It is neve too late to follow your dreams?

 

I woke up one day last week and my thoughts automatically took me back to 1991. Yes that was almost 20 years ago. Why my mind decided do go back in time, I had no idea, but in the end, I enjoyed the trip! In 1991 I found myself at a crossroads, knowing that I needed to move on from the job I had, but not knowing what the future would bring.

 

My wife and I decided that we wanted to open our own training company within the security industry. After all, I had been in that industry for almost 20 years, I love teaching and was pretty good at it. So we did a business plan, looked at office space and filed the name of our new company with the State of Massachusetts. We were ready to rock and roll.

 

It was then that a friend of mine asked me to come to work for him in his electronic security company. Terry and I thought it over and for the time being, set our dreams aside. Over the next 15 years, I became a partner and president of Team AVS. I continued to grow both personally and professional within the security industry.

 

It was in 2004 that cancer changed my life forever. Although I enjoyed what I was doing, I wanted to follow my dreams and my passions. So guess what, I hired a few personal coaches and they took me on a journey of exploration. After about six months, it was clear that I should really open a coaching and training company with a major focus in the security industry. After all, I had been in the security industry for 35 years, I love teaching and was very good at it.

 

What one minute! Does something sound familiar? Why on earth didn't I remember 1991 in 2004? For the life of me I cannot answer that question, however isn't it ironic that the dreams we had in 1991 are actuality today in 2010. There might be people that say well if you had followed your heart in 1991, you would be much farther along with your company. My response to that is that the experience that I gained working at Team AVS better prepared me to launch IBP in 2007. Besides, I always say that things happen for a reason and they work out for the best, even if you do not realize it, when you are faced with difficult situations.

 

So as I sat up in bed, amazed at the revelation and could not wait to tell Terry. I also called a bunch of my friends to tell them and I could not wait for the newsletter so that I could tell all my friends! So I guess you are never too old to follow your dreams, even if you have to put them on hold for 15 years!

 

 

Just thinking,

 

 

Joe

 

Within the last year, I became a founding member of the "Successful Transition Planning Institute" which is a wonderful organization. Jack Beauregard and Paul Cronin have done an excellent job of creating this Institute for business owners. If you get a minute you should check them out at the link below. Ok, back to my point. This foundation is a virtual organization and the members had never met each other.

 

I suggested that we host an afterhour's social so that so that we could meet face to face. So the date was set and the invitations were sent out. The social was huge success and time after time I heard people say, we just don't do this anymore. Instead we use e-mail and texting to communicate with the world. This event allowed us to get to know each other on both a personal and professional level.

 

If you are in sales, when was the last time you invited a group from your network to an afterhours social. You will be glad you did when you see the return on your investment. By the way, this is the perfect time to invite a few new people into your inner circle!