051 Coach Radio: Your Story – Christopher Browning – Overcoming Failure

I really wish Christopher would've told me he was on the show ahead of time, though I'm not sure he knew I listened to this podcast…
I want to highlight that whole part about being in a small church and him sticking around when it's been super tough and super awkward. I think it reflects well on your character when you can stay in the middle of a tough situation like that simply because God told you to (and I'm pretty sure it came down to that for Christopher many times since he moved to St. Louis).
I can also say that many times the best friendships are often the ones with people you aren't sure you can be friends with when you first meet them. I think it goes deeper when you can work through that part of it and figure out you really like that other person after all. That wasn't meant to be a backhanded compliment in any way – just how it came about and I'm glad for his friendship, not to mention his career advice.

Thanks again for showing him off to a larger audience!

Thanks Gregg. I have that book on my shelf and I think it's up next.

At one point I didn't like myself until a truly met myself. Now I am my own friend. (Thanks Nathanaeal)

So the take away from this could be summed in IN A SMALL BOOK! Or not so small.

First, yall kind of glossed over it, but I initially found it VERY difficult when my family and closest friends weren’t all that interested in my pursuit of starting a business. I made some initial starts about 4 years ago. And no one but my mom and wife gave 2 cents about it. Even when I was really pushing to get some feed back from them. Nothing. That HURT. Now I look at it differently. We all have different interests and goals. I was trying to force mine into their lives and they didn’t care. That’s not a them issue, it’s a me issue. I need feed back and people close to me looking at what I’m doing. Thank God (literally) for Free Agent Academy. It falls nicely into this void.

Second, one of you had this quote, “As a company it does you no good to keep someone in a position that is not a good fit for them.” HOW TRUE! And yet most companies, and dare I say employees, think nothing of it. I need this done, Joe go do it. Joe needs a job, any job, so Joe takes a job. It’s taken me a while, but I’ve learned this doesn’t work.

Chris said: “Failing is not pursuing my passion.” I instantly stopped the recording and emailed Joshua Gordon to listen b/c he said the same thing to me Friday.

Justin said: 2 important traits to be successful in business: 1) Implementation and 2) Consistency. Can’t say it much better.

Chris said: “There’s a difference between short term failure and long term failure.” Yeah, there is. Short term failure can be corrected or adjusted for an you keep moving forward. Long term failure means you gave up or never started.

Chris said: “Often, your passion is the thing you struggled with the most. Or the thing that hurt you the most.” Sounds very similar to John G Miller’s quote of you often bring to the world what YOU most need. I agree.

Here is one of my favorite points from Chris. “When you come across somebody and you get the feeling you HAVE to be around that individual and you can’t quite figure it out, but you know they’ve kind of got it made. And you know there’s something for you to learn. Just do it. Do what it takes [to be around that person]!” I’m coming to learn that myself. (Hence I’m devouring coachradio.tv to get info from Justin)

Last point from Chris, and again this is a MAJOR recurring theme in almost EVERY Your Story, “If you’re trying to figure out what to do, pick a direction and start walking in it. Even if it seems scary. Even if you are not quite sure. And then do this. Give yourself permission to change when you realize it is not working.” This is how I’m getting abetterwayofbusiness going. I’m walking (finally) and will adjust as needed.

Wow. Simply WOW! GREAT SHOW! 

Ivan,
  It is great to read your comments.  Thank you for posting them.  Sounds like you have a fire in your belly.  Use the energy to give the needed concentration on figuring out what you need to do right now. Moments like the one you are having can provide intense focus and are rarer.  Make sure to journal your thoughts now.  It is easy to think “I’ll remember that, because it is so vivid in my head now.”  When difficulties come, that which you though was clear has been blurred.    Run as fast as you in prudently.  Thanks again for the comments!