Create an Exciting New Start

Create an Exciting New Start

Don M. Haney

Copyright © 2024 Don M. Haney

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2024

ISBN 979-8-89308-196-1 (Paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89308-197-8 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Preface

J. K. Rowling said it better than I can. She said, Failure gave me an inner security that I have never attained by passing examinations. Failure taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way. While she was writing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, she was divorced, had a daughter, had no job, and was living in government housing. But she did have an old typewriter. She became a multimillionaire within five years. She said, The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself or the strength of your relationships until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift, for all that it is painfully won, and it has been worth more than any qualification that I have ever earned. Make the worst thing that ever happened to you the best thing that ever happened to you.

I've had to change industries three times. It wasn't because I was doing a bad job. It was because the industries changed. I've won national, regional, and district sales contests. One year, I opened at least one new account for fifty consecutive weeks. Then, when I found an industry that I could stay in for a while, I developed a voice disorder, which isn't a great thing when you work in sales. I've made adjustments and learned how to get people to listen to what I'm saying instead of how I'm saying it. I'm able to stay calm and composed even when I have to repeat things several times. Many times, I have to rephrase things to get someone to understand what I'm saying. People realize that I know what I want to say. It's just a struggle for me to talk.

I know it's hard to believe, but I honestly believe that people are listening to me more now than when I had a decent voice.

Fifteen years after developing a voice disorder, I started pioneering a new line of custom products in my territory. I've sold to some of my previous customers, but most of the sales with the new line are to people that I've never spoken with before. And this line takes a lot of explanation. In the second year representing the new line, I made more money with the new line than I did with my other two lines. And I've had a voice disorder the whole time that I've been representing the new line of products.

I'm no expert and I'm not perfect by any means. But I've had to start over. Since I've been on a similar journey to yours, I'm like your guide on the side, pointing out the slippery slopes. Sometimes we learn more from failure than from success. Learn from it and keep moving. There are winners and learners. I'm hoping to inspire you to do better than what I've done. My mission is to empower you to turn your test into a testimonial. If you want to learn from my battle scars, keep reading.

Introduction

According to the Resilience Alliance, resilience is the most important factor when adapting to change. You have to maintain high levels of performance even in times of change.

In athletics, that's called being clutch. Can you perform in the clutch, or will the pressure get to you? If you can perform in the clutch, you will grow stronger rather than feel defeated by the experience.

That's what this book is about. I hope it helps you create an exciting new start.

Now Is the Time to Reinvent Yourself

Constantly focusing on the stress isn't going to help you. Define your big-picture goals and take action.

Have a goal and a game plan every day. Be consistent and keep showing up. Document the process. Celebrate small successes along the way.

Has the coronavirus pandemic forced you to think differently about what you want to do in your life? When your life gets turned upside down, it creates an opportunity to invent a new life.

If you were to claim what you really want, what would that be? If you can see what you want, you can create it.

Are you really going to go back where you were? That job or that business may not be available when we come out of this. Even if you could go back, is that where you want to be? Or do you see a new opportunity?

Have a willingness to evolve. Allow yourself to change your focus. Where is the opportunity for you? How can you evolve to a better place? How can you improve and change?

Maybe you always wanted to do something else. Now you are free to do it.