Roslyn's Food for Thought - What Challenges You?

This post is from my wife and business partner Roslyn Rozbruch:

This past January marked our third annual Marketing and Technology Conference, which we host along with ASTPS. Coming home from the event, I had a conversation with Michael about the previous MTEs and how it all began back in October 2013. In one week, three people told Michael to read the book “The Millionaire Messenger” by Brendon Burchard. Every so often we like to reminisce (maybe me more than Michael) about our journey, how the seed was planted in Michael’s mind that week in October, and how I encouraged him to “go for it,” telling him I would join him on this adventure.

But let me tell you, it didn’t start off all rainbows and puppies. Starting a new business from scratch was challenging. The idea of teaching, learning online stuff, and creating materials swirled in Michael’s mind for a few years as something he eventually would pursue, but wasn’t sure how. I know it’s hard to believe, but Michael had his doubts about starting all over. I never doubted him, not even for one nanosecond. I knew he was the one that built his first tax resolution company and could do everyone’s job — because he did do everything when he started, and then trained his employees to do everything. And even before Michael had his tax resolution company, I saw him take small companies from failing to profitable when he worked in the corporate world.

The point is, life is filled with challenges. And what I’ve noticed over the past three years, not only with Michael and me, but with my friends and people in our herd, is that it’s human nature and instinctive to either pretend challenges aren’t there, or to consciously turn away from them. There are many definitions of “challenge,” but one of them, as listed in the Free Online Dictionary, is this: “A test of one’s abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking.”

Interestingly enough, I have found when we turn our back on a challenge, it follows us like a shadow and haunts us like a ghost that won’t go away. It’s so easy to say you will face your challenge, but just not today. What I have learned over these past three years of taking on something new is even though I’m uncomfortable with every new thing I’m learning and implementing, it’s so sweet once I’ve confronted what’s in front of me — and now I’m on the other side of it.