Andy Vaughn

Such a dejecting title. Alas, it is such a refreshing act. Come June 5th, I will once again be back in the game. Two workweeks left, and I can test my meddle.

I quit my current position, so that I can return to the healthier lifestyle that I advocate. I have now set it in my schedule to spend time with my daughter and wife in the mid-afternoon for a few hours, then return to evening meetings. This will be a beacon for my days.

Don’t get me wrong – I highly enjoy working with small businesses on projects, and can’t wait to jump with both feet. But, the micro-step that was taken was to bring myself home for the purposes of a healthier environment. I want you to consider your workplace: is it conducive to good health? Is your cubicle-space well ventilated, and have windows? How about walking paths nearby. Is there some form of recreation that you can partake in during lunch?

Luckily, at home I have the trailhead to the Mac Dunn forest starting in my back yard. So, finding a good lunchtime reprieve will be easy.

I will be working from my home office, to begin with. I believe that it is important to pay attention to the budget and keeping a low-overhead monthly expense, when starting any new business.

There are some fantastic work spaces locally, that I would love to co-inhabit, or rent-out. But, initially it is important to stay lean.

I will update you as the business progresses. Websites and small business consulting will be the game. Andy Vaughn is my name.

I didn’t want to be up.

I’ve got to go to the bathroom. Do that, then back to bed.

Stumbling back to bed, “Honey, can you change her diaper?”

Change Lily’s diaper, then back to bed.

Diaper changed. Stacey rolls over and finds a comfortable spot for both she and the baby. I don’t want to disturb them, so I might as well get dressed.

Dressed. I’ll go downstairs, then fall asleep on the couch.

Downstairs. Something about the cold wood floor of the kitchen puts me into a routine. I begin to clean out the coffee filter. My eyes are half-closed.

I’m too tired to wait for it to brew; I’ll go to the gym. Fresh-brewed Allan Bros., 50 cents.

Gym drinking coffee. I watch two large, sweating men discuss their daily horoscope. Even they were there. Probably already finished with their workout.

Upstairs, I climb aboard my trusted stationary bike. I’ll just put it on slow and easy.

Ten minutes into the ride I’m mashing my gears, sweating like the two men downstairs, almost singing aloud the Seether song on my iPod.

Ok, so this is how we do it. One day at a time. One zombie down — one active individual up. The day begins.

Motivation isn’t sexy. Routines are not always routine. It’s often a struggle to even get yourself out of bed. Whether with business or health, with one foot in front of the other, it’s amazing the path you create when you look back.

Get started on your routine now. It’s not easy. There will almost always be more comfortable alternatives. But, if you even have an inkling of desire, push forward and keep going. This is how mountains are climbed.

Of course not.

These three words rocked me back. For a second I didn’t know what to say. Then I laughed.

One of the things I love the most about my wife is her ability to see the world in a different light than I do. I theorize, strategize, and otherwise maneuver my way around difficult business problems, creating immutable tools for marketing and services. Then, in three short words, my entire premise — my foundation — is cracked asunder.

It began with three questions.

Assuming you didn’t have to worry about money …

1. Where would you live?
2. What would your average week look like?
3. How much would it cost to live this way?

Stacey answered these questions with delight and practicality. The expense wasn’t astronomical (as per my guess), and her priorities maintained.

Then, I asked a follow-up question.

Would you still be doing this in five years? Ten?

That’s when I received, “Of course not.” I had to smile.

One of my most-basic tenets of business is to remain agile and respond to the customer. Yet, here I was trying to pose a question of permanence in someone’s dreams. The sheer honesty and bluntness of the statement, “Of course not” rocks the foundation of the Utopian world I was trying to create. Here I am thinking that satisfying today’s dreams will suffice for tomorrow, when in-fact dreams change and adapt, too.

I shared this with you, because I think this is an awesome lesson with regards to starting or enhancing your business right now. Don’t worry about an immutable plan that accounts for all change and can weather all future economies. That approach has never worked and never will. Satisfy today’s needs, today’s wants, today’s parades. And include in your dreams, not only the willingness, but the desire to change and respond to tomorrow. This approach will weather all economies.

Afterall, the only things you can count on are death, taxes, (and change).

Life and business ebb and flow. Growth, change occurs to adapt to new markets, customer needs, family needs, employee needs, health needs. Eventually though, human nature likes to return to balance. This new balance may be different than the old balance, that’s called adaptation. Balance gets achieved, adaptation occurs, a new inventory is taken, and – soon enough – new growth is sought and striven towards.

This is the nature of biological ecosystems, muscle physiology, and business. If you are in a time of growth and change, then knuckle-down and strive forth. But, don’t take inventory until you have achieved a new balance and adaptation. In other words: sprint.

If you are in a balanced-state, and have adapted to the environment or recent growth, it’s time to take inventory. Are you where you would like to be? What did you sacrifice that you want to regain? What did you improve that you want to keep? Take inventory, put your head down, and grow.