot was full and we were directing traffic onto the side street for parking. When it was all said and done, the attendance of this event was well over 1,000 people. (well over our expected 200)
I remember not even getting an acknowledgement from the man who earlier that week had questioned my dedication and talent for planning a successful event. The next day I received emails and calls from so many people raving about how great the event was and how much they enjoyed themselves. In the mix of those emails was one from my boss, asking me to schedule a follow up meeting so we could discuss how to plan better for next year. I wanted to scream but I remember just sitting in my pretty little office silently sipping my coffee and smiling because at that exact moment I was reminded that some people are beyond pleasing. Some people don’t ever see something as good enough and guess what? That is okay! That has nothing at all to do with you or your performance. It has everything to do with them.
Looking back at that now, I believe that was one of the first steps it took for me to start changing my frame of mind. I always wanted to build an empire, to “Take over the world” (which is something I quote on a daily basis). And a series of events like the one I just shared with you are the things that made me realize that I could indeed build an empire, my own empire. Its then that the thoughts of being my own boss and creating a business that would help people is something that I started to dream of. Its something that I researched and talked about and thought about all of the time, yet I still never made a move.
It wasn’t until I realized that I had a talent for helping businesses ‘put themselves out there’ and be different and fun and show their personality to their customers that I knew I wanted to do this for everyone! I can see how I can help people and I wanted to jump out there and do it! I wanted to make a difference. But I still was being held back for some reason.
I was doing my usual research on day when I ran across a business coach. I read all of her blogs and went through her website numerous times and then I decided to schedule a call. It was free, what would it hurt?
Well on that call I explained how my business started years ago and the direction that I now wanted to take it. and I remember her saying to me “Rome wasn’t built in a day…and it sure as hell wasn’t built by just one person”
WHOA. hold on a second, you mean I can ask someone for help? I can actually let someone help me make my dream into a reality? I literally had to let that sink in for a minute. My whole life I’ve never let anyone in, never allowed people to help me. I stubbornly always did it on my own, I liked it that way honestly. But for the first time in my life I wanted help. I wanted someone with the same spirit as me that I could bounce my ideas off and actually make them into a reality! So I started. I made a move and started.
Moral of the story.. (the reasons are 3 fold)
1. Take every experience and LEARN from it! Don’t let someone else get you down. You are destined for amazing, you just have to go out there and get it!
2. Don’t give up! Your empire will not be erected in one day.
3. Surround yourself with inspiring and motivational people who can give you advice and hold you accountable.
No matter what your goals may be, You can reach them!!! 🙂
Now go out there and kick some ass!
© 2015 Jamie Thurber. @jmeirene. All Rights Reserved