The Big Question. The Really Big Question.

Thursday morning, January 3, 9:15am. My college friend from New Orleans calls to rub my nose in my inability to get tickets for the National Championship game between Alabama and LSU. It would be easier to arrange a Celebrity Smackdown between Obama and Rosie O’Donnell. (I’d pull for both of them to lose.)

“Everybody’s going to be here, but you’re not,” was his comforting encouragement. “I guess we’ll have to trash your character in your absence,” That’s what guy friends do. We have so much dirt on each other that a few more clumps never hurt.

Ladies would plan a luncheon for you if you missed.  Feelings would be expressed.

Thursday night, January 3, 6:10 pm,. With the game 3 days away, I drove home resigning to watch the game on TV. My wife had moved past any chance of going too. We “justified” the consolation prize with comments like “The bathrooms are cleaner! And hey, no parking problems!” It would be fine.

Yet my wife greets me at the door with, “You won’t believe what happened. We have some plans to discuss.”

Usually that type comment would portend an ominous issue, like a tree had visited my living room, or my dog was being featured on “When Good Pets Go Bad”. But her tone was more upbeat, and I must say a little breathless.

“Four tickets came available today because a family in Baltimore can’t make the trip. I called them. She said a travel agency in Alabama has the tickets. I called them.” She was almost panting.

“I got the price, which is half of current rate. He’s holding them until tomorrow morning for us to decide. If we don’t call by 9, he sells them on the open market.” I felt she would slump to the floor like the messenger dude in Hubbard’s “Message to Garcia”.

Soon as I revived her, questions emerged:

Would I need to sell my house to pay for the tickets? Do we get all 4 even though only 3 of us can go? Where would the band set up for the party my high-school daughter was plotting in our absence? These questions haunt parents on a number of levels.

Then I remembered the most important question to ask when faced with any difficult decision: “Would the cops find out?” Wait, no, THAT’S not it. But it’s a question that can be used in sales, marketing, business planning, hiring, marriage, or whether to over-spend on a 3 hour sports spectacle, and that question is here…

It is in fact two Siamesed questions, with a Newtonesque symmetry. (Please do not ask me what that means; I had just watched Arthur C. Clarke’s Universe when I wrote that.)

“What will you lose if you do it? What will you gain?”

My biggest “loss” was time. All of us in business have tricked ourselves into some delusion of irreplaceability. (This also works against an exit strategy by the way.) Surely I can’t be that necessary. (Unanimous response from staff: “NO, YOU’RE NOT. May we help you pack?”)

My second biggest “loss” was dollars. I could’ve flown to Paris for dinner for less – which is why I’ve requested not to see the Visa bill for a while.

Yet the gains included…

Time with college friends. A nice long drive with my wife, just us, and - if we so chose – the Steve Jobs book on audio. Game time with my son (student at University of Alabama). And the opportunity to be with several thousand over served, face-painted lunatics in a town that really needs to have Clorox dropped from aircraft.

So, we went to New Orleans. As it turned out, the gains were far, far greater than the losses. And you’ll notice none of the above hinged upon the outcome of the game. (Quick recipe for disaster: make your joy dependent on elements thoroughly out of your control.)

Monday, January 9, 3:10 pm:  We decided to take a break from a slightly crowded private party and walk through the French Quarter (Town motto: “We’re a lot drunker than you are”).  As we strode amid the smell of horse wee-wee and “recycled” beer in a scene reminiscent of Pottersville (my son’s description), I still marveled at the contrast of not having come.

I’d have gotten in some work hours, the progress of which would be forgotten and/or insignificant in comparison. I’d have been a few dollars ahead. I would’ve gotten more sleep. Yet what I’d have given up would’ve been immeasurable.

Today, Your Life pm:  I feel certain none of us is getting any younger. If you’ve been “putting off” a hard decision, weighed down by the flip-flopping of “for and against”, or wondering if you really “should” pursue a dream, ask yourself that Siamesed Newtonesque question, and see where your path leads. No need to create inner conflict or waste time wondering; life favors action over anxiety every time.

 What’s holding you back?

Adams Hudson

Adams Hudson will be co-speaking at the ACCA Conference in Las Vegas (with Lissa Monroe, the ‘Contractor Listing Queen’) on creating a “Web Marketing Gold Rush” on March 7.  Includes 90 minutes “LIVE” and 2 additional webinar courses. You would be wise to attend.

Adams Hudson will be speaking at Joe Crisara’s First Ever “Sales, Profit, and Marketing Summit” just before keynote Speaker Dr. Robert Cialdini on February 9.  
Check out http://www.spmsummit.com/

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