Do It Live: When Crisis Becomes Opportunity

Have you ever had one of those moments where everything you carefully planned starts falling apart? I mean literally falling apart—like watching your car billow with smoke at 6 AM on the way to your year's most important pitch meeting.

The Smoke Signal

There I was at QT, an hour and a half early for my presentation to secure $50,000 for VendorCall—our platform connecting property managers with trusted vendors for on-demand services. The pitch was rehearsed, the outfit was pressed, and the schedule was perfect.

Then came the smoke, followed by a loud boom.

A cheerful automated voice from my insurance company informed me:

• 104 minutes for a tow truck
• 45 minutes to get home
• 90 minutes to drive back through Atlanta traffic

The math was clear: I wasn’t making that meeting.

Later, I found out the culprit—a squirrel had made a cozy home in my BMW’s radiator fan. It’s a detail I can laugh about now, but in the moment, it felt like my world was collapsing. And that’s when the phrase hit me: “Screw it, we’ll do it live!”

The Rally Cry: ‘Screw It, We’ll Do It Live’

This wasn’t my first time dealing with chaos. Growing up as one of twelve children in poverty, serving in Iraq, and transitioning from the military to civilian life taught me resilience.

But that morning at QT, I remembered the now-infamous moment when TV host Bill O’Reilly, frustrated with a malfunctioning teleprompter, screamed “Screw it, we’ll do it live!” It was his raw frustration, but also a defiant commitment to keep going.

It’s a phrase I’ve come to embrace over the years. To me, it means trusting in your preparation, summoning the courage to act, and adapting in the moment—even when the plan goes up in smoke (or squirrel fur).

Turning Crisis Into Opportunity

That morning, I could’ve called it quits. But instead, I leaned into the “do it live” mindset:

• Grabbed my materials from the trunk.
• Called a Lyft.
• Made efficient supply drops between rides.
• Arrived at the Russell Innovation Center 45 minutes early.

And here’s the kicker: I walked out of that meeting with the $50,000 investment we needed to grow VendorCall’s technical development and marketing.

What the ‘Do It Live’ Mindset Can Teach Us

Life often derails even the best-laid plans. When that happens, the “do it live” mindset can be your greatest asset:

1. Trust Your Preparation: You’ve done the work—whether it’s training, rehearsing, or building experience. Trust in your ability to adapt in the moment.
2. Act Decisively: Sometimes, you just need to move forward, even if the plan isn’t perfect. Action builds momentum.
3. Reframe Setbacks: Challenges aren’t failures—they’re opportunities to prove your resilience.

Screw It: Your Turn to Do It Live

This story isn’t just about a car breakdown or a business pitch. It’s about those moments that test your resolve:

• Transitioning from military to civilian life.
• Leaving a secure job to start your business.
• Tackling a daunting new skill or challenge.

In those moments, remind yourself: You’ve overcome before, and you’ll overcome again.

Because sometimes, the best outcomes happen when you throw caution to the wind and say: “Screw it, we’ll do it live!”

Join the Conversation

What’s your “Do It Live” moment? Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’ve pushed through challenges.

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Let’s build a community of resilience, action, and growth. Because sometimes, the teleprompter fails—and that’s when we shine.