Handling the Hurdles.

As I was preparing to write this blog, I got word that one of my dearest friends, clients, and role models passed away as he was about to embark on a very intensive battle against cancer. I had spoken to him just two days before he died. I couldn’t believe he answered the phone. He said he was getting ready to go into surgery that afternoon. It was the last time we ever spoke. His name is John Gill.

I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone quite like John. His whole life was dedicated to serving others — especially those less fortunate. He opened up his home to people after they were getting out of jail and needed a place to stay at least 14 times. I still remember when he was inducted into the Dave Romeo Seminars Hall of Fame and I didn’t find out until afterward that he had recently been robbed by one of the people he’d helped. It happened more than once. Yet, that wasn’t the last time he opened up his heart and his home to others.

John understood that we all have hurdles we need to handle. Paying your debt to society doesn’t mean that you stop paying when you get back on the outside. You have new challenges that you must face. He always believed in giving people a chance to redeem themselves — and most amazingly of all, he never stopped believing in the good in others.

One of the most profound things I ever heard John say was that, “You need to find someone who you can pour yourself into and mentor them.” He also said, “At some point, you need to be willing to let them go.” That perspective has helped me in so many situations — both as a coach and a mentor.

Perhaps the most important lesson I learned from John was that he hated his last job. He often called me in frustration, saying that he wanted to leave, but he never did. He stayed with it until he was too sick to do it anymore. The lesson I’d like you to take away from his life is that if you don’t like what you’re doing right now, take a good long look in the mirror and decide how much more of your life are you going to pour into something that doesn’t fulfill you.

John had 65 years on this Earth. Not everyone will have that much. Wherever you are right now in life, make sure you’re handling the hurdles in front of you and more importantly, make sure they’re the hurdles you should be handling.

“You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore to decide to be happy.”

– Jane Marczewski (a.k.a. Nightbirde)

Let me hear from you.

This excerpt is taken from my all-new seminar entitled Designing Your Destiny VI: Crossing the Finish Line. I encourage you to click here to register for my live in person Designing Your Destiny VI: Crossing the Finish Line seminar on Thursday, November 16, 2023 from 9 AM to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time at Melhorn Manor in Mount Joy, PA. This event will also be available through live streaming.