This past week and a half was amazing and bizarre, in the same breath.
It all started Thursday, October 15 when my phone rang.
It was the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) Test and Trace program.
This is a £12 billion initiative launched by the U.K. government to combat the spread of COVID-19.
If you are unfortunate to contract COVID-19, you have to tell the government the names of EVERYONE you were in direct contact with.
The previous weekend, I had been hanging out with my buddy Andy and, as we always do, gave each other a warm embrace.
A few days later, he tested positive for COVID-19.
Then came the call…
“Mr Allen. You MUST self-isolate until October 25.”
WTF???!!!
My birthday was in TWO DAYS — there was a ton of stuff planned!
But that didn’t matter. I had a legal responsibility to self-isolate.
If not, the NHS told me they’d know – and I’d be in big trouble!
So on October 17 I celebrated the big 5-0 quarantined in my house…
Lots of people told me they were devastated for me that I had to self-isolate.
“I don’t really mind,” I told them.
Why?
“Because, I don’t worry about things I can’t control.”
Think about that for a second.
There are things that will happen to you throughout the course of your life…
Some of it you can control. Some of it you cannot.
But you can 100% always control the way you feel, think and act.
You are always in control of your mindset.
When faced with adversity, ask yourself “What could be good about this?”
For me, I spent the most magical day with my family and just had a total blast.
My wife, Julia and son, Josh really went beyond the call of duty.
We went in the hot tub, ate amazing food, drank my favorite wine…
And then Julia surprised me with an Audi R8 supercar!
I was floored — it’s my dream car. The gift was just so super special.
My day couldn’t have been better if we’d gone out.
I couldn’t control being locked down. But I reframed it and had the most amazing day anyway.
So what are you not in control of? And what can you do about it?
Did you get furloughed or laid off during the COVID pandemic? That’s not something you could control, but what are you doing about it?
Your job NOW is to use it as an opportunity, say, to learn a new skill…
Such as how to buy a profitable small business and be working for YOURSELF…
By this time next year (if not much, MUCH sooner!)
Think about the benefits of business ownership for a second:
It all starts with your WHY, your burning reason for wanting to change your circumstances.
That can come from your pain and frustrations. Or it can come from your goals.
Ideally, it comes from both.
Maybe you are frustrated working for someone else? Or feel trapped in a job you hate?
You can do something about that.
If you hate working for someone else, have little to no wealth and miss being with your family, owning a business can solve ALL these problems.
Once you’ve dialed in your WHY, it gives you fuel to play full out and get this done.
It’s an unshakeable force to make things happen. When you want something badly enough, you get it done.
No excuses.
My birthday weekend reinforced for me why it’s important NOT to sweat the stuff you can’t control…
But rather embrace it, reframe it and use it to your advantage to TAKE ACTION and do something AMAZING.
Do this… and you will be unstoppable!
Until next time, bye for now.
