I wish I could tell you that you won’t encounter scary moments on your journey and that the road will be smooth and not bumpy. But the reality is that you will encounter moments where you may stand still in terror. But you need to have a solid foundation that will allow you to keep walking, despite the terror.
Within the first three years of my business I was hired to produce the 20th anniversary booklet for a local church. It was supposed to be a keepsake booklet. They hired me to do the layout, design the cover and get the books printed. I can’t remember how many books they needed but I am sure it was over two hundred.
I completed the layout and they loved the design of the book. I hired a printer and set out to get the books done. I had to deliver the books for the anniversary service. Well the printer messed up the cover and there was not enough time to have them reprinted. The colors did not come out right and the books were ruined. I was so upset and embarrassed. I don’t like to deliver less than perfect quality in anything I do. Needless to say they were not going to call me back next year. Yeah I can joke about it now but that was one of my terror moments. I was scared that this mistake would end my business. There was a part of me that wanted to go put my head in the sand and quit this business all together.
Find Your Strength
Habakkuk 3:19 says “The Lord God is my strength my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds feet and will make me to walk [not stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual progress upon my high places of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!” This was one of the many times in my life I was able to stand on this exact strength and keep walking.
I did not end my business. I went to the Pastor of the church, apologized, gave them a refund and delivered the books, all knowing that they would probably never hire me again. So it was a learning experience for me. A costly one but it helped to define the foundation of my business.
So I say to you, find your pillar of strength. Use whatever source you have in your life to lean on for the strength to keep you going when you encounter a terror moment. The ability to keep walking and not stand still in terror is a key to success.
