“Don’t take things for granted”.
Often those words are associated with work-life balance or more specifically family.
Making sure you’re home in time to see the kids before bedtime.
Making sure your whole life is spent saying, “I’ll do that when I’m older”.
Making sure you don’t spend so much time on what could be, you miss what’s happening now.
It’s good advice, one I started to truly understand way too late.
But I’m not actually talking about that, I’m talking about promises, proclamations and plans.
Especially when they involve or need another person.
Not because anyone is out to fuck you over – though there may be some out there who do, but they’re pricks and its less about you and way more about them – but because situations and circumstance change so promises, proclamations and plans change. Even if you – and whoever it affects – wishes it didn’t.
So, what do you do?
Well despite the fact I started a company called ‘cynic’, the answer is not to become cynical and question the motivations, beliefs and actions of everyone and everything you come into contact with.
I appreciate some will think that approach can protect them from any bullshit they face along the way … but it also means they miss out on the magic and possibilities that can happen when they embrace the people and opportunities that are all around them. Mainly because the wall they build to keep bullshit out is also the wall that stops goodshit coming in.
I was one of those people for a while.
Triggered by the actions of some people who – for reasons I will never understand – tried to fuck me over.
Well, not specifically fuck me over, more try to undermine me so my efforts didn’t highlight what they weren’t putting any effort into.
But I got out of that situation quickly and yet it scarred me to such an extent I did build walls around me for anyone else who encountered me.
And all I was doing was limiting myself from what was in my grasp if I just got over myself about what may get taken away.
Which is how I learned the real meaning behind not taking things for granted.
Because while things may not always work out as you planned, you stand a much better chance if you do a few things right.
Like turning up.
Giving your best.
Taking responsibility.
Being objective, not subjective.
Being transparent about your expectations and living up to your standards.
Staying being open to what could happen while being strong on what needs to happen.
Listening to others, even if they do things differently to what you know.
And enjoying yourself. Maybe not all of the time, but most of the time.
Because attitude impacts outcomes as much as expertise.
Doesn’t mean you don’t have to graft for it …
Doesn’t mean you should dismiss your value and values …
But to paraphrase the famous Gary Player’ the more you care, the better things can become.