The Hidden Blessings in Your Business Bruises: Lessons from a Motorcycle Adventure

Ever had one of those moments where you’re living your dream, but it feels more like a comedy of errors? Well, let me tell you about my current adventure. I’m writing this from a hotel room in North Dakota, smack in the middle of an epic motorcycle trip with my husband. We’re riding from New York to Montana and back in just 19 days. Sounds exciting, right?

Before we set off, I had these grand visions of us cruising through stunning landscapes, feeling wild and free, living our best lives. And sure, we’ve had some of those moments. But let me tell you, we’ve also had our fair share of… let’s call them “character-building experiences.”

Picture this:

* Me, trying to secure my gear, when BAM! A bungee cord snaps back and gifts me with a lovely shiner. (Yes, there’s photographic evidence.)

* Tripping over a motorcycle case in the hotel room and introducing my keester to the floor. Hard. (No photos of this one, thank goodness!)

* Our first night camping? More like a mosquito convention where we were the main course. We spent the night huddled in our tent, plotting our escape at first light.

* Oh, and let’s not forget riding into a torrential downpour that had us seeking emergency shelter in a stranger’s garage. Talk about an impromptu pool party!

Now, this trip is a dream come true for us, but as these “obstacles” started piling up, I found myself thinking, “WTF?! This is NOT what I signed up for!” 🤬

But then it hit me – isn’t this exactly how growing a business can feel?

We start with these grand visions of entrepreneurial bliss – being our own boss, controlling our time, living the dream (cue the rainbows and unicorns 🌈🦄). And then reality hits us like a bungee cord to the face, leaving us questioning our life choices.

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking the road to success should be all sunshine and roses. But here’s the truth: it’s actually paved with bumps and bruises.

The real game-changer? It’s how we perceive and react to these challenges. We can’t control everything that happens, but we can control our response. So why not choose to learn and laugh it off?

Take my hotel room tumble. Sure, my booty was scraped up, but it led to some sweet TLC from the hubby. Our camping nightmare? It’s pushed us to discover some wonderful hotels and sparked ideas for making our next outdoor adventure more fun. That storm that nearly washed us away? It introduced us to some lovely people and restored our faith in the kindness of strangers.

(I’m still working on finding the silver lining to my first shiner, but hey, it makes for a great story, right? 🤕)

As you navigate your own road to success this week, remember that bumps and bruises are part of the journey. It happens to all of us, even when we’re living our dreams.

So do your best to roll with it. Learn from the challenges. Heck, even thank them – they’re making you stronger, better, and giving you some killer stories for your next networking event.

After all, the best adventures – in business and in life – are the ones that don’t go exactly as planned. They’re the ones that test us, teach us, and ultimately, transform us.

So here’s to the bumps, the bruises, and the beautiful mess of chasing our dreams. May your journey be as exciting, unpredictable, and ultimately rewarding as a cross-country motorcycle trip!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some more adventures to chase (and possibly some more bumps to dodge). Wish me luck!