I share alot of success stories on evotional.com. I think of them as online testimonies. It's one way I try to give credit where credit is due and keep track of God's blessings.
But I need to share a different kind of story. I don't think of it as a failure because the only failure is the failure to learn. As long as we learn something from everything we never fail. But let's just say this is one of those ideas that didn't pan out the way I planned.
I went to the bank today and closed the Godipod.com account.
You ever give up on something you thought was a God idea? I think all of us have been there and done that. It's so hard to know when to hang on and when to let go. I thought I'd do a dream autopsy.
My primary reason for giving it up is I'm going in too many directions. I'd rather do three things really well than ten things mediocre. So in the process of prioritizing, this one fell to the bottom of the list. In fact, it fell off the list. But it's so hard because I still believe in the concept. And I really thought it was a $2 million idea. All the money invested was personal money, but I was hoping it would pay off our coffeehouse.
I have proved my non-omniscience once again. I'm pretty good at that. I'm pretty good at proving my non-omnipotence too!
The GodiPod.com venture was pre-writing and pre-speaking and I think those callings caught up with me! Someting had to give and that something is Godipod.com. So I'm going to let go of something that is awfully tough to let go of. But I feel like it will help me focus my energies on my primary callings--pastoring and writing.
It's tough letting go. Have I already said that? And I have unanswered questions. But I want to be clear about one thing: I don't regret it at all. I'd rather have a few false starts at the end of my life than lots of what if questions. Sure, I'd like to have my money back. And like everyone else, I want every endeavor to be a smashing success. But let me make an observation: success in any endeavor is almost always completely surrounded by failed attempts! If you can't handle failure you'll never be successful in anything!
I'm not sure how to say this, but it seems to me that successful people aren't embarrassed by their failures. They are proud of them. They see them as battle scars. Part of the learning curve.
I don't kill every lion I chase. But I'm going to continue chasing lions! The real trick is knowing which lion to chase and when to chase it. But if you don't chase it you'll never catch it!
I'm going to keep learning, keep risking, and keep growing!
Hope that helps someone somewhere process something :)
But I need to share a different kind of story. I don't think of it as a failure because the only failure is the failure to learn. As long as we learn something from everything we never fail. But let's just say this is one of those ideas that didn't pan out the way I planned.
I went to the bank today and closed the Godipod.com account.
You ever give up on something you thought was a God idea? I think all of us have been there and done that. It's so hard to know when to hang on and when to let go. I thought I'd do a dream autopsy.
My primary reason for giving it up is I'm going in too many directions. I'd rather do three things really well than ten things mediocre. So in the process of prioritizing, this one fell to the bottom of the list. In fact, it fell off the list. But it's so hard because I still believe in the concept. And I really thought it was a $2 million idea. All the money invested was personal money, but I was hoping it would pay off our coffeehouse.
I have proved my non-omniscience once again. I'm pretty good at that. I'm pretty good at proving my non-omnipotence too!
The GodiPod.com venture was pre-writing and pre-speaking and I think those callings caught up with me! Someting had to give and that something is Godipod.com. So I'm going to let go of something that is awfully tough to let go of. But I feel like it will help me focus my energies on my primary callings--pastoring and writing.
It's tough letting go. Have I already said that? And I have unanswered questions. But I want to be clear about one thing: I don't regret it at all. I'd rather have a few false starts at the end of my life than lots of what if questions. Sure, I'd like to have my money back. And like everyone else, I want every endeavor to be a smashing success. But let me make an observation: success in any endeavor is almost always completely surrounded by failed attempts! If you can't handle failure you'll never be successful in anything!
I'm not sure how to say this, but it seems to me that successful people aren't embarrassed by their failures. They are proud of them. They see them as battle scars. Part of the learning curve.
I don't kill every lion I chase. But I'm going to continue chasing lions! The real trick is knowing which lion to chase and when to chase it. But if you don't chase it you'll never catch it!
I'm going to keep learning, keep risking, and keep growing!
Hope that helps someone somewhere process something :)
7 Comments:
Mark - as always, thanks for your honesty and transparency. It's so refreshing...
This post speaks directly to me....In 2006, I had to let go of a business venture...It was not easy...It was suppose to help pay for Seminary...I have struggled for quite some time with the business failure being a personal failure...thanks again for your open and honest words from your heart....My lions in 2007 are pretty clear...
blessings,
chill
I thank God for Godipod.com. When I received my video iPod for Christmas in 2005, the first thing I did was do a search on the web to see who in the Christian world was leading the way "redeeming technology." The first thing I found was GodiPod.com, which led me to your Evotional.com web page (which my husband fondly refers to as the coke can site.)
Your site, ministry and book have had a huge impact on my personal walk with Christ. We never know how we will impact someone. I know the Lord's hand is on your life and it will be exciting to see what God is up to!
I thank God for Godipod.com. When I received my video iPod for Christmas in 2005, the first thing I did was do a search on the web to see who in the Christian world was leading the way "redeeming technology." The first thing I found was GodiPod.com, which led me to your Evotional.com web page (which my husband fondly refers to as the coke can site.)
Your site, ministry and book have had a huge impact on my personal walk with Christ. We never know how we will impact someone. I know the Lord's hand is on your life and it will be exciting to see what God is up to!
I thank God for Godipod.com. When I received my video iPod for Christmas in 2005, the first thing I did was do a search on the web to see who in the Christian world was leading the way "redeeming technology." The first thing I found was GodiPod.com, which led me to your Evotional.com web page (which my husband fondly refers to as the coke can site.)
Your site, ministry and book have had a huge impact on my personal walk with Christ. We never know how we will impact someone. I know the Lord's hand is on your life and it will be exciting to see what God is up to!
Mark,
Thanks for keeping it real. I was thinking about GodiPod the other day..guess I know whats up now. Ha.
On Lions...I had this exact convo with a buddy who was in the middle of reading your book and closing the church plant that he started only a year ago. I like how you said you don't kill every lion you chase. How true.
I still think that if apple were to allow outside enterprises to setup store fronts in iTunes the way that amazon does that it would have been a success.
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