Shoulda coulda woulda

 Shoulda coulda woulda.

This has been a constant concern for me my entire adult life.

Maybe even longer than that.

My fear is not missing what might have been.

It is rooted in not wanting to be one of those people who are constantly bemoaning their fate and what happened "to" them.

I am not an "if only" kind of guy.

If only sounds a lot like making excuses.

If only this or that had or had not happened, blah, blah, blah.

Pull up your big boy pants. What ever did or did not happened is in the past and we live in the here and now.

We live in the what is and can only deal with that and plan out what might be.

In my world, if only does not exist.

I'll tell you what does exist.

What if exists.

If only is like trying to drive your car down the road staring in the rear view mirror.

Only bad things can come from that.

What if has you gazing through your windshield looking squarely at the crossroads of opportunity.

What if is about choice.

If only leaves you powerless.

My what if attitude often drives those around me a little crazy.

I am always putting forth some new what if.

I am probably good for a half dozen to a dozen new venture ideas a year.

Not hairbrained schemes. All of them have potential and are novel ideas, if I do say so myself.

No, I have not brought the majority of them to life.

Mostly due to a lack of OPR, (other people's resources).

Sure I may have an idea, however I don't have all of the skills,knowledge, expertise or other resources that it would take to move the plan forward.

All to often, I have brought my latest idea to someone who might be the partner I would want to work with only to be met with a less than interested response.

As it is in coaching, my level of excitement and commitment can only go so far and can never exceed that of the people I am hoping to work with. Anything less than equal commitment on their part would only lead to frustration and disappointment on my end.

It's all about the choices I make.

There are no shoulda coulda wouldas for me.

Owning my choices guarantees one thing for certain.

No regrets.

It also guarantees more opportunities and that's all I can possibly want out of life.