Public Perception, even perception with expertise is a strange thing. Too often, successful capitalists hit a bump in the road – a seemingly insignificant, quite manageable challenge and gigantically overreact. So much so that the behavior responses are outright driven by paranoia, embarrassment, and to varying degrees, a master of the universe centric ego. Bad combination. I speak from experience. Within hours of 9-11, my bank foreclosed on every business and personal loan without cause. Fear. Double digit millions of dollars, mostly revolving deal debt, called instantly.
- I realized; you might realize that you are no longer the king of your hill. Your mountain is owned by someone else.
- A big shot in your world, you’re in shock. You evolve into meltdown. With nobody to talk brutally candidly with, you go into (what you think is) preservation mode. Fighting off the monsters, you rapidly move from meltdown to war games. But, deep down, you must reconcile that you don’t have a clue about what to do. Who to call? Who to trust? How will you pay for the experts to help bail you out? Are you at risk for criminal charges?
- Family members, loved ones, business associates, everyone seems to know every detail of your missteps. But they don’t, not really – usually, most of the global hatred is solely in your imagination. Still, like the old rock song lyrics… “just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t meant they aren’t following you…” ring loud, clear, and TRUE! So, what to do? Well, let’s start with what NOT to do. DO NOT do ANYTNING our of retaliation or rush to right your ship. DO NOT let FEAR overcome you, because once it does, it OWNS YOU. Fear leads to cover – ups. You know that cover – ups are always worse than the acts of bad behavior themselves. You think while this is true, it doesn’t apply to you. You’re wrong. Every last molecule of FEAR morphs into TERROR for every possible reason. In your head, the world is spinning as fast as your tiny speck. But it’s not. What seems to be the most dangerous counterintuitive posture imaginable, downright nuts – is precisely what you MUST DO. Not a narcissist? Ok. Let’s hope not in the classical, clinical definitions. Whatever you say. Would it be too much of a stretch to listen to Elon Musk’s official biographer’s
(Walter Issacson) tough words and look into your mirror with a little more clarity? “…Elon’s underappreciated for his engineering genius (the positive)…Elon’s not the most sensitive person to other people, their ideas, needs…” [both paraphrased]. The point was crystal clear. As master of his gigantic universe, the air is thin. Well, as master of what to you, is your gigantic universe, the air has left the room. Now, let’s take a look at what you might consider doing. Try this.
- On you own, take inventory. Be the accountant inside of you. Trust no one just yet. You are a winner and winners accept responsibility. Winners bear accountability. Winners aren’t whiners or blamers. Winners get to work. Your work starts with the math of your truthful situation.
- Simultaneously, call me. Call us. Email us. Text us. I don’t care how you get in touch with me, just do. Not to hire us, at least not yet. Reach out NOW to give yourself a pat on the back, a little reprieve from the horror of your life. Remember, I’ve been there. I’ve bailed out F500 CEOs and solo entrepreneurs and everyone in between. Your advisors, maybe your lawyer needs to humble themselves and admit what they have never personally experienced. Personally.
- Know this. No matter how awful your empire appears to YOU, it’s not the same to anyone else. Please simply trust this. Not all, but a ton is in your head, a mirage. Trust this. Do another inventory check – a different type. Recall the last time, two times, three times you’ve gone through certain demise, absolute death. Somehow, you made it through. Think back. What did you learn from these past experiences, no matter whether, personal, family, investments, health, it doesn’t matter.
Conclusion
Please follow these steps. Breathe, introspect calmly, take inventory(s), call us, confide wholly with someone else. These baby steps and the exhaling that comes with each, will, I promise pay immediate, and long term dividends. If you’re already deep in the muck, have your lawyer get in touch with us – your partner, your trusted friend, family member. Anyone! Finally, for now, take another look in the mirror and while you gaze at your image, see me – see us right there with you. We’ve been in your skin, your shoes. We know what you’re going through, what you’re trying to navigate. We know that things feel existential, but they are NOT, YOU ARE NOT DONE CHANGING THE WORLD, MAKING IT A BETTER PLACE.