A Lesson from my Daughter

Longtime readers of Monday Morning Thoughts know that I run a small automotive restoration business outside of my main focus, leading a sales organization at LinkedIn and yesterday, was a bad day for Haner Haus Vintage Works ? After spending ~4 hours installing a new windshield in a client’s 1956 Chevrolet Truck, I cracked the glass right as we were about to finish the job. If anyone has ever tried to install one of these windshields, you know how tedious, slow, and frustrating the process can be. Then to make a simple mistake and crack the glass – I was not happy.??

??

Wrapping up my day, I came home a bit early after cleaning up the shop, and decided to engage in some more DIY fun, this time, it with our oldest daughter Eliot. She wanted to make a cardboard doll house to replicate one she had watched being constructed on YouTube Kids. So, I went to the cardboard recycling bin, to start cutting out pieces on the orders of my new boss.??

??

About midway through, she was watching the creator build an immaculate shower with foam, wallpaper, a makeshift shower-head, and all. Her glance told the whole story, she wanted me to help her do just that. Still defeated from my windshield failure a few hours earlier, I said “Daddy isn’t that good at all this stuff sweetie, we can’t do all that.” Without hesitation she replied, “why not? If they can do it, why can’t we?” Caught off-guard, I paused for a moment, thought, and then said, “you’re absolutely right – let’s give it a try!”?

??

In that moment, that 7-year-old girl reminded me of a valuable lesson – we can’t succeed if we don’t try. Too many times in life and business, we become our biggest obstacle to success. We limit ourselves with our mindset, often for very understandable reasons, but nonetheless, we limit ourselves. We tell ourselves, “I don’t have the time”, “I don’t have the energy”, “I’m not good enough” and on and on it goes.??

??

But here’s the deal – we all have time for what we decide to be available for. We all have energy for the things we are committed and passionate about. And we’re all able to get better and develop at the things we wish to focus on and get better at.??

??

So, when we catch ourselves thinking that web of excuses and unhelpful thoughts, we need to remember the wise words of Eliot – “why can’t we?” The confidence to get started and try is one of the biggest challenges we may face.??

???

?“The biggest wall you have to climb is the one you build in your mind: Never let your mind talk you out of your dreams, trick you into giving up. Never let your mind become the greatest obstacle to success. To get your mind on the right track, the rest will follow.”? ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart?

?