I wrote this to The Officials Slack Community members today…
Today I am working on more content for the Creative Problem Solving course coming oh so soon and writing about failure and how we can use it as fuel.
I had a horrific work experience last year and it felt like it was never-ending. In fact it was only 5 months but it was happening during one of the most exciting times of my life, the first round of the Mentorship program. I eventually quit that job (something I had done 2 weeks into it but was convinced to stay) and I felt like a failure though I knew it was the right thing to do. Today, I started writing about how despite the circumstances I was in I still beat myself up. I still felt like I was failing because there were problems I couldn’t solve. And I like to solve all problems.
And how I’ve basically cut way back on my day job to throw everything I can at The Officials because in my bones I know it will work. I know people need it. I know it like I know that air is good for me. I should really be looking for more steady work while this takes off but I hesitate because it will distract from my focus. I’m betting everything on The Officials right now.
And then I started to watch Sara Blakely’s masterclass and there was a section called Aim High. She tells a simple story in it about aiming high and I found myself spontaneously weeping. I genuinely was caught off guard. I didn’t really even understand why I was crying. I had to be still and think about what had triggered me.I had just written about everything that had happened to me last year. I was thinking about the stress of starting a new business but about how I believe in it anyway and how I know it might look crazy to those around me. Those that doubt or don’t understand.
Then I saw Sara take a literal jump off a cliff and land safely only because she literally aimed high. It was a visual representation of what I feel I am doing with the Officials. I’m taking a risk. I’m aiming high. I’m committing to the vision and to you and your safety.
And so the tears came. All before 11:30 am on a rainy Monday.
I am taking what felt like failure last year and using it as fuel. Using it to propel me towards success not just for myself but for all of you. Your success is my daily success. Whenever I hear about your weekly wins or your daily win I feel like sunshine is bursting out of me. Like I know why the universe put me here.
I am risking failure now and aiming high because I know I can adapt. I can be a creative problem solver and find another way. I can make it work by any means necessary. My motto: BAMN! By Any Means Necessary.
^I’ve put this all in the new course.
But I’m writing it here now because I want you to know that I don’t have it all figured out but that I know I will eventually get there. And that your stories and successes and the advice you ask for and give in this group also fuel me. They sustain me to create more and help me.
So I guess…I just wanted to say thank you.
And to say when times are hard. Aim high.
This post was written by The Officials founder, Lauren Bradley. The Creative Problem Solving course will be available in The Officials HQ training platform in February 2020. To be the first to find out when it is available join The Officials mailing list (below) or register to be a member of The Officials today.