Can You Help Us Get Unstuck?

It Took 40 Years To Complete a 90-Minute Procedure!

If you enter this conversation during a time when you, or someone you know, needs a little nudging to get unstuck… hopefully, this community will chime in and share tidbits to help.

When it comes to being “stuck” the truth is, many of us, whether in a career, a personal relationship, or some other situation, find ourselves in a place where we have ceased to make progress and could use a little help moving forward.

I reflected on this conundrum recently, after having a tooth repaired which had been broken for over 40 years! The procedure only took 90 minutes and was virtually painless!! Mind you, the technology to fix a tooth has dramatically changed within that timeframe (thank goodness) but the fact remains, I had been stuck for nearly half a century!

As a young man, my mother offered many times to pay to have the tooth fixed…I did nothing. In conversations with other family members, they jokingly called my broken tooth my “trademark.” Although I honestly didn’t like the comment…I did nothing.

As I embarked upon a career as a trainer and public speaker, I regularly found myself in front of audiences numbering in the hundreds, and even thousands of people. Though (oftentimes) I felt self-conscious about my cracked tooth…I did nothing.

Several years ago, I wrote my first book: Keep Your Identity to Yourself- Easy & Affordable Ways to Protect Your Identity. I paid $5,000 to attend a PR event in New York City. Attending, were producers and representatives from popular radio and TV shows like The Oprah Winfrey show, Good Morning America, and many others. For most of the event, I sat next to Kim Kiyosaki, who was promoting her new book, Rich Woman. (Kim is also the wife of Rich Dad, Poor Dad author, Robert Kiyosaki). During our briefings, one of the promoters noticed my broken tooth and advised I get it fixed if I was serious about doing television…I did nothing.

About two years ago, a dentist whom I befriended at church, suggested I make an appointment to see him. He told me he could easily fix the tooth for me, yet…I did nothing.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. Needing an emergency procedure for another tooth, I was told by the dentist, she could fix my broken tooth in one visit…finally…I did something!

Having had my ‘new smile’ for nearly two weeks has caused me to reflect greatly on why it took so long for me to get unstuck in this area. Although I’m still a little self-conscious about smiling broadly (after all, I’ve endured the shame for nearly forty years) I can say, I am so very happy to have my tooth fixed! I have a beautiful smile…and others have noticed.

However, the questions I keep asking myself are: Why did it take me so long? Why did it take an emergency for me to take action? How much better off would I be if I had taken care of this unsightly feature years ago? How many opportunities have I blown simply because of being stuck (in this and other areas of my life)? I won’t dwell on the ‘what if’s’ for long, but it prompts other questions; where else am I stuck? What other simple changes do I need to make to move my life forward? What’s the fastest way to identify when I’m stuck, so as not to repeat the pattern?

Certainly, I’m not alone. Please share your thoughts about getting unstuck and help someone else enjoy the life they were destined to live.