Moments that define us

"What is a defining moment in your life and how did it impact you"? There are a few defining moments in all of our lives, but there are always a couple that have the most impact on our lives. such as getting married, getting divorced, having a child, going off to college or moving out on your own for the first time. Everyone's list will be different depending where you are at in life. There are also some defining moments that make you have to take a stand for what you believe in. When this happens all hell breaks loose. You have to decide, are you willing to draw your line in the sand and stand up for you values and morals. Are you willing to accept the outcome of your actions. 

One of my defining moments in my life led me to starting Big Tree Fitness. I had grown tired of the landscape industry and was struggling at my job. I was still doing my job quite well, but my enthusiasm and desire for what I was doing was becoming more and more difficult. I was getting to a point where I knew that I needed to make a decision on whether to recommit myself to my career that I had worked so hard at for two decades or was I going to look at moving on. Then it happened, a day I will never forget. Myself and our HR person where told something that not only disgusted me, but would make me have to decide what I stood for. Was I going to abandon my principles and values or was I going to take a stand. 

What we were told that changed my life and started me down a new and more empowering path was, " We were hiring to many people with the wrong colored skin". I couldn't believe my ears. I was floored and totally appalled. In one moment I lost all respect for the person I was working for for so many years. Everything we had accomplished over my 20 year career meant zero with just this one statement. That day I decided that change was inevitable, but what change was going to take place. Well Big Tree Fitness is what took place. That day I started to figure out a responsible exit strategy for me and my family and my life changed forever.

Defining moments in life and how you react is what will always define you. They make or break your moral compass. They remind you of what your true north is and whether your true north is important enough to you or not..... Make the defining moments in your life and how you confront them the positive definition of your true north.