The three of us sat around a mahogany conference table that could easily seat twelve; Connie Jacobs, my attorney, the other veterinarian who was about to purchase my veterinary practice, and me. I was so excited I had trouble sitting still. This had been a long day in coming. Close to a year had passed since I’d made the decision to sell my veterinary practice, and it had been over three years since I’d hired my first business coach, Judy Billman, with the goal to eventually selling the business “going out the top in my profession.”
But the day had finally come. With just a few signatures on the legal documents my attorney had drawn up, a major accomplishment would be complete. Yes, an exciting day for both of us, I thought as I glanced across the table to the other veterinarian. Strange, he doesn’t look nearly as excited as I feel, I thought. In fact, he looked sorta sick as he stared down at the papers the attorney had slid over to him. I watched as his face blanched white before he finally looked first to my lawyer then at me.
Finally, I heard him say in a voice barely louder than a whisper. “I can’t do this. Sorry.” And with those five words, he stood up and walked out of the closing. Connie and I stared at each other with shocked looks for close to a minute before she finally said, “Well, I never had that happen before.”
“Me either,” I replied. I never saw or heard from him again.
After a few more minutes, I asked to borrow a phone so I could call Judy. Nearly in tears I shared with her what had happened. “He just walked out. Left me high and dry,” I lamented. As was Judy’s way, she listened patiently for several minutes helping to defuse my upset until she finally said, “Okay, what’s next?”
“What?” I asked.
“What’s next,” she repeated.
“I don’t know,” I answered perturbed. “I don’t have any other prospects.”
“Okay, I understand,” Judy said patiently. “You will. If not this, something better is coming your way.”
Judy went on to explain that “If not this then something better” is a perspective on life that sets the stage for turning breakdowns (such as the one I was in the midst of) into breakthroughs. To be honest, it took me a few coaching sessions working with this distinction before I grasped it fully, but once I did I was soon back in action in a powerful and effective way. In less than two weeks I had a new prospective buyer. Doctor Goho was a young, progressive veterinarian who was not only a better fit for my clients and patients, but the offer we settled on was a much better one as well.
So, what breakdown in your commitment to living a life on purpose have you had or perhaps are in the midst of? How might you use the distinction, “If not this than something better” to shift your perspective from upset to possibilities?
Do you have questions or comments you’d like to make on this subject? Post them under the comment section. I’ll do my best to reply in a timely manner.
