My business partner and I gave the biggest presentation of our professional careers yesterday. We started our company in January and here we were – sitting in a room with the entire marketing team of a Fortune 500 insurance company. We were making our case for why we should be trusted with their advertising and brand marketing budget. Yes, on the heels of my father-in-law passing away (and God knows what other stresses), we had to find a way to be creative and persuasive. Not too much pressure, but if we win this account, we’re taken care of for a few years, probably, if not longer. More importantly, if we win this account, my partner and I, for the very first time in our careers, will be doing exactly what we want to be doing. No. No pressure.
Except, of course, for the extreme pressure.
Throughout the pitch, which is heavily family-focused and even included a picture of K-Man and my father-in-law, I kept thinking about K-Man. I was thinking that I hoped he didn’t have to wait 40 years to “make it.” I suppose that’s a bit of an exaggeration, as I’ve had “dream jobs” before – they just didn’t stay dreamy. At one point or another, they all became nightmares.
The cool thing about this company that we were meeting with is that the marketing team gives instant feedback. And, they don’t pull any punches. If they like something, they’ll tell you. If they hate something, they’ll tell you (with equal fervor and enthusiasm). So, as soon as we were done, we faced the firing squad. All in all, it went well. They loved some stuff, hated some stuff and we all agreed on next steps. Definitely a success.
And then my body quit.
As soon as I walked into my hotel room, the last three months of my life caught up with me. I spiked a fever. I had the chills. I was dizzy. I was nauseous. My stomach was in knots. My back hurt. I collapsed into bed and fell asleep for four hours (missing the client dinner). I woke up to take a few Tylenol and then fell asleep for 12 more hours. I probably could have kept sleeping, too, but my alarm went off. Ugh, I can’t believe I have to travel like this.
The fact is that I feel better this morning, but I’m seriously, seriously reminded of something – I have to take better care of myself. I have this tendency to go at 1,000 miles per hour and then get sick, shut it down for a few days and start it back up again. In living like this, I lose patience faster. I forget about smelling roses. I stopped drinking (for the most part) because I hated the hangovers. Well, I should stop this pattern of personal abuse because I hate being horrifically sick. (Though, I am glad to be sick away from K-Man.)
I don’t want my body to quit. I don’t want it to need to resort to such violent means to get me to slow down and take better care. I’ve always been a reasonably healthy guy. This is certainly not any kind of healthy behavior.
We won the next project, which is great news, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to keep living our dream. But, something has to change or I won’t be able to enjoy the success, as I’ll be lying in bed with a 103-degree fever and the chills.
It’s a complicated life we all live. We’re always “on,” but somehow, we have to find the time to shut it down on our own terms...when we want to. Not always only when we have to.
Except, of course, for the extreme pressure.
Throughout the pitch, which is heavily family-focused and even included a picture of K-Man and my father-in-law, I kept thinking about K-Man. I was thinking that I hoped he didn’t have to wait 40 years to “make it.” I suppose that’s a bit of an exaggeration, as I’ve had “dream jobs” before – they just didn’t stay dreamy. At one point or another, they all became nightmares.
The cool thing about this company that we were meeting with is that the marketing team gives instant feedback. And, they don’t pull any punches. If they like something, they’ll tell you. If they hate something, they’ll tell you (with equal fervor and enthusiasm). So, as soon as we were done, we faced the firing squad. All in all, it went well. They loved some stuff, hated some stuff and we all agreed on next steps. Definitely a success.
And then my body quit.
As soon as I walked into my hotel room, the last three months of my life caught up with me. I spiked a fever. I had the chills. I was dizzy. I was nauseous. My stomach was in knots. My back hurt. I collapsed into bed and fell asleep for four hours (missing the client dinner). I woke up to take a few Tylenol and then fell asleep for 12 more hours. I probably could have kept sleeping, too, but my alarm went off. Ugh, I can’t believe I have to travel like this.
The fact is that I feel better this morning, but I’m seriously, seriously reminded of something – I have to take better care of myself. I have this tendency to go at 1,000 miles per hour and then get sick, shut it down for a few days and start it back up again. In living like this, I lose patience faster. I forget about smelling roses. I stopped drinking (for the most part) because I hated the hangovers. Well, I should stop this pattern of personal abuse because I hate being horrifically sick. (Though, I am glad to be sick away from K-Man.)
I don’t want my body to quit. I don’t want it to need to resort to such violent means to get me to slow down and take better care. I’ve always been a reasonably healthy guy. This is certainly not any kind of healthy behavior.
We won the next project, which is great news, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to keep living our dream. But, something has to change or I won’t be able to enjoy the success, as I’ll be lying in bed with a 103-degree fever and the chills.
It’s a complicated life we all live. We’re always “on,” but somehow, we have to find the time to shut it down on our own terms...when we want to. Not always only when we have to.