Wednesday, October 19, 2011

A New Chapter in My Life

Nearly four years ago, I accepted an offer to go to work in Kentucky for a friend.  And things were not what I had envisioned.  At his recommendation, I purchased a camper, purchasing it on the Saturday before the Monday that I reported to work.  Several things were strange about this move.  For one, I had been my friend's boss at my last place of employment.  It certainly would be a change to get used to but seemed par for the course for my life at that time.  Also, I had never owned a camper and had never been to the campground at which I would stay.  A new adventure for sure.  The day I arrived in Kentucky, hauling my new place a residence behind me, the snow was falling golf ball size flakes and I should have known at that moment that the Kentucky weather was very different than the Tennessee weather that I had gotten used to.  But the last thing that I anticipated the least was that this unconventional work/live situation would change my life in many ways, in ways that I believe are for the better.

Being 230 miles away from home, after a failed business venture that left me with less in savings than I had at age 11 from working a paper route, missing my oldest son's last two years of high school and my youngest son's entire high school experience, was certainly not ideal.  I could not believe that my life had come to this.Early in my business career, everything seemed to fall into place so easily and I climbed the corporate ladder so quickly.  And then, suddenly I found myself living alone in a camper during the week, making less money than I did in the early 90's, and suffering from a very bruised ego that left me not caring whether or not I would wake up the next morning.

But something happened over the next four years.  I used the camper as my getaway, a place where I went to laugh, and cry, and to heal.  I had gone back to an industry that I had excelled in before, and I found myself winning again at the corporate level.  Being away, I realized how much I missed and needed my family, and especially, how fortunate I was to have a wife that supported me enough to take on all of the burdens of being a "single mom" throughout the week, and then adjusted to being all that and a wife on the weekends (I am convinced that 99% of women could not have made our situation work). 

With my renewed confidence and appreciation for my family , I started to get things in order mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and later physically.  I dove into books and learned so much from wise authors about business, God, and how other great men had lived their lives.  Again, my camper became my haven and I started to not only get back but I felt as though I was growing more and becoming better grounded as a person. 

While I still have a long, long ways to go, I feel like I have been given a gift over the past four years.  While I despised my situation at first, I learned to embrace the camper and my time away as a time to learn and to gain better perspective on life than I ever had in the past.  My goal now is to continue to grow and learn.

But I am now turning the page in the story of my life.  And I am making some big changes.  I am humbled and honored to have been given a new opportunity to work with a great company and great team of people starting in the next few weeks.  I will also be moving.  And within the next year, my wife and I will be "empty-nesters".  Big changes and new chapters in my life indeed!

Yes, I am somewhat anxious.  Yes, I know that it will be difficult at times.  Yes, I know things will not go according to plan and there will be setbacks.  However, I know I am better equipped, more mature, focused, understand life and business and people better than I ever have, and that I am ready to make a difference in this new company and in the lives of those I lead.

I thank God for the gift of the camper and the time away to heal.  And I thank God for this new, exciting chapter in my life. 

2 comments:

Dave said...

Jeff,
You are an inspiration to many. Good luck in your new endeavor. You will be missed in Kentucky. The good news is that you will bring your inspiration to others, expanding your circle of influence. May God bless you and your family.
--Dave

CJ said...

Thank you Dave for your kind words. I will miss the thought-provoking conversations that we often have.
You and your family have been very gracious to me and I am very grateful for the times that you have provided a "home away from home" for me.
May God bless you and your family also.
Please stay in touch from time to time. - Jeff

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