Failure’s Not An Option
The Greatest Business I’ll Ever Lead
A spontaneous blind-date didn’t result in exchanged phone numbers. I hadn’t seen her in 3 months. It was a Wednesday night and her turquoise top combined with a white skirt made her blue eyes shine.
My heart raced.
We exchanged small talk and with an “it’s good to see you” she turned away to leave. Another failed attempt to get her phone number. Luckily, her sister was there. She pitied me, but gave me the seven-digits I needed.
I called Katie.
Not that I believe it’s true, but I’ve always been infatuated with chaos theory, the theory that small decisions may lead to large, unforeseen consequences (i.e. Butterfly Effect). One flutter from a butterfly’s wing in Mumbai, India might evolve into a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. The tiniest choices can lead to off-the-cuff reactions, future nostalgia, and most importantly, life-altering events.
I called my wife for the first-time on Wednesday, August 11th 2004.
Since getting hitched in 2009, Katie and I have seen passions we didn’t know we had grow inside one another. She gave me permission to pursue my dreams with both of us blind to the cost of what that meant.
This year, I’ve experienced a new side of my wife blossom: motherhood. Her relentless sacrifice and unconditional love is a reflection of God.
There’s no greater joy to come home from a long day at work and hear the giggles of mother and daughter playing. I know there is a day waiting for me when I’ll miss those giggles. My daughter will become a woman.
As a new dad, I can’t watch Father of the Bride.
It’s not lost on me that our society struggles with marriage. I don’t take for granted that both mine and Katie’s parents have been married for 25+ years.
Marriage is a beautiful painting. From a distance you see it’s wonder, but up close you see the cracks on the canvas, blemishes, and age. Beauty remains.
I’ll never forget the moment after the “I do’s” were exchanged and I kissed my bride. My father-in-law shook my hand and said:
“Failure’s not an option.”
Katie —
When you entered my life ten years ago I had no idea today is where we would end up. Today, with you, is more than I could’ve ever imagined. Today, with you, is all I’ll ever need.
My greatest entrepreneurial effort is leading my family. My best meetings are at the dinner table. If an entrepreneur is defined as someone who takes initiative and risk for the sake of business. I aim to take as much initiative and risk in leading my family.
“Failure’s not an option.”
