Do it for the Right Reasons

Maybe a little out of context for what I'm about to write this article for, but earlier this year, I visited an osteopath. He was a very strange character & I've since learnt a lot of disturbing things about the individual, so what he said to me no longer bothers me at all, in fact its laughable. But after my last session with him, he said the following. 'I couldn't be like you Myles'. I took a moment to absorb the audacity, and then replied, 'sorry, excuse me?' to which he responded, 'I'm not like you & could never be like you. You see, you work for profit, I couldn't be like that, I like to help people' - very strange. The irony to the situation, he had charged me 50 of my Great British Pounds for 10 minutes of my time, to tell me I was fine & he wasn't going to do anything for my back & rib discomfort. I was so confused. He knew nothing about me so who was he to know why I pursued a life in business. - I digress.

Its very important when you get into business that you know what you got into it for. Without going into too much detail, I'll explain why I did & what I hoped to achieve in the long run.

I grew up in a working class environment & have witnessed a lot of things. I grew up around what I call 'real' people. People who have experienced pain, people who have experienced poverty to a degree. Growing up in Birmingham wasn't too terrible - I've since travelled to a lot worse places around the world & it will always be home to me. I miss the place.

I saw a lot including knife crime, bullying, families arguing over money or the lack thereof, families evicted because they couldn't pay their bills. My mum did very well to keep a roof over our heads & although she struggled herself, she always put a meal on the table. But I was far from brought up with a silver spoon in my mouth like some children are. My dad was an alcoholic, they broke up when I was younger because my mum didn't want us growing up like him.

Some of my friends however, didn't have the same level of luxury as perhaps I did though. Some didn't have parents, some of their parents didn't care about them (lets say neglected), some were from violent households & some worse than that. I've seen some shit I wouldn't wish on anyone. Growing up in that environment, you learn the world isn't wrapped in cotton wool, but I was fortunate enough to grow up with a caring family.

Since leaving school, I travelled a lot. I spent many years in South Africa on & off jobs, where life isn't so fun for the vast majority, poverty is everywhere. India was another lesson for me, that really did effect me. Seeing poverty isn't my go to, lets say.

So what made me push as hard as I did? - its easy to explain - My plan was to be in a position by the age of 35, where I had conquered what I needed to create a sustainable business. I'm very active and have grown an addiction to creating ideas & solving issues for my clients, so I could never say I would retire at that age, I'd go insane being at home.

The goal ultimately, was to have children at that age and be in a position where money wasn't a worry that would have me & my future partner worrying about paying bills or paying a mortgage, a position where I could go to the office when I needed to. A position where I could go on holidays and take time out to regain my mindfulness if the stress got too much. A position where I could be at home, watching my children grow up, seeing the first steps, teaching them things that is otherwise difficult to find time to do when you have to hold down a job to get by month by month. To be happy, without worry & to see my family in a position where poverty wasn't something they had to experience and I could always be there for my kids & partner. I will not stop until I reach my goal and no one can get in my way!!

I've lost track of this so many times, delving into the luxuries in life & blowing a lot of money doing so. That loss of focus will never help me achieve my goals & I'm fortunate enough to have learnt the lesson early enough.

Remember your goals & don't let money steal your attention.