I don’t normally like to talk about this because I figured it’s really not all that important in my life today. But I’ve realized it’s my story and it’s part of my “why” – part of why I do what I do and who I am.
So here we go..
I was born with a severe club-foot, not sure what that is?
Basically, my right foot was severely twisted out of position.. like really, really screwed up.
My parents were told by a highly respected orthopedic surgeon that without treatment (months of casting and a pretty major surgery) that I would never walk normally. My parents took the doctors advice; and I went through 9 months of doctors appointments, cast replacements, and all that good stuff.
Then my parents went in for my follow-up appointment after everything was complete. My parents were no experts, but they thought something about my foot still just didn’t seem right.
The surgeon’s laissez-faire attitude made them raise an eyebrow immediately. These were his exact words:
“He’ll never be an outstanding athlete, but who of us are.”
Seriously, bro?!?
My mom looked at my dad, then at the surgeon, and immediately insisted “we would like a second opinion.” (Boss move Mom!)
Long story short, my parents found a surgeon 5 hours away in Atlanta. He took a look at my foot and knew exactly what needed to be done. A couple of years and two surgeries later my foot was completely normal.
I grew up playing just about every sport and ended up excelling in tennis and soccer. I traveled the country playing both sports and ended up with a scholarship to play Division I tennis in college. My senior year I was voted to be a captain and was playing at the top of the line-up.
What if my parents would have accepted the conclusion from the first surgeon? I would have never accomplished any of these things, my life would have been completely different.
Today, at 22 years old, I’m recently graduated and am pursuing the grind of entrepreneurship. I’ve noticed the parallels between my story and my life as a young entrepreneur and wanted to share.
Find and remember your why.
Launching a business or going out on your own is scary. There are a lot of risks you will face. You have to remember your “why.” Why are you doing what you do? My parents just wanted their kid to have a normal life. They wanted me to able to do anything and be anyone I wanted to be without anything holding me back. They knew their why and it got them through the difficulties.
Whatever your reason for starting a business or following your passion just remember your why. It will keep you grounded and motivated to keep pushing towards your goals.
If at first it doesn’t work, try and try again.
What if my parents would have accepted their first answer? It would have been easy to do so. They wouldn’t have to spend any more money, no more long doctors appointments, and they were no MJ or Serena, so it’s all good right?
Thank God they didn’t agree with that logic.
Just like in my situation, in business there is almost never immediate gratification. There is no get rich quick, you won’t always succeed on the first try. But don’t give up. What if Walt Disney gave up after he was fired from the Kansas City Star because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas” or Michael Jordan would have stopped playing ball after he got cut from his high school team?
You will fail. Learn from it and keep pushing!
Don’t accept mediocrity.
This goes hand in hand with number 2. When starting your own business you can’t put out half-ass work, you can’t go in half-cocked, and you can’t accept anything but the best. My parents didn’t accept the fact that I would have an almost normal foot. They wanted the best. You have to want the best and you have to strive to be your best every day in order to succeed.
You will face an emotional struggle.
Don’t think for a second this situation was easy for my parents. I know they struggled emotionally and questioned if all of it was even going to be worth it.
It was.
Being a young entrepreneur isn’t all sunshine and rainbows either. I question myself all the time. Most of my friends all got high paying corporate jobs right after graduation. They got new apartments, new cars, and can go out whenever they want without having to worry about money. But I know it will all be worth it. Sometimes you have have to struggle first in order to live the life you really want to live.
It will all be worth it.
After all the surgeries, doctors appointments, traveling, money spent, it was all worth it for both me and my parents. The lessons learned from sports are countless and the friendships made are priceless. And I have my parents to thank for everything.
I have a long journey of peaks and pitfalls ahead of me in business and in life. I’m learning as I go and reflecting back on my journey constantly.
I encourage you do the same.