In my last blog post I talked about using our life experiences to embrace growth and navigate the disappointments we have as business owners and seize the energy to have new opportunities. In this blog, I want to talk about remembering who I am as a person and a business owner. In September 2024, I have 48 years as a business owner. I realize there is not much I have not needed to face in the 48 years, and I am still an entrepreneur.
A Legacy of Entrepreneurship
Let me share some things about myself. My father was an entrepreneur. Most nights at the dinner table he would talk about me having a profession that I enjoyed. He would say, “It is fine for you to have a job; however, always remember you need to work toward being an owner of your own company. I got the message—“Own a company and be an entrepreneur.”
The Power of Reflection and Remembrance
Now, Jack Rainosek had many different kinds of businesses. He own a grocery store that he lived in when he was young, and he owned a movie theater. He owned farms, and would clean them up and then sell them. He kept some of the farms till he retired. He owned an oil distributing company, which was destroyed when 5 train carloads of oil got lose outside of town and the brake man knew if he did not stop them then many people would be hurt. It was a massive fire, and that is when I saw my Dad cry while I was holding his hand as he watched his business be destroyed. The railroad company did pay him, and he took some time to decide what he wanted to do. When garage doors came onto the market, he was a distributor for a company, and was the top salesperson many years in a row; however, he owned the business that distributed the garage doors. His last adventure was being an owner of a machine shop. One night I asked how many deals he had done in his lifetime, and I felt stunned. He took a legal size table and listed 176 deals that he had completed. I was utterly amazed that he could remember all of them.
Learning to Slow Down and Stay Present
As you can imagine, I limited my years as an employee, and then started being a business owner. In another blog, I will tell more of my story of being an entrepreneur. My most important gift to myself as a business owner is to remember all I have done. That keeps me focused when challenging times come. Early in my career, I learned an especially important lesson: I learned to slow down, since I could remember things, and when I was in a rush or hurrying, I would forget important ideas and concepts that I needed on a daily basis. I was driven and focused on achieving, which lead me to forget things since I was hard and not looking at options. I learned to be caring, and then I would remember what was most important to my clients. Learning to surrender in difficult time lead me away from fear, which always caused me to forget what I have done.
Gratitude for Growth and Transformation
Personally, I spent years going through many training programs to change myself and grow into the person I wanted to be. My purpose in life is to be real and live in truth. I work every day to stay in the present and not focus on yesterday or what will happen tomorrow. Living in the present allows me to be highly focused, and I get more done that us quality work. I have used deep breathing to slow myself down so I can remember who I am, and what I want in my life. As I breathe deep, I then learn what I feel; I can pause, process my feelings and then make decisions. I feel grateful to change organizations and systems and transform people lives with the work we do at DTP Leadership Group and DTP Business Strategies.
Conclusion:
As I look back on my 48 years in business, I am reminded of the power of remembrance—not just of the challenges I have faced but also of the growth and accomplishments that have shaped me as an entrepreneur. Each experience, whether personal or professional, has contributed to my ability to navigate change, lead with care, and stay grounded in my purpose. Through reflection, I find the strength to keep moving forward, knowing that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. I hope this reflection inspires you to honor your own journey, take time to remember your successes, and embrace the present with gratitude and confidence in your path as a business owner.