Sixteen years ago, I proposed to Monique 10 days after I first met her.
She said yes.
And that wasn’t even the craziest part…
You see, after she said yes, Monique told me she was about to head to India for 4 months, to perform as a jazz singer at the prestigious Shangri-la Hotel in New Delhi.
I said, “I’ll come!”
During our time in India, I told her that I’d always dreamed of traveling the world with a beautiful woman.
She said, “I’ll come!”
So, a month after we met we began an 18 month adventure that took us to India, England, France, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Fiji.
This week, I heard Ryan Holiday on a podcast. He said, “The secret to marriage is not breaking up…”
The picture at the top of this article is me and Monique, a month after we first met – and this weekend, 16 years after we first met.
William Hutchison Murray, was a Scottish mountaineer. He wrote the most powerful words about commitment I have ever read:
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back… [but] the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issue from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no one could have dreamed would have come their way.”
If the secret to marriage is not breaking up, the secret to a thriving coaching practice is to be in it for the long haul.
I took my first coach training in 2003.
Over the past twenty years, I have faced many struggles and had many successes.
I have seen promising business ventures crumble to nothing and I have coached many of the world’s most extraordinary people. I have been hit by an unexpected $300,000 tax bill, had my articles plagiarized, and run up a $100,000 personal credit card, in order for the business to survive. And I have spoken on stages to thousands of people, built an audience of over 45,000 leaders and coaches and sold over 100,000 copies of my book.
Life and business are a journey of ups and downs.
Commitment sees you through.
I launched 4PC, my Mastermind for high-level coaches in 2015. We are heading towards our 10th anniversary and over 100 extraordinary people are now members of this elite club, as members or alumni.
But I never intended to run 4PC for 10 years. You see, 4PC is my 25 year mission. I just ordered these plates for my new car:
Twenty years after my first coach training, I am still committed.
Committed to a future that I am creating.
Love. Rich