The art of folding, running and walking away.

Kenny Rogers, the original Gambler

Sometimes, as Kenny Rogers says, “You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run.”

Often the hardest is to learn to walk away. Being stubborn, too smart for my own good, I have had to learn this the hard way, several times, both in business and in life.  There is a fine balence of what you can push and make happen or what can only unfold or evolve on its own. And sometimes there’s the third, where try as you might, putting as much dedication and perserverence it goes no where, or only gets worse.

Some call the force that shapes the direction destiny, others call it fate.

In my own way I believe there is a current that shapes our lives. Times you just flow into new experiences and achieve new things almost effortlessly, others you’re swimming against stream and can achieve nothing no matter what. I’ve come to find that when you’ve tried everything, and nothing is working, perhaps it’s time to say sayanara and move on. Perhaps it was a life-lesson you needed to learn, or an opportunity to learn new things that will help you in the path your meant to be on.

When you’re with the current, things are beautiful. When you’re swimming against it, it can incredibly frustrating and disheartening. You try and try and try and keep hitting a wall. That can’t be fun.

So stop.  I’m all for the Jeffery Katzenberg “If a door closes, find an open window” approach but it you’ve tried every window, the basement, the doggy door, the chimney– perhaps it’s time to burn the house down? Or at least walk away and perhaps revisit later? When the price is less? Or the sellers are more wiling to sell?  (Can I take this house metaphor any farther? No? Ok…)

I believe everything has a reason for being and happening. If it is meant to be ,  it is meant to be. Tenacity is an awesome trait– but also is wisdom. What is that AA prayer?  ”May I have the courage to change, accept what I can not, and wisdom to know difference.” 

Not a bad prayer.