If You Don't Take Care Of Yourself, Who Will? by David Ledoux
I was miserable.
My neck was killing me. It was so stiff that I could only sleep on my stomach
at night with my head turned to the left. I could lie no other way comfortably.
I thought I might have a torn rotator cuff.
How did I get this way? A four-letter word : WORK
It was winter 2001. I had built my internet marketing business from my
basement to a high-rise office tower, complete with offices, staff, big dollars
and big stress. I was constantly writing, producing 3 monthly newsletters,
running a half-dozen websites, hosting quarterly seminars and doing 25 hours per
week of tele-coaching at $500 per hour. The money was rolling in. And I was
miserable.
In his legendary business book E-Myth Revisited, Michael Gerber had me
pegged. I was the classic Technician. I was very good at working IN the
business. I loved writing, I loved teaching and coaching, I loved thinking up
new cash flow creating ideas. But I was a horrible Manager archetype, and as an
Entrepreneur I often grew bored easily when a new idea was implemented and
working. The business could only grow as big as my ability to juggle the balls
and keep the plates spinning. For a year I kept us growing, thriving and it was
taking its toll.
In agony one morning, walking in to the building, I noticed a Chinese Doctors
office on the ground floor by the elevator. On the door it said
"Shiatsu". I needed a massage. While not the traditional Swedish
massage, I thought, "Any old port in a storm!"
The doctor's assistant greeted me, led me to a curtained room, and had me lie
on the bed, where she covered me with a sheet. The Doc came in smiling and
saying good morning. He was the classic stereotype I had in my head. A short,
stocky man, old but ageless, looking like he held the secrets to the universe in
his head. "Where does it hurt?" he asked.
I grunted as I tried to lift my left arm to point to my shoulder. Everything
hurt. I realized I hadn't exercised in nearly a year, I was working 100 hours a
week, my diet was horrendous, and I was making more money than I had ever made
in my life, but overhead was eating too much of it. "Wow, this Doc is good!
He hasn't even touched me yet and I've already figured out why it hurts so
much!"
He started going at me with elbows and hands and grinding me good. After 45
minutes of alternating bliss with agony, he made a startling statement.
"You worry about money too much! It's all stored in "here" and
"here"!"
When he said "here" and "here" he poked me and pain shot
through me like lightning.
He was right. What good is making a million a year if it costs me everything?
I made some changes in April of 2002. Rather than growing my empire, I shrunk
it. Good-bye office, good-bye overhead, good-bye non-revenue producing
activities. It was hard. I had to let some staff go, and re-assign others.
Furniture that cost a fortune was sold for a song. The luxury condo across the
street from my office that we were leasing at $2500 a month was let go. I
re-evaluated EVERYTHING about every facet of my business.
It's now a year later. What was the outcome?
I make more money today than a year ago. Working strictly from home. Out of
my basement, where it all began.
I get a massage every Friday. I walk almost everyday. My diet is better. My
neck doesn't hurt.
I'm happy.
QUESTIONS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE:
1) What are you tolerating in your life that no longer serves you?
2) What are you clinging to or holding on to?
3) How does that make you feel?
4) How much longer are you willing to tolerate it?
5) What decision must you make?
Success in life always comes back to a DECISION.
I appreciate you!
David Ledoux
