Yesterday, we took a spontaneous trip to the local rodeo, and my friends somehow convinced me to ride a cow.
Well, technically a bull.
It sounded fun at first—right up until the gate swung open and reality charged forward. Instantly, I realized this wasn’t a friendly bovine; it was a massive, angry bull that decidedly didn’t want company.
Imagine this: my knuckles white with terror, eyes practically popping out cartoon-style, muscles I didn’t even know existed screaming in protest. This creature beneath me bucking and thrashing like an elephant startled by a tiny mouse.
One final, jolting thrust, and suddenly—freedom?
Nope. Turns out I was on a Southwest flight. Fast asleep.
Apparently, my subconscious thought severe turbulence equated perfectly to a rodeo ride.
Of course, this flight was delayed (thanks, Southwest), and now, awake and airborne, the plane mimicked my dream with alarming realism. I’m gripping armrests, regretting that second burrito, and praying fervently to the gods of frequent flyer miles.
Predictably, I missed my connecting flight. My reward? A rescheduled 6 AM flight out of Chicago—during a snowstorm, because apparently, my trials weren’t complete yet.
Cue the internal chaos: missed client meetings, looming broken promises (clearly not my fault, yet somehow entirely my responsibility), and relentless self-criticism. My brain felt like a hamster wheel powered entirely by stress.
This experience is oddly reminiscent of running a business, isn’t it? One moment, you think you have control; the next, you’re clinging desperately to a runaway rollercoaster.
We’re often so consumed with putting out fires (or just answering emails) that we fail to notice the glaring, neon-lit signs that indicate better solutions right in front of us.
So there I sat at O’Hare Airport, wrestling with existential dread ahead of my pre-dawn snowy departure, when I looked up and saw… Philadelphia. Just sitting there, a flight to nearly the same destination as Baltimore, with seventy empty seats available. The universe, in its infinite wisdom, was literally showing me a clear solution I’d nearly overlooked.
In business, we often become so wrapped up in chaos, pressure, and the uncontrollable that we miss perfectly viable opportunities right in front of us. We’re too busy wrestling metaphorical bulls and alligators to see our own “Philadelphia.”
So, what’s your “Philadelphia?” What solution or opportunity might you be missing because you’re overly focused on the chaos?
If you’re feeling stuck on your own turbulent journey, it might be time to pause and look around. Sometimes, you just need someone to help point out the obvious solution staring you in the face. Let’s find your “Philadelphia” together.
