Almost Impossible

Eye-Opening Moments Unleashed are real-life stories of adversity, encounters, and perspectives intertwined. They are moments that can lift your spirits, give you some food for thought, or move you. For the introspective mind that likes to reflect, discover, and find solutions or meaning in a complex life, this is for you. In this episode you will hear about Almost Impossible.

                                                                                       
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Transcript

Hello and welcome to episode #222 of Eye-Opening Moments Unleashed where you’ll hear stories of adversity, encounters, and perspectives intertwined. They are moments that can lift your spirits, give you some food for thought, or move you. For the introspective mind that likes to reflect, discover, and find solutions or meaning in a complex life, this is for you. I’m your host Emily Kay Tan. In this episode, you will hear about Almost Impossible. 

Almost Impossible 

With dreams of making millions, I quit my stable and successful career to go into business. I made nothing the first year, and for the next three years, I hardly made any money, so my bank account was about to dry up. 2008 was the year the global economic crisis hit us. The disaster nearly wiped me out. The tsunami waves ferociously took just about all my money out into the deep ocean waters. The unforeseen crisis put me in a dire predicament. It looked impossible to overcome quickly; my life was at stake if I could not find the light at the end of the tunnel.

After two years of contemplation, I reluctantly resigned from a successful career to go into business. The struggle began before I even started. What if I failed at making money? What if I could not successfully do business? Was I even cut out to be an entrepreneur? I would be the laughingstock of the town if I failed, not because I did not make money, but because I gave up a career I was good at. It would be a mistake I would need to live with for a long time. It was an enormous risk, but I could make millions of dollars if successful. To take the risk or not to take the risk was the question. I was sold a dream to make millions and have all my dreams come true; it was hard to resist the temptation, so battles ensued inside me.

One day, while having tea with a neighbor, I shared about my struggles to come to a decision. She said one sentence. I couldn’t believe that after two years of pondering, it took one sentence for me to make the decision instantly! The words “If you don’t do it, you will always wonder,” bit me. I needed to know; I had to know. If I didn’t try, I would always wonder, and then I would regret never trying. I didn’t want to live with that regret, so I quit my beautiful career.

Excited to embark on an adventure that could have me make millions, I jumped for joy. Surrounded by men in the financial industry, I was content to be around those who were not drama queens or gossip mongers. My new environment was with dreamers who wanted to make their dreams come true. We encouraged and motivated each other; the positive vibrations had everyone smiling with cheer. I had never worked in such an environment, and I loved it. It wasn’t a job where you did your work and went home every day. The camaraderie enveloped me with warmth, hope, and joy. I wasn’t watching the time to clock out. I was having too much fun talking to other entrepreneurs who wanted to realize their dreams. Regardless of our backgrounds, we were all connected with the desire to realize our dreams and were there to support each other. 

I smiled often, but challenges came quickly. Eager to go door-to-door or approach strangers, friends, and relatives about my business and products, I was met with suspicion and disbelief that they could join me in business and make millions. I was not making it yet, so how could they believe me? Support swooped in as quickly as the rejections came because there were weekly meetings with other entrepreneurs to lift our spirits back up again. 

Sharing to recruit business partners and sell the products was an ongoing activity that challenged me to jump out of my comfort zone frequently. I was not in a job or a brick-and-mortar business. I was an independent contractor. Every day was a challenge to find new prospects. If I didn’t sell anything, I wouldn’t make any money. I quickly learned that selling was the most challenging thing for me; I was not good at it.

Selling requires talking to people like family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers. No matter who it was, it was hard for a quiet, shy girl like me. The worst part was feeling like I was asking for help to put food on the table. When family and friends bought from me, I felt like a charity case. I hated being pitied. When strangers bought from me, I felt lucky, and I wasn’t fortunate as I made a few sales. I made a few bucks with a little luck and a bit of pity. 

I made flyers and posted ads. I attended events where people gathered, had discussions, and networked. I engaged in social activities. I tried many different ways to reach out. I worked at it relentlessly. Imagine doing it every day for five years and getting many more rejections than not. My bank account dwindled. I continued trying. My boyfriend paid for most meals. I continued my efforts and improved on my skills. Still, luck did not come my way. I had a support system in place, and it kept me going and trying, but my bank account was near empty.

Smart, hardworking, and tenacious, I couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t get the results I wanted. Some said I was stupid to go into such a business because it was only a dream. Few applauded me for my determination and bravery to pursue such an adventure. By the fifth year, I finally made some money, but soon the company went out of business! The odds of succeeding in a network marketing business were low, but I hoped I could beat the odds. I didn’t.

I finally listened to the naysayers who said I was stupid and believed I was a failure. Worse than not making money was feeling like a failure. I called it my biggest failure in life for the next ten years.

When the economic crisis hit, I was no longer in business, so I sold my subscriptions, furniture, belongings, car, and house on a short sale. I had so many things bought with money, and then I had nearly nothing. Penniless and homeless, how would I stand back up on my two feet? I had hit rock bottom. I had crashed into the word impossible. But I hate the word impossible.

Impossible means there is no hope left for a better day. Impossible means dreams can’t come true or solutions cannot be found. If so, then I would be dead now. But I am still alive. I believe I’m possible rather than impossible. I see “I’m possible” instead of impossible. When you SEE “I’m possible,” you seek, you search for possibilities. Moreover, you know it is somewhere, and it is just a matter of finding it. You can find it when you know it is there. Call it a belief, an attitude, or a perception. It works to save me. It has saved me again and again. If it didn’t, I could not be the queen of overcoming adversity. I have certainly had too many struggles and challenges to test me. I wasn’t proud of being so unlucky, but I can be proud of the strength and bravery I developed because of it.

How did I scrape myself off the ground from the worldwide economic crisis? I thought I had had many challenges before, but this one was more frightening than ever. I did not know how I would survive it. But I knew a few things. One, the solution was in my hands. In other words, only I would get myself out of it. I knew who I could count on to help me: Me. Even if I recruited the help of others, I had first to initiate it. Two, the solution was there, and it was up to me to find it. Because I chose to see “I’m possible,” I knew it was a matter of seeing and finding. Three, I knew my refusal to accept failure made me determined and tenacious. Four, I knew that even though I was scared, I had to move forward anyway. Some say it is courage. I say it is a matter of survival or the survival instinct, so I didn’t have a choice. Move forward, die, or give in to failure. Again, I chose to refuse failure, and I didn’t want to die.

Out of business, I tried to return to my previous career, but everyone was holding on to their jobs if they still had a job in the economic crisis. So, there were few jobs, and with many years of experience, employers would need to pay me more, and in a time of crisis, I was not a welcome candidate for hire!

With no money to start a new business, I crossed that option out. Applying for jobs that employers deemed me overqualified for, I could not secure those jobs. With no chance of going into business again soon, getting a menial job, or returning to my previous profession, I was near the end of my rope. Impossible looked at me. I stared back with “I’m possible.” I will see and find a way! I will not die and give anyone the satisfaction of my failure.

I searched online and found many jobs abroad. It said no experience was necessary. I had experience, but no one was calling me. It was most puzzling. Determined to find its root cause, I discovered it was because I was not young or a twenty-something and did not have the ethnicity they sought. Discouraged, I was about to look into another country when I got a phone call. It was only a five-minute call, but the voice on the other end immediately hired me and said he would send the contract over.

With my belongings sold and my house sold on a short sale, I was ready to go. I hopped on a plane, unsure what my future held. I only knew I had a job waiting for me. Since I was already sprawled all over the ground, I had only one direction, and it was up. I could only cross my fingers to tell myself I would survive because I refused to be with “impossible.”

Landing in a foreign land, I got the job as promised, and a new beginning started immediately. I never imagined it would be several years of a carefree and worry-free life. I called it a four-year honeymoon until life settled down. Aside from when I first fell in love as a teenager, this was me living in paradise. I floated in the clouds of comfort, peace, and joy. Like two sides to a coin, there are bad times and good times. Survive the bad and you will find the good. It has been worth it because I learned lessons, solidified my strength, developed my skills, and created more abundance and meaning in this life. 

Key Takeaway: Though I was in a dire predicament to become penniless and homeless, "impossible" stared at me, and I stared back with "I am possible."

Next week, you will hear a new real-life story called Missing Chemistry. If you enjoyed this episode of Eye-Opening Moments Unleashed, please text someone and ask them what they think about this podcast, or go to www.inspiremereads.com and leave a message. Thank you for listening!