You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about fear lately. Not the kind that keeps you safe, but the kind that holds you back. The kind that makes you hesitate when opportunity’s right in front of you. And I want to share something with you about that.
I was standing on this burnt red rock in Sedona, Arizona. The air was crisp, and you could see for miles – these incredible rock formations stretching out into the distance. But right in front of me was this gap. One jump. Sounds simple, right? Except one wrong step and, well, let’s just say it was a long way down. My knees were shaking, but I had this guide on one side, my mom behind me, both saying the same thing – that my mind was my own worst enemy, that the view on the other side would be more than I could imagine.
You want to know something? They were right. Once I made that leap, once I pushed past that fear, there was this incredible sense of relief and pride. And here’s the interesting thing – going back across? Still a bit nervous, but nothing like that first time. Because now I knew I could do it.
That’s life, isn’t it? We all have these gaps we need to cross. These moments where we have to decide: are we going to let fear win, or are we going to take that leap?
I learned this lesson again in business, but in a different way. For years, I ran a garbage company. You know those quiet moments before dawn, when the world’s still asleep? That was my time. Getting work done before the phones started ringing and the office came alive. Sometimes late evenings too, and those Saturday catch-up sessions. I loved every minute of it.
You want to know what real joy looks like? It’s driving around the eastern side of the state, seeing our dumpsters everywhere. Each one felt like a little piece of home, a reminder of what we’d built. We had customers who became friends, who stuck with us not just for the length of a contract, but for the life of their business. Like this Chick-fil-A owner who used to give us gift cards to hand out to our drivers because he appreciated what we did. Those connections, those relationships – that was the real gold.
Let me tell you about resilience, though. One day, we got a call about a “hot load” – and I mean that literally. One of our customer’s dumpsters had some horse manure that somehow caught fire in the truck. Our driver had to dump that load right there, right then, or risk losing the whole truck. Talk about a mess! But you know what? Sometimes life’s like that. Sometimes you’ve got to make quick decisions, deal with the mess, and figure it out as you go. It’s not about avoiding the mess – it’s about how you handle it when it happens.
Thing is, we sold the company a while back. And let me tell you something strange – I still get this empty feeling sometimes when I’m out and about, seeing those trucks and dumpsters. Because here’s what I’ve learned, and maybe this will resonate with you: the joy isn’t in the destination. It’s not in the sale, or the achievement, or even making it across that gap in Sedona. The joy is in the journey – those early mornings, those relationships you build, even those moments when everything’s on fire and you’ve got to figure it out.
Think about it – when was the last time you let fear stop you from taking a leap? When was the last time you focused so much on the destination that you forgot to enjoy the journey?
Because here’s the truth – we’re all facing our own gaps to cross. We’re all dealing with our own hot loads, so to speak. The question isn’t whether challenges will come – they will. The question is: how will you show up for them?
I found joy in the sense of accomplishment – in helping people, both customers and employees, in seeing what we built with hard work and determination. But you know what? That joy wasn’t waiting at the finish line. It was there all along, in every early morning, every problem solved, every relationship built.
So here’s what I want you to think about today: What’s your gap to cross? What leap are you afraid to take? Because maybe, just maybe, there’s something amazing waiting on the other side of that fear. And maybe the journey there is where the real magic happens.
Thank you for being here with me today. For sharing this space, this moment. Remember, whatever challenge you’re facing, whatever leap you’re considering – you’re not alone in this. We’re all figuring it out as we go. Until next time, keep taking those leaps – and don’t forget to enjoy the view along the way.
