I was burnt out. Completely and utterly exhausted. I wanted to quit...
But then my dad said something I will never forget:
But then my dad said something I will never forget:
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast. A lot of people around New York and New Jersey lost their homes and cars, and many lost their lives.
There was massive flooding, there were mandatory evacuations, and most of the city was shut down.
Luckily, I was safe and unharmed.
There was massive flooding, there were mandatory evacuations, and most of the city was shut down.
Luckily, I was safe and unharmed.
My biggest problems were existing in complete darkness for a few days, having to walk up 14 flights of stairs to my apartment because the elevator was out of order, and, if I wanted to make a call, walking about 20 blocks uptown to where my phone could actually get service.
Compared to most, I got off easy, but that didn’t stop my parents from worrying about me.
So, after life got back to normal, they came down for a visit to see how I was doing.
I was working a lot, even during the hurricane, and the grind of it all was getting to me.
So, after life got back to normal, they came down for a visit to see how I was doing.
I was working a lot, even during the hurricane, and the grind of it all was getting to me.
We were in my living room, and I was complaining to my dad about how much it sucked to wake up at 5AM while most of my friends slept until 7AM, and how hard it was being in sales – no salary, no regular paycheck, no benefits...
I’m not sure what I was hoping to achieve by complaining. Maybe I wanted my parents to know how hard I was working, and it’s possible I wanted a bit of sympathy or a good pep talk...
But that is the OPPOSITE of what I got.
But that is the OPPOSITE of what I got.
My dad cut me off and said:
“Stop right there. Do you think I ever WANTED to wake up early and go to work everyday?”
He continued:
“No. I WANTED to sleep in. I WANTED to hang out. But that wasn’t the job.”
“Stop right there. Do you think I ever WANTED to wake up early and go to work everyday?”
He continued:
“No. I WANTED to sleep in. I WANTED to hang out. But that wasn’t the job.”
I froze up... My mind was blown.
It may sound silly, but here’s the thing:
My father is the most disciplined person I know.
As long as I could remember, my father was getting up every morning at 5:50AM.
My father is the most disciplined person I know.
As long as I could remember, my father was getting up every morning at 5:50AM.
He woke up and got out of bed, and without an alarm clock.
Getting up early was basically hardwired into his being.
He would then shower, shave, grab a piece of toast, and start his day. Every day.
Getting up early was basically hardwired into his being.
He would then shower, shave, grab a piece of toast, and start his day. Every day.
And, yes, I was under the impression that this was exactly what he wanted to be doing – working long hours, all the time.
All those years he had been getting up before dawn and hadn’t ever complained about it?
Not even one single time?
I will never forget that moment.
Not even one single time?
I will never forget that moment.
It was like Superman and I were having a drink and he confessed:
“Ryan, here’s the thing. Flying actually makes me feel pretty sick, and it’s exhausting helping people all the time. But, you know, that’s the job!”
“Ryan, here’s the thing. Flying actually makes me feel pretty sick, and it’s exhausting helping people all the time. But, you know, that’s the job!”
What my dad said to me reinforced that everything we do is a choice.
It was my choice to get up early and work hard.
I was complaining about something that I DECIDED to do.
It was my choice to get up early and work hard.
I was complaining about something that I DECIDED to do.
And if I didn’t consciously decide to work hard, a different choice might be made for me.
I wouldn’t sell anything and I’d be broke again.
I wouldn’t sell anything and I’d be broke again.
But, more importantly, why was I making the choice to get up so early and work on weekends?
Because, in the end, I desperately wanted to succeed.
Because, in the end, I desperately wanted to succeed.
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