{"id":2459,"date":"2024-03-23T14:28:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-23T14:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/andysmithlife.com\/?p=2459"},"modified":"2024-03-22T21:02:57","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T21:02:57","slug":"the-art-of-transitioning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/andysmithlife.com\/the-art-of-transitioning\/","title":{"rendered":"The Art of Transitioning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Sorry for being MIA the past few months.
Today, I’m writing to reflect on the lessons, stories, and struggles from the week. It is about helping entrepreneurs and founders go faster with freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Today’s Blog: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Weekly Wins: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n #1: Got Really Clear and Focused <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Heard this phrase for the first time this week.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We only have ONE \u201cA$$\u201d \ud83c\udf51 so pick the HORSE you want to ride.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is so true for entrepreneurs, creators, visionaries…\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are creative beings with ideas and want to accomplish a lot.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n We can (over a lifetime maybe), but we must FOCUS in the moment if we want to succeed\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, as the leader – if you’re clear, your employees will thank you. \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had a bunch of founder meetings this week (more on that below), but there were two common themes \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n\n\n\n FOCUS & TRANSITION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, in between diner stops, I shot a quick video for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The #1 Entrepreneur Killer: Not What You Think! \ud83d\ude80 | Find Your Focus & Freedom in 2024<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n #2: I Met a Lot of Cool Founders This Week<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The backstory is that I love in-person meet-ups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Virtual is cool and saves time, but something magical happens in person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Had around ten (10) meetings this week that took place at various diners, restaurants, a Mexican bar, and even one running meet-up (and a few virtual).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even took this weirdo with me to the diner one day \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n\n\n\n He needed to see how life is lived away from sports, school, or Fortnite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, now a real \u201cbusiness meeting\u201d…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n More Focus, Transition, and Growth Talk…<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n #3: Went Down Memory Lane for a Minute<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So this blew my mind.\u00a0 Katie Belz has worked with me for over a decade.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n She is now very active in the foster care community up in Tennessee.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n She says it\u2019s her way of giving ONE to MANY vs 1:1.\u00a0 Love that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She sent me a text message this week that said, \u201cLook what came in as a donation?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Someone Donated Back an Original ABUTEC logoed hat \ud83d\ude33<\/p>\n\n\n\n This hat was from my first startup in 2007! I co-founded this business alongside Hans van der Pasch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Flashbacks to my 1st Venture Founded in 2007 – Clean Energy Emission Control Company<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Always Be Branding Baby… We were Babies…<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n WOW\u2026 \u00a0 So many memories\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n We exited the business in 2012 and stayed on with the new owners till 2016.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Makes me think about the ONE BUTT, ONE HORSE thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Weekly Lessons:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Art of Transitions in Life, Business, or Entrepreneurship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyone else out there going through or been through a transition? <\/p>\n\n\n\n I have and it’s messy, but awesome at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve received this feedback over the last 4 years as I\u2019ve been forging my path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It basically goes like this: \u201cHey Andy, what do you DO?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 \u201cHey, Andy, You look all over the place!”\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 \u201cHey Andy, You wear a lot of hats!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 \u201cHey Andy, how do you get a paycheck?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49\u201cHey Andy, are you happy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \ud83d\udc49 \u201cHey Andy, we’ve changed logos so many times we’re confusing people.\u201d – internal team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Each “hat” is just a story on the journey… Notice the ABUTEC hat, haha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n I asked AI to create an image of this blog and here is what it pooped out: <\/p>\n\n\n\n (note, I don\u2019t use AI to write because it’s not me).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is what ChatGPT thinks of my newsletter when I copy\/paste it in…<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re a BlackSmith, entrepreneur, or founder… then, you’re a CREATOR.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n You Get It. You try, learn, rise, repeat… <\/p>\n\n\n\n And as a Gen X’er, I feel like I’m in the middle of two different worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I love playing with all these new school tools and showing them to my Baby Boomer friends… <\/p>\n\n\n\n They not only help us GO FASTER, but they help us have more time to DO WHAT WE LOVE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, I build in public and it looks messy sometimes…<\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s ok because if we\u2019re growing, we\u2019ve always got to be adapting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We must adapt to opportunities, relationships, business, and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, we must also grow with CLARITY or the wheels come off.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n AND, we must GROW at the right PACE\u2026\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the diners I\u2019ve been going to hasn\u2019t changed in 70+ years.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n And, that\u2019s OK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I meet so many founders and business owners in blue-collar businesses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many are asking themselves this question \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don’t know what is next for me…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, how do we navigate these transitions without losing our minds?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few strategies that have helped me over the last 17 years as I’ve started, built, and exited a few businesses:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Remain full of FAITH, stay open-minded to the future, and just know that YOU\u2019VE GOT THIS, but there is STILL WORK TO DO.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Weekly Take-Away<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Today’s about decision-making. I’ve made some stupid decisions in my life… <\/p>\n\n\n\n and I’ve made some dang good ones…<\/p>\n\n\n\n I turned 46 this month and I exercise almost every day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This question came to mind during a run:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “What am I chasing?”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n What Are You Chasing?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, ask yourself that question. What are YOU chasing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n My answer was FREEDOM.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n That’s why I got into entrepreneurship in 2007.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n To find freedom, do things my way, take risks, get out of the box, live life to the fullest, etc, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, here is the personal lesson that I realized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If I use FREEDOM as the lens for all my decisions, then decision-making becomes VERY SIMPLE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The guardrails are clear and visible…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doesn’t make life easier, but sure does help make it CLEARER…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks for hanging with me this long.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cheers to<\/strong> NO BAD DAYS,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n – Andy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To follow the journey, I’m on social media at<\/strong> <\/strong>AndySmithLife<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to see what we\u2019ve been building at our Boutique Consulting, Advising, and Coaching Business, click CanGrow Solutions<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Trying to get good at YouTube<\/strong><\/a>, but it’s hard… I’m not niching down enough yet and haven’t found my clarity… But, I’m not giving up. I post every Sunday and Wednesday on here. And of course, I’m most active on Linkedin<\/strong><\/a> so be sure to subscribe to this newsletter and follow if this is your jam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sorry for being MIA the past few months. Today, I’m writing to reflect on the lessons, stories, and struggles from the week. It is about helping entrepreneurs and founders go faster with freedom. In Today’s Blog: Weekly Wins: #1: Got Really Clear and Focused Heard this phrase for the first time this week.\u00a0 “We only […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2460,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[15,16,18,17],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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Remember, rainbows come after the storm\u2026\u00a0 Lots of my tribe are going through some storms right now\u2026 Stay strong.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
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