Like Is Like an Accident
Jeff Nischwitz (he/his/him)
CEO, Law Firm Accelerator, Performance Coach, People Whisperer, Snow Globe Shaker ... Lover of bold red wine ?? .. Cuban cigars .. Hearty bourbon ?? .. Broadway theater ??
Today's BED Talk is about life, the plans we make and the reality that happens. I'm often asked this question: How did you go from being a lawyer to doing what you do now? My typical answer is something like this: I'd love to tell you that it was a great plan, brilliantly executed but it's more like a car wreck where the car rolled over several times and somehow landed on its wheels. I was injured and even had some broken bones, but I was alive and the car was still drivable. So I took off in the direction it was pointing and I've been going ever since.
Yes, I've done lots of planning and yes, I've followed my heart and set clear intentions. I've done lots of good and "right" things, but in the end much of where I am in my life today was not part of a plan. I've also make many mistakes, done some bad things and gone down some wrong roads. Most important, however, I've learned to listen well and sometimes life just happens in unexpected and challenging ways.
Perhaps, life is more like an accident and what matters most is what we do after the accident. I'm sure many of you have had similar life experiences and what mattered most is what you did after things went off course (i.e. the accident).
Are you waiting for life to smooth out or are you taking what life's given you and kept on driving? If you're waiting, good luck with that because life is rarely smooth and it's most often uncertain. We're all experiencing that right now with COVID.
Life may be challenging and uncertain but decide what your life experience will be like notwithstanding whatever life throws at you or the ways that life knocks you off the road.
Like the surfer, lean into life, trust and allow yourself to rides the waves. No matter how big the waves, you have what it takes to ride them.