Not good news…

Originally sent exclusively to The Letter subscribers on January 26th. Want to be the first to get my personal newsletter in your inbox every Monday at 7am? Subscribe for free here.

Here’s some things I’ll never take for granted again.

Some new lows for me this week…

“Tracey… can you put my sock on?”

That’s my PA. Never would I have imagined that would be a request. I wasn’t ready for her to see my hairy big toe.

I was proud as punch that I’d managed to get myself dressed with one leg down, but the sock got the better of me.

The day I put my sock on is the day I know I’m back.

I can move the blasted leg about 30% now… small wins.

I can hop along like an extra from my childhood film favourite, Hook.

I hate to admit how much this whole thing has pissed me off. I ventured into the office two days this week. On day one, I just burst into tears after seeing new faces after 21 days of home confinement.

It had close connections to lockdown… except this time it was just me.

Embarrassed that my team had seen the big cheese as a blubbering mess, I tried to get myself comfortable.

I’ve got too many responsibilities and too much to do to allow this to get in the way.

Alas… it has.

I can’t just pop wherever I want. I can’t even get in a taxi. I have to use one of our work vans that has a gap in the front, so I can let my leg hang there like a plank off a pirate ship.

My plans of being more present across our companies are not going to plan…

I’m not being consistent, and that’s bad news.

I can see myself wasting so much time.

I genuinely consider whether it’s worth going for a wee these days. The getting up and hopping along is just so much effort.

The worst thing is my brain is there and working on its usual faster than normal state. I’ve got the software… but my hardware is no comprende.

It’s like my brain’s an eagle and my body’s a sloth.

What a shitter.

My wife took me to my two-week check-up with the quack after surgery. I’d also consulted my other doctor… you may use him from time to time.

He’s called Dr Google.

I’d read, in full confirmation bias, that I’d be driving in two weeks.

No.

I’ve got at least eight weeks.

So here’s the message…

If you’re having a tough time, or an amazing time, know this:

If you can put a sock on… or jump in the car to buy a pint of milk… or leave your house… or arrive where you want, when you want…

I’m jealous. Very, very jealous.

Maybe we should take stock of the things we do have and be truly grateful for them.

Because I know when I can sit in a car and go where I want to go, without checking in with someone on timings… or even put a sock on…

I’ll be a blubbering mess.

I’m thankful for the people around me, and for what I do have.

And I’m thankful that even in my shit state… I’m still pushing forward.

That’s entrepreneurship in a sentence: when it’s all a load of old shit and you’re still mending, building, and repairing.

You can’t not win.

Consistency doesn’t guarantee success… but I can guarantee you this:

If you don’t stay consistent, you won’t be successful.

What helps with success is understanding business models.

And here’s some good news, Captain…

We’ve put a beautiful tool together to analyse your business model and show you what you can do if it’s not good enough.

We will share the ‘model analyser’ with you VERY soon!

(I know… I’m like Mother Teresa.)

Till we hop together…

And lastly, I asked my Personal Trainer if he could help me do the splits, to which he replied, how flexible are you - I said I can't make Tuesdays and Thursdays.

To your continued success,

James

PS. Fancy coming to see me on stage teaching transform your business from price competition to customer obsession, click here for more information.