There's a guy in the Bible named Abraham. He was kind of a big deal.
Abraham is known as the father of Israel. According to the story, God told him to leave the land of his father and start a new nation. I used to wonder why he had to leave the place he grew up, and one day it hit me: You can't build a nation with your family always gettin’ in your business.
I know. Last month @BrianSaid hated poor people. Now he hates your mother. He's a terrible man. But he's also right.
The other day I was celebrating the fact that our business is up nearly 500 percent in the last 12 months and people like you are making money and life is generally good. Piedmont has indeed been one of those ideas whose time has come, which is why we patented it.
I was pretty stinkin’ excited about it until a family member basically said, “Is that all? Thought you’d be bigger than that by now. Guess that idea's time hasn't quite come, huh?”
We all have family members like that. The question is how do we handle these people who claim to love us, but who revel in raining on our parade?
Well, we can't punch them in the face no matter how good that would feel. Instead, we have to recognize them for who they are. They’re not the experts. They know nothing of PPACA or benefits. They can't relate to phrases like “seismic changes in the industry.”
And when you start to build a nation, you change. That's hard for family to deal with. After all, they love you just the way you are. And maybe there's a feeling that you think their way isn't good enough—that maybe you think they aren't good enough. That isn't awkward at all…
But it isn't about them. It's about you. It's about your choices. It's about stepping out there and living your dreams. You can't expect them to understand that because it's not their dream.
Just remember this: Your family is just that. Family. The best advice they have for you can't come from anything other than an emotional response. They’re not lifelong brokers who advised on the White House Panel for Employee Benefits in more Administrations than Billy Graham… unless they are.
In which case you must move away; far, far away. Hey, it worked for Abraham…
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