Success in Our Darkest Hours – by Brad Rhame
If you are in a place of torment, frustration, or monotony, then you are right where you need to be at this particular time. It sucks…I know. After successfully moving to a new state and getting a promotion, I thought life was on the up and up. Wow, was I ever wrong!
After taking the job I, as a brand new manager, was put in a brand new store, with brand new employees. On top of that, the bonus structure that I thought was good, didn’t work for this store. Even if I would have bonused, which I didn’t, it was pennies. The money wasn’t there and the hours were the worst ever. I was working 70+ hours a week and not getting home till 5 and 6 AM in the morning. That is not even counting drive time. I also went from a fit black belt to a soft and heavier zombie. My wife and boys never saw me and our money situation was getting worse by the month. There were days when I would start crying and I couldn’t even stop. I was exhausted to say the least. My family and the thought of knowing I was a black belt kept me going.
I said all of that to help you realize that life is hard and sometimes you have to reach deep down inside or to a place in the past, to keep you moving forward. There is always something, no matter how small, that we have done that brought joy to us. If that is all you have, then grab that thought and don’t let go! Climbing the mountain is harder than standing at the top. But every once in a while you have to stop and take a minute to see how far you have come.
Maybe you are at a really low point and can’t see how this is helping you. For me, I took the lessons I learned and told myself that I would never let one of my employees go through what I did. I saw how the company treated me and others and knew there was a better way. There is always something to be learned…Always. Let the thought of knowing you have made it this far keep you going.
I know it is hard, but let your darkest hours be your trail up the mountain. Take your lessons and pass them on to others. Use them to make you stronger. Use them to make you better. Use them to make you successful!
Brad Rhame
Brad Rhame 