Knowing When to Move On!

There was once a great and powerful king, King BOB. He had everything that a King needed or wanted. King BOB had real estate, cars, money, jewels, wine, and a Queen. One day, a gardener came to offer his services to King’s gardens, so King BOB hired him. The Gardener brought in exotic plants and trees and planted specimens that no one had ever seen. When King BOB gazed upon the palace gardens, his mind was taken to great places of beauty and peace. King BOB, while walking his garden, began to consider new frontiers. His mind often wandered to continents yet unconquered.

Little did King BOB know that he was being challenged by the lowly Gardener. He was being introduced to a new spirituality, new wealth, and new ideas. He began to feel inferior to the challenges the Gardener was presenting. The Gardener, on the other hand, was doing what he felt the land needed. King BOB’s mind was now unsettled; he reconsidered his values, goals, and purpose.

Meanwhile, other leaders were envious that King BOB had such a vast and enchanting garden. This made King BOB feel great and more powerful. He became known as the Great Arborist, the Supreme Real Estate Investor and Entrepreneur. He was no longer just a great leader or counselor; he had reached new heights. Even the Gardener became famous. There were great leaders from all nations who wanted the Gardener’s services.

King BOB knew that he could lose the great Gardener at any moment, so he decided to be proactive and hire many helpers to learn the Gardener’s secrets. He cross-trained his employees to do gardening also. The Gardener, so dedicated to his art, was glad to teach such avid pupils. But after a time, King BOB felt that his spies had learned all of the knowledge the Gardener had.

At that point, King BOB started to restrict the Gardener’s movements, stopped him from planting, and forced him outside of the castle walls. The Gardener, now on the outside of the castle, could not see the gardens and the fruits of his labor. It is no wonder that he began to resent the King, and so grew between them mistrust and suspicion.

However, much to the Gardener’s credit, he remained loyal to King BOB for a time. He had an undying passion for his art. If he could not grow beautiful plants and shrubs, then he did not feel whole. But eventually, despite his love of the palace gardens that he had nurtured, the Gardener decided he had to leave KING BOB. Being a refined man of integrity, he submitted his resignation. King BOB was hurt, frustrated, and angry. How could the Gardener treat King BOB so poorly?

What can we take from the story of King BOB and the Gardener?

Personally, when I feel like the King’s Gardener–unappreciated, under-valued, or untrusted—I know it is time to move on regardless of how much I like the person or how much the person has given me. As the King and the Gardener illustrate, you cannot make a person appreciate you! You have to live your life embracing the relationship while it is there. Remember: Eventually, all relationships come to an end—it is the circle of life. Do your best here and now. Do not hold onto things that have run their course, but appreciate them while they are happening, and reflect on them when they are over so that you can learn something.

My goal is to enjoy relationships and people so that I can live a better life and so that I can give to the world. Doing a great job while the relationship is strong, means there will always be an open door for the future. As they say, people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Some relationships don’t last forever, so enjoy the moment and set the relationship up for success. Remember you are only 50% of the problem which means that you are also 50% of the solution.

Ask yourself, are you setting the relationship up on trust, respect, and open communication? If you answer this question honestly, you will be able to improve relationships now and in the future.

One of the important relationships you can form as an investor is one with a mentor and with a group of like-minded people. Join me and other successful investors at my Creative Deal Structuring Subgroup in Atlanta and let me coach you to learn the market and find your niche. I am looking forward to meeting you and helping you on your way to a successful 2014!