Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste

Good morning to you all! I hope this post finds you well. I wanted to publish this today because Tuesday has no feel, (Seinfeld fans will understand this reference), and we certainly are living in unprecedented times right now. The entire globe is currently enduring a crisis at this very moment, but rest assured, we should never let a crisis go to waste.

First and foremost, my T’s (thoughts) and P’s (prayers) are with all of our great veterans, healthcare workers, military and first responders, and all those who have been affected by #COVID-19. This virus has changed our lives, flipped the planet on its head, and spread fear all throughout the world. Still, now is not the time to let this crisis go to waste.

No one knows how long this virus will last. More medical testing is being conducted, and potential vaccines are developing and to be sent to hospitals all throughout the world in the hopes of curing those who have the #coronavirus. The biggest fear of all is the uncertainty. We don’t know how much longer this virus will dominate the news cycle. We’re unaware on how many lives this dreaded #pandemic will ultimately take when it’s all said and done. How much longer will we have to continue #socialdistancing from our friends, coworkers, and families? No one knows for sure. That’s the scary part. The unknown. We are indeed going through a crisis, but don’t let it go to waste.

We all suffer some sort of adversity throughout our lives. Everyone endures one or several crises during this beautiful game called life, but it’s how we respond to the adversity that ultimately determines the type of footprint we leave on this earth once we ride off into the sunset. I for one have gone through quite a bit of adversity during my 29 revolutions around the sun. Some were due to my lack of common sense and stupidity. There were other times where life knocked me to the ground due to circumstances that were out of my control. Still, I was determined to get up off the mat, stare the crisis in the face, and not let it go to waste.

 On the afternoon of August 4th, 2006, I was told by a captain on our high school football team that one of my best friends was in a car accident, and a few teammates were with him. My best friend was life-flighted to a local hospital, and he has never been the same since. We we’re told he had a 1% chance of living at one point. It was a difficult time for all of us, especially me. I was supposed to be in that car with him, and it was a tough pill to swallow. Our local community faced a crisis, but we rallied together, and didn’t let it go to waste.

I put in a lot of work that year as a sophomore to regain my starting job on our offensive line. Our captains made a declaration where the upcoming season would be dedicated to our teammate and friend. Our coaches kept us together and pushed us to limits we never thought were possible. In the meantime, fundraisers were put together and thousands of dollars were raised and donated to my friend and his family during their time of need. Ultimately, our local community rallied together to support their football team, and we went on to win the Pennsylvania District 11 Class “A” championship and finished our record setting season with a 12-2 record. The morning after our championship win, some teammates and I drove to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to visit our friend who kept on fighting for his life. I gave him my gold championship medal, and it was one of the proudest moments of my life. This crisis rallied a small town, and we didn’t let it go to waste.            

Two years later, another crisis stared me in the face, and it nearly took my life. I was about to enter my senior year of high school. It was the morning of Wednesday, August 13th, 2008. Our football team was about to conclude the first practice of the day which started at 8 AM. It was rather a mild 60 degrees that morning. The players on the Blue Devil football team were split by positions and were just about to complete their conditioning stations. The linemen’s last station were monkey rolls. For those who strapped on the pads and stepped on the gridiron know what they are. To those who don’t, go to YouTube and watch a video on monkey rolls after you finish reading this. You’ll enjoy it.

Anyhow, our head coach blew the whistle, and that meant we were to jog towards his direction. Once we were all in a close enough proximity, he instructed us to, “Get on the line!” We had some sprints to run prior to the conclusion of practice.

Fast forward a few hours, I woke up in a hospital. Turns out this was the second hospital I spent time in that day. After practice, I was transported by ambulance from our school to the Pottsville hospital. From there, I was life-flighted to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA. After I woke up dazed and confused, I saw my mom and dad by my side. I had no idea where I was, so I kept asking questions. I was becoming rambunctious at this point. A short while later, a team of doctors arrived in our room to review what had happened. They explained to my parents and I that I was severely dehydrated, which led my muscles to break down, and for me to pass out from heat exhaustion. While that was transpiring, I developed a fever of 105 degrees, and a heart rate of 260 beats per minute. “John never should have made it. He’s lucky he didn’t go into cardiac arrest.” Talk about a close call. 

I spent the next five days in the hospital. It was a tough pill to swallow knowing I couldn’t be out on the gridiron practicing with my teammates to prepare for our upcoming football season. However, I listened to my doctors and nurses when they told me I needed to take this time to relax. This was certainly an untimely crisis, but I didn’t let it go to waste. I took their advice, and used that time to reflect on what transpired, and what was to come in the future. I could’ve laid on the hospital bed and felt sorry for myself and screamed that life wasn’t fair. Hell, I literally almost died. Instead, I remained patient, maintained my enthusiasm, and awaited to be cleared by my family doctor.

I was medically cleared to return to the gridiron a few days before our first game that season. From there, I went on to play the best ten football games of my career, became one of the best football players in the area, and ended up getting recruited to play college football. I didn’t let that crisis go to waste. I used it as an opportunity to get better, and ultimately, it paid off years later.

I said before I endured a crisis due to my lack of common sense and stupidity. In July 2014, I was arrested and charged with a DUI. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Months later, I would eventually lose my job, my driver’s license, and was forced to move back home with my parents. I had no money, no job, thousands of dollars in fines and court fees, and student loans that weren’t going away. This was the type of crisis that could send one off the deep end. Thankfully, I maintained my enthusiasm and didn’t let it go to waste. I picked up odd jobs during the next several months, and any spare change I got my hands on, or that was left over after paying fines and bills, I invested that in knowledge and learning. I ordered dozens of business books and biographies. I felt I’ve hit rock bottom, and the only direction I could go was up. I knew I had to invest in knowledge and self-educate myself to create a better future for me. It wasn’t easy. I could’ve felt sorry for myself and blamed the world and said life wasn’t fair, but I did the opposite. Many months later I received a phone call from my future boss. He gave me an opportunity to work for his firm. I felt I was in a much better spot mentally, but little did I know I had a lot more learning to do as a student. Once I thought I was mentally prepared for the next few years of my life, that’s when the teacher (my boss) appeared. I had a hell of a lot more to learn. Rest assured, I didn’t let that crisis go to waste.

I could write a book (and perhaps I already did) on what I have learned thus far while going through my boss’ apprenticeship. He also helped me embrace a future crisis that dealt with my health. My family has a history of heart disease and diabetes, and in November 2017, I weighed 295 pounds. I was fat, out of shape, and if I didn’t get my health under control, I would indeed suffer from a serious health crisis down the road. He encouraged me to get in shape and helped simplify the process along the way. “Number one: eat less. Number two: move more. Number three: keep breathing.” From November 2017 to September 2018, I went from 295 pounds down to 195 pounds. I would have suffered a health crisis in the near future if I didn’t act accordingly. I didn’t let a future crisis go to waste, and I owe my boss for providing me the push to get started. That experience has helped me prepare for what’s to come.

So here we are. It’s March 31st. We have 31 days (today and the whole month of April) to answer this #COVID-19 crisis that has been brought before us. Many states, cities, and local communities have now forced a #stayathome order. You can’t leave your house unless it is #essential. What you do during these next 31 days will ultimately set you up for the next several years of your life. Are you going to get drunk and binge watch Netflix every day? Are you going to empty your fridge and eat all your food by April 2nd? Are you going to get fat and stop working out, ultimately creating a future health crisis? If you begin to let this crisis get the better of you, you’ll eventually get left behind. 

Do you remember our country’s last financial crisis back in 2008-2009? Millions lost their jobs and retirement nest eggs. It was also during that time period where a few people used that opportunity to create companies that ultimately changed the future. (Uber, Airbnb, Lyft, etc.) What will be the next big thing that comes out of #COVID-19?

I challenge you to stare this crisis in the face, and not let it go to waste. It’s times like these where heroes are made. Be your own hero first. Set goals. Read several books that will help you understand a difficult topic. Develop a workout program where you’ll get in shape while exercising from home. Create an app. Publish a book. Launch your podcast. Find a way to create another income stream. Fellas, now’s your time to freshen up on your cooking skills for your tinder and bumble matches. Ladies, here’s your chance to see which one of us uses proper grammar and actually wants to get to know you better. These next 31 days won’t be easy, but nothing worth having ever comes easy. Now is not the time to be bitter. It’s an opportunity to get better. Let’s all use these 31 days to better ourselves, our family, and our planet. Let’s all do our part to #slowthespread and not let this crisis go to waste. Once this is all over, enjoy a Netflix binge and an ice-cold beer to celebrate. (In moderation)

Remember to #washyourhands and maintain your #socialdistance to do your part in slowing the spread.

Thanks for reading! Drop a comment below to let me know how you plan on not letting this crisis go to waste. I look forward to hearing from you!

See You at the Top,

-       John