The Dream of continuing the family business takes a turn
It was very hard to decide to tell my parents I lost the vision taking over the business, knowing it would be a big disappointment for them as it was for me.
This is where my parents and I had our talk about me wanting to leave the business back in 1988.
I remember well that day we were standing around the kitchen. Although my Dad had a sense of disappointment that his little empire had no one to take it over, he understood.
Dad had a saying since my high school days that had given me an out in any peer pressure situation, he said,“If you ever need to get out of something you don’t want to do, you can blame it on me.”
Although I didn’t blame my Dad for my failure to keep up the business for myself, I know he was quietly processing the whole situation. Among our family, my Dad was not one for many words, he was more of the strong silent type. He wasn’t too much into explaining, he just did it before Nike ever came up with the slogan.
I saw a moment of hurt in his eyes, but Dad was big enough to take it… besides, he was into his new publishing business and knew I could help him with that on a part time basis!
Roberta and Dale Yee, my parents. Dad has retired from this life, back in 1996. Mom is still active.
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In the end, realize that successful people build upon their failures and disappointments. Human nature, as far as I’ve seen and studied, is such that no one goes directly to the top in their life work without greater risk of losing it all or destroying it all.
Jim Rohn writes, “Life is part positive and part negative. Suppose you went to hear a symphony orchestra and all they played were little, happy, high notes? Would you leave soon? Let me hear the rumble of the bass, the crash of the cymbals, and the minor keys.”
Once I survived that nadir in my life, I was fortunate to enter a great renascent period.
But keep in mind life has its yin-yang cycles, learn to roll with them.
(Feature photo taken recently): During the summer of 1988, I was working on this space in my parent’s garage when I almost killed myself while working under an electric, six passenger truck. If you’d like to hear more about that incident let me know, and yes, there are relevant personal development lessons from getting run over by a 1500 pound electric truck).
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Are you ready to shift gears into two parallel subjects that affect many of us? Get ready to find out the connections.
I’ll see you … on the next page
Challen Yee
You can contact me at challenyee@challenyee.com
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