A Search for Serendipity

I don’t have a ton of regrets.  I might stress myself out analyzing the hell out of my decisions, but once I’ve made a decision, I typically don’t look back.  Why should I? What’s done is done and you need to feel like you’re moving towards something. Now, all that being said, I do think it’s important to assess your choices and determine if you’d make the same decision knowing what you know now.  A close friend of mine recently reminded me that the definition of insanity is doing something differently but always getting the same outcome.  Not too sure if I got it right, but it sounded cool at the time and if I’ve butchered the ’saying’ I apologize.

Three weeks ago, I chose to become unemployed for the first time in my career.  I know, I know, you hear that and you’re like ‘what the hell are you thinking?’.  I can assure that my thought processes are sane and that my decision was rational…should any of you think I’m a complete nutjob.  So what am I doing?  I’m going to take some time off and do some of the things I’ve always wanted to do, take a few risks I’ve always wanted to take and see if I can actually go to bed without setting an alarm.  I’ve had opportunities like this before, and I’ve blown them both. The first time was after business school when I could have spent 3 months traveling through Africa and Asia (I chose to start a company selling computer mice out
of my apartment in San Francisco instead).  The second time was after selling the aforementioned company when I felt I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to help build a new group at Microsoft…and chose that option rather than taking some time to decompress.

So, for the third time in my life, I have the opportunity to simply live. History tends to repeat itself, and while I might be going about it differently, there is a good chance than I’m not able to relax and will feel the need to jump back into the fray immediately.  And there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.  But I don’t want the same outcome this time around.  And what is that outcome?  That a couple of  months from now (or any period of time), when I’m busting my ass trying to grow a company, lead a team, drive a busness, etc, I’m looking back a tthis brillian period in my life and wondering why I didn’t take some time for myself.

Life is too short.  And while taking this time off might be hard for me to pull off, I can assure you I’ll do my best to make the most of it.

Questions, Comments, Concerns?  Feel free to comment below.

John