In 1960, Providence, Rhode Island at age sixteen I
was bored and very confused about life I decided to leave High School
and discover the world.
Prior to this period in my life my existence
encompassed mostly the local area of Providence known as Silver Lake
where I lived. Our family didn’t traverse far from home plate and, our
vision of the world was very small. But, I knew by listening to others,
there really is a Santa Klaus, there really were larger and more
beautiful places to be explored studied and appreciated. I wanted to
travel, experience other places and cultures of the world. I joined the
US Army, asked to go to Japan for a cultural change and was promptly
sent to France. I got what I asked for-change!
Ultimately, this High School drop-out received
his BSBA from Bryant College (A University today) in just three years
rather than the customary four with a Management major and a minor in
Economics going on to grad school at Providence College.
After numerous job trials, mostly failures, I
found myself in the following situation:
In 1979 our country (USA) was in the midst of a
recession (or depression depending on your point of view) and I in the
midst of a divorce, a day into a brand new car and loan payments, no
money in the bank, indebted up to you know what and, got fired from my
last job. This was the fourteenth job that I involuntarily left in
twelve years or so, who’s counting.
The entrepreneurial lust rising up from within
reached a crescendo so load it could not be ignored-so load it could be
heard around the world. I had to find a place for myself, my skills, my
education; a place where I would and could be appreciated; a place to
explore and conquer; a place where I could grow and be proud. I
discovered that place within myself.
It is I. This is my time, right now; this place
is here within my flesh and bones to be ignored no longer. I have been
searching and I have found me!
It did not happen all at once but, I came to
appreciate my skills, creativity, keen understanding of others’
behavior and my ability to communicate with others. Sometimes not so
eloquently but effective, as time went on I became more skilled in the
art of creative communication not only using the spoken word but also
in print. I became well oiled and crisp. I learned to be hard, not soft
as some would have it yet, skillful and kind. I became an artful
worrier reaching for the stars and riding them to where they would take
me. I was learning and having fun in a business I didn’t like!
Yes, I was successful in a business I did not
like, a business that allowed me to explore cultures of people beyond
my own shores. The world became my teacher and I the student. What I
have learned during those twenty-seven years is to trust myself! Not to
disregard the wisdom of others but I learned and know what wisdom is!
Others like to protect those they hold dear to
themselves, keeping them from getting hurt, perhaps. What I discovered
is that others project their fears upon others in the guise of
protection and out of ignorance. Well meaning people whose fears and
ignorance dictate their lives as they ignorantly feel safe but, they
hide those fears from themselves so as not to deal with them less they
will need to change their lives.
And isn’t it the fear of change that governs most
people’s decisions? Yet, they are the very ones to want something that
is new or different. Isn’t NEW a CHANGE from something? Different? How
does one explain the existence of that dichotomy? I am searching for
the answer yet to find it.
I discovered the value of change; a very exciting
and at times provoking and stimulating. Fear not change rather, we
ought to fear NOT to change.
Think of where we are now in our lives, our
world; the essentials that we have and the wonders that we possess.
Think of the turn of the 20th. Century when in the midst of a major
change; Horses and automobiles. Telegraph, telephones. Through the
years, think of the NEW and what CHANGES were made to bring us the
marvels we have today? If someone chose to protect us from change,
where would we be? What would our lives be like? Yes, change is good,
positive, stimulating and necessary for our wellbeing our creativity. A
stimulus yet to explore.
Often I set an objective, discover the obstacles
in my way and conquer those obstacles by studying processes and
discovering the necessary tools to use to make it happen. I found that
very easy. Change was and is stimulating, challenging and very
rewarding. I suppose one could say that I am a self sufficient worrier
who loves to be challenged and stimulated; that I find obstacles a
challenge not overpowering just simply a learning experience to conquer
with success as the reward. Fear is what holds one back; discovery is
what moves one forward!
I also have learned to allow myself to enjoy the
small reward or successes rather than wait for the major success. The
little success is here now to be appreciated and savored while we
anticipate the bigger reward. We are teaching ourselves to enjoy each
reward as if it were the big one. We deserve it and we have earned it
no matter how small. If we learn to appreciate the small rewards we are
teaching ourselves to accept the larger rewards. Without the good
feelings to savor of the small rewards, how will we learn to appreciate
and recognize our larger successes?
Essentially, insecurities give way to confidence
as you allow yourself the pleasure of acceptance that you have
accomplished something. No matter what others may think, you have
accomplished something; they did not, you did! How empowering is that?
No one in this world can do what you do. That is
neither conceit nor bragging nor is it a put- down to others. It is a
simple fact! Others may and can do something as similar as you but, no
one else is you! Are you Einstein?
As an entrepreneur one discovers the meaning of
“it is very lonely at the top”. There is no one to make your decisions,
no one to set things in motion, no one to call order. It is yours and
yours alone. Learning to be the deciding factor and earn the praise you
deserve comes from the knowledge learned to be yourself, trust yourself
and, listening not to those who want to protect you from harm.
So, essentially what is my greatest accomplishment
in life? That I alone will climb that mountain, that I alone will make
my path to destiny, it is I alone who may falter, it is I alone who
shall pick me up. I have learned to fly SOLO!
The people who released me from their employee so
many years ago could not appreciate the opportunity they had before
them. Yet, they did me a favor. We are a product of our environment.
They are a product of my environment. They gave to me the opportunity
for me to make a contribution to mankind, yet they do not know it. I
thank them very much because, without the changes they made possible, I
may have never realized or discovered the power of change!
Thank you all who have been and are a part of my
learning and appreciation of mankind! Thank you all for allowing me to
contribute to future generations!
Thank you for the opportunity so I could learn to
fly SOLO and return a contribution to mankind!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/my-greatest-
accomplishment-in-lifei-learned-i-could-fly-solo-1091306.html About the Author
Nicholas R. De Stefano has a BSBA from Bryant
University with a major in Management and a minor in Economics. He also
attended Providence College in the production engineering MBA program.
With a keen Business Acumen, he possesses an intuitive mechanical
aptitude. Experiences include over forty-four years in Marketing
including: Sales to both wholesale and retail establishments and,
direct business to business sales, Distribution, print Advertising and,
Sales Management. As a business owner exceeding twenty-seven years,
experiences include Operations, Distribution, Sales Management,
Merchandising, all aspects of Marketing and, overseas product
manufacturing and distribution.
He also gives exceptional attention to details which is crucial in
Crystallizing one's thoughts in planning and implementation of goals
and objectives.
In Florida, he is a licensed Real Estate Broker with experiences in
Commercial Sales and Marketing and Business Brokerage and, also
Business Coach and Consultant. www.bizotb.com,
www.leadershipdevelopmentllc.com, www.wsiys.com
Leadership Development LLC, Tampa Bay, Florida OFFICE 727.785.9554 FAX
727.781.1896 | 