Don't forget the JOURNEY!

“Too often we are so preoccupied with the destination, we forget the journey.” ~Unknown

Over the last few weeks I have had the incredible opportunity to travel to Houston, Texas, Anaheim, California and New Orleans, Louisiana. The purpose of these trips was to promote a business I founded with some friends. While I was there I had an incredible realization and I thought I would share.

We have been working for about a year and half, on this project and it has been a long road with good times and bad. It has been a difficult process filled with many detours and speed bumps and it has been draining and frustrating to say the least. Of course we are trying to achieve success and with a lot on the line its hard to think about anything else.

Being so caught up with the end goal, I have lost site of what is most important. The truth is that I have been traveling to really cool places, working with a great team, meeting amazing people, and experiencing things I will remember for the rest of my life. I am so lucky to get to go to these places, places that most people will never even get to think about. I have been so focused on trying to make this a success that I forgot to appreciate the best part; that is the journey!

All to often, we get so caught up in the end result or the destination that we forget about the experiences that make the journey. This journey is the best part of it all. This journey is what makes the destination special, it's what makes it worthwhile. When I sit down and think about it, it's the challenge that keeps me interested and makes me desire the end result. But without that challenge there would be no glory. Of course, it seems nice to start a business and the next day it be a success. Would it really be that great? Or would I just forget about it and move on to the next project? Would I really appreciate that success or would it not even be success because it was not difficult to attain?

What I have failed to realize is that the experience has been so awesome. It has been a learning experience to remember forever. I have traveled around the US promoting a product that I am passionate about, that I believe in with everything I have. I have developed friendships with my partners that probably would have never come without this journey and these are friendships I will have for the rest of my life. I have spent late nights in a hotel room, practicing presentations, strategizing on our next move. I have had conversations and met successful people and will continue to develop these relationships over time. Some of these relationships will become valuable business relationships others will turn out to be lifelong relationships. I have been ever so fortunate for these experiences and have many more great ones ahead. Isn't this what life is all about? I will, from now on, enjoy the ride and appreciate the journey!

Keepin' it real!
-EC