Streak Ends – And That’s Okay

On Episode 283 of “Now Hear This Entertainment” bass player Eva Gardner talked about playing in a sold-out Wembley Stadium during P!NK’s recent tour.  What might that have been, 50 thousand people?  On the latest episode, Eileen Carey relayed stories of opening for the Grass Roots, Don McLean, and Wilson Phillips, and crowds of, say, five hundred.  Probably every performer has a story of having to perform in front of – ugh – five people.  Standing on stage and looking at the audience, these are all different perspectives, for sure.

Some blog writers get five thousand reads on their entries.  Others get 500.  Some only attract 50.

In each of the above, though, it just takes that one person, right?  Someone in the crowd, someone who reads your blog, someone who can really change things for you.

Three weeks ago, I wrote a blog entitled, “It’s Okay to Say No,” telling readers that as much as you’re always told to not pass up any opportunity, it is an option to actually pass.

I’ve always prided myself on being a hard worker.  A very hard worker.  I’m one of those poster boys for the entrepreneur who works too many hours because I’m in business for myself and am tremendously devoted to my work.

So, imagine the uncomfortable position I decided to accept this past weekend when I had to stop working at 4:15 last Thursday afternoon to go approximately 90 minutes south to make my Cursillo.  No cellphones allowed, no laptops, no tablets, and you can’t even wear a watch.  This would mean that for 72 hours, Bruce, you will do nothing business-related.  (And no, I didn’t have an ulterior motive, relative to my "Catholic Sports Radio" podcast.)

Imagine my uneasiness when I realized that the streak would finally end of putting up a post every single day on the “Now Hear This Entertainment” Instagram account for I couldn’t even tell you how many days (months) in a row.  (I know, “Why didn’t you plan for it and have someone do it for you?”  That’s beside the point.)

But then again, one of the compliments I’ve gotten in running Now Hear This, Inc. is that I put my clients in uncomfortable positions (in a good way).  So, in a sense, shouldn’t I practice what I preach?  (No pun intended, what with Cursillo being a faith-based initiative.)

It was okay to say No.  By taking that time for my spiritual life I was saying No to working for 72 consecutive hours.

And guess what?  Now it’s Monday and not only did the sun come up, but, neither the world nor my business ended.

I was able to get a change in my perspective.  You have permission to do the same.

When have you had your perspective changed?  When did you put yourself in the uncomfortable position of taking time away from how you make your living?  Talk about this blog in our Facebook group.