Have you ever shared with a friend or a colleague a brilliant idea you had for a new opportunity, a major life decision or maybe even a new business and they responded with “You’re CRAZY!” People throw that word around so casually, and what it really means is: “Your idea is wild and I’m afraid you will fail.” Don’t listen to them! The most successful people in the world who started a business, invented a product that didn’t exist before, or bought into a franchise business that was outside of their professional comfort zone had nay-sayers who said they must be crazy. In fact, I left a corporate job to pursue my passion of speaking and my dad thought I was nuts. He suggested I stay with a steady paycheck and benefits instead of starting my own speaking business. I’m glad I didn’t listen to him! In fact, that conversation was the genesis of my first book “Whose Comfort Zone Are You In?”. If we listen to other people who don’t believe in our dreams we are living in their comfort zone and not our own.
Today’s message was inspired by a women I met recently in preparation for a keynote presentation. Gloria spent decades in a great corporate job. One day, she tried a product called “Nothing Bundt Cakes” and she was hooked. There was an franchise opportunity for her and her husband Sergio and she started the process. Of course, people thought she was crazy to leave a corporate job to open a bakery…when she didn’t even bake! In actuality, she had a bigger picture. She has two kids, and one is on the spectrum. She wanted a safe place where he could work and grow independence. Fast forward two years later, and she opened the first of two “Nothing Bundt Cake” bakeries and both of her kids worked there and she also hired other special needs young people.
In interviewing her before my talk, I asked where she got her drive from. She told me the story of her grandfather who worked on a farm in Puerto Rico. He had huge dreams and told his friends that he would buy that farm one day. Of course, everyone told him he was crazy, including the owner of the farm! He saved .25 cents a day and eventually bought his own farm. He went on to buy 5 farms and became very successful. He taught her that hard work pays off.
Don’t be afraid to dream and to act on those dreams. And, when people tell you that you must be crazy, that just means what you’re doing is outside of THEIR comfort zone and not yours.
P.S. Nothing Bundt Cakes is a growing brand based on the foundation of spreading joy That’s my kind of brand!
Have a great day and I’ll see you in the front-row!
Your Head Usher,
Marilyn
