A Going Concern

I was having dinner with some friends recently when I mentioned that November 1st is my 5 year anniversary of leaving the law and being a full time executive coach. My friend Mike said, “You’re a going concern.”

“A what?” I responded.

“A going concern - a business that will keep on operating,” he reminded me.

I first came up with the idea of becoming a coach in November 2016. Do you remember that month? I do. I was so traumatized, disgusted, disappointed in people, and honestly, over it all. But somewhere in there a little idea implanted in me and the more I fed the idea, the more it became real and possible. It took me 14 months to start a training program. And then it took me another 20 months to have enough of a vision and self-trust to leave my old job completely.

When I left the law firm in November, 2019 I didn’t anticipate that four months later we’d be in a global pandemic, and that my business building plans would be shut down along with pretty much everything else. I also didn’t anticipate that in 2024 I’d forget basic legal jargon. I was able to anticipate that in order for me to be successful at this, I’d have to be willing, flexible, and committed to my bigger vision for my business and my life.

At the time my vision for my business was to just stay afloat. I can’t lie - the first few years were terrifying. I would lie awake at night wondering how I was going to keep going as I watched my savings dwindle. I would tell myself that I would not end up living under a freeway overpass. I was right about that, at least.

It took a while and didn’t happen all at once, but since leaving the law firm, I replaced my salary, sustained my health insurance, and even started AROS, a leadership development training with my colleagues Christina and Katie. I’ve also recently joined NALP, tripled my speaking engagements, and am working with more law firms and organizations. I feel confident saying that even if I don’t know the specifics of how I’m going to remain a going concern, it’s more likely than not that I will. On top of that, I rarely work past 4 p.m., because I have a great boss (me) and a demanding dog (Zelda).

One thing I’ve been thinking about this year is how much I take for granted because of the past 5-7 years. What’s normal to me now wasn’t always normal to me. That’s kind of how change works though. Something isn’t possible until someone is willing to figure out how to make it possible. Like maybe right now it’s not possible to abolish the electoral college, but honestly it probably is, and we should probably do that. Alas.

I have also been reckoning with how important my work is to me. It’s incredibly important for me to be really really good at what I do, and even more important to me that I am impactful. Sometimes I think I focus too much on work and not enough on other stuff. Other times I think I don’t focus on work enough and I’m just flittering around learning and dilly-dallying. Both things are probably true.  

I love my work, but more importantly I feel whole in this life. In the past, I was always unhappy with something or another, even if everything was objectively good. Now, regardless of my circumstances - when everything is going up in flames or when I’m wildly successful, I know that today will change and tomorrow I will find a way. Some of this is just me acknowledging my innate resilience, but some of it is because I am on a path that is aligned and purposeful.

I am truly lucky and proud to be where I am today. I think most of the younger versions of myself would be truly surprised at who I’ve become, and even more surprised at what I do. I’m really looking forward to who I become over the next 5 years. I’m sure I’ll be just as surprised and delighted in 2029.

With love,

Erin

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