Here's the thing—I often joke I don't have a rearview mirror. Turns out, mine just needed some adjusting.
I am always looking forward, eyes firmly fixed on what's next. Usually, this mindset serves me well. But recently, I realized there is genuine power in occasionally checking that rearview mirror.
Last month, at an industry conference I’d attended only once before, I encountered plenty of new faces. For three solid days, the question echoed: "Tell me your story." And so, repeatedly, I shared my journey.
I began at Paychex at 19, spending my entire 20s there. Later, I transitioned to PayNW, where we grew from 100 clients and $500K in revenue to over 1,200 clients and $13M. Honestly, I’ve recounted this story so many times it probably deserves royalties.
But a few curious attendees went deeper: “Tell me how you overcame that challenge…”
So I did.
I told them about the time my boss looked me straight in the eye and said, “Double the revenue. Two years.” No roadmap, no playbook—just a bold target and a whole lot of trust.
We made a plan, rallied the team, and reworked nearly every part of the business.
And we did it. In 18 months.
As I shared that story—not just the win, but the grit it took to get there—I realized something surprising: I could finally see how far I had come.
On the third night, as I laid down to rest, it clicked. I constantly charge forward, driven by dreams and plans for what's next. If something falters, I pivot quickly, shrug off the disappointment, and press onward. But rarely do I pause to appreciate the incredible miles already traveled.
Reflecting at home, ready to write, I realized the lesson wasn't quite over—Ben walked in.
"What are you doing, Mom?" he asked.
"Writing a blog," I answered.
"What's it about?"
"You know how I always tell you that you look in the rearview mirror too much?" I said.
"Yeah," he admitted with a knowing smile. "I do."
"Well, buddy, turns out I probably need to glance in mine a bit more often."
Our conversation turned into one of those meaningful parent-child exchanges, discussing how Ben’s frequent glances back might obscure his bright future, while my relentless forward gaze causes me to overlook the impressive ground already covered.
So here's a thought for you: When did you last really check your rearview mirror? You might be amazed at just how far you've already traveled.
Gratefully,