The very nature of my business means that I can get a phone call in the morning about a stone in Africa or Brazil and be on a plane by lunchtime to go and see it. So, how do you factor spontaneity into your life when by its very nature, spontaneity cannot be planned for?
Embracing change is a theme I return to time and time again, and this is an area where fluidity and adaptability are key when allowing for and accommodating the unexpected.
It’s important to understand that you cannot deal with the unexpected alone. You need good, solid, trustworthy people around to support you and your business when you need to head off for a few days. For some that is their family, for others a core team of trusted colleagues. For the lucky ones (myself included) it’s both.
You might think that being in a business where I need to travel at a moment’s notice would mean I cannot enjoy day-to-day living because I always have to keep an eye on the horizon. However, I can truthfully say that how you frame these things within the context of your own life makes all the difference.
Yes, I may miss the occasional recital, family dinner, or parent-teacher meeting, that’s the nature of a business that takes you around the world at a second’s notice. But by making the choice to live fully in the moments I can participate in and not take those moments for granted, I enjoy an even greater appreciation of the things I was present for. This is how we avoid living in regret.
Growing your business doesn’t have to be at the expense of family, friendships, or hobbies. By increasing your presence in the things you can be there for, you will be able to jet off as I do, knowing you are doing your best to build memories… as well as your business.