Choosing what I want to become!

Success is attracted by the person you become. – Jim Rohn

The definition of success depends on each person and their perceptions. For now, I will just say that success is not something to pursue but rather a result of our values, beliefs, and actions.

The COVID-19 pandemic made me question my beliefs and ask myself where I wanted to go and what or who I wanted to become. 2020 was a period of great uncertainty but also full of opportunities. I had the opportunity to offer online classes in basic English and emotional intelligence for people in my community in El Salvador.

The universe gives you the signs!

One day, making wine at my old job, I felt excitement and uncertainty. I was happy to be doing what, at some point, I thought was my greatest aspiration: make wines! It was only 1:30 p.m., and I was going from one fermentation tank to the other when I felt an emptiness that made me stop, and all I could hear were the sounds of the machines around me.

I looked around, and the only thing I could see was metal and concrete. The question that came to my mind was: Do I see myself doing the same thing for the next 10, 20, or 30 years? The response was a short No! That experience was the turning point for me to question my professional future. If I don’t see myself making wine my entire life, then what do I want to do?

The question at that time was not the most appropriate, but it definitely led me to the right path. The million-dollar question now was: Who do I want to become?

What I realized was that signs are just that, signs! It will depend on how we interpret them. It would have been irresponsible to take my interpretation literally and put my work aside overnight. Everything is a process, and you have to trust it. As my grandmother would say, The monkey does not let go of one branch until he is already holding on to the other!

What I have learned from this process so far

The most difficult thing was facing the “Sunk Cost Fallacy.” when the first thoughts of leaving the wine and spirits industry came to my mind, many concerns arose, like… How will I let go of everything I have built for years? What is going to happen with all the time and resources invested? What is going to happen to all the effort made to finally be doing what I thought was my passion and my destiny? What are people going to say about my decision? Are they going to judge me? Will they think that I am a failure?

One thing is clear: people will always have opinions about someone else’s decisions even though, most likely, they have different values and beliefs and face a different environment. Furthermore, people-pleasing is not sustainable!

I was fortunate to make some good decisions and others that will only help me speed up the process, that is, learn from my mistakes. These are my takeaways!

Awareness

a) Identify your values and beliefs. We cannot improve or change something we are not aware of.

b) Create an inventory of your achievements and your virtues. Believe it or not, you have impacted many people’s lives differently. Ask a couple of friends or family for an opinion of the greatest virtues they see in you. What it does is that it provides data on your accomplishments!

c) Identify the resources you already have at your disposal. The first wall when starting something is the feeling of “lack.” We all have resources at our disposal; the task is to identify them. We will never start something if we wait until all conditions are ideal. We can learn along the way!

Acceptance

a) What we call “defects” are actually a natural part of our being. Accepting that our shadow also has elements of benefit is the beginning of personal development.

b) Acceptance doesn’t mean you have to get used to your uncomfortable thoughts and feelings; it just means you stop fighting with them. Your vital energy will be better invested!

c) Perfection is just a distraction from what is truly worth it in this life; take action to move forward despite difficulties.

Attitude

a) A positive attitude is an asset, therefore, it can be cultivated. Avoid “toxic positivy”.

b) Life is not easy, in fact, plants without strong winds would not develop deep roots. The important thing is to look for the positive side of life; the other side of the coin.

Actions

a) There is a big difference between what we say and what we do, what counts is our integrity.

b) Actions without a systematic plan are like jumping into the pool without knowing if it has water or not. It is essential to create a long-term plan and divide it into stages, divide these stages into goals, and divide these goals into actions that are easy to follow and complete.

c) Actions need a sustainable rhythm. We can’t accelerate from zero to 100 in a second when our fuel tank is almost empty. The beginning is always gradual; learn to walk before running. Consistency is key.