Mike Levitch
As a kid, my older brother Mike was known for putting things apart and putting them back together. He went on to become an accomplished locksmith and then a hardware specialist for large commercial projects. He pioneered a lock that retrieves stolen keys for the local school district. I followed in his footsteps to some degree by falling in love with making and fixing things, seeing what made them work (or not), and putting them back together again.
I am still learning. One of my recent revelations is that just because you can fix something doesn’t mean you should, but that subject is for another day. I have also earned a reputation for being tireless when it comes to my work ethic.
Who Am I Again?
I was recently called a “Work-a-holic” again. One of my employees blurted it out in a neutral, nonjudgmental way, but he did it just the same. Damn it, I said, “I’m a self-diagnosed work-o-maniac”. Anyone who knows me understands that there is a clear distinction. Looking in the mirror, I see a turned-on, inspired, energized entrepreneur in love with my profession, trying to create a company with an earthly gravitational pull that is just around the corner.
What Makes Me Tick?
Finding joy in creating something wonderful is a noble endeavor. It is challenging and rewarding, heartbreaking, exciting, and satisfying. As confused as people are about me, I am equally confused about the 8-5 world. Perhaps it is the first-generation post-immigrant in me? I’m looking into a multi-step process for recovery.
My daughter Athena was interviewing for a job in the Bay Area and told me that it didn’t offer much (work-life balance). Slow down, say it again: Work-Life-Balance. “What the hell is that?” I said. Then it dawned on me. She gets the bigger picture, thanks in a big part to her piers. My son Ethan is attending Medical School and has very similar tendencies. Both are go-getters but are not falling too close to the tree on that matter.
What Makes Up A Good Day?
I measure my success by how much I accomplish on a good day, week, or month. Believe me, I accomplish a hell of a lot. The best analogy is, “It’s like navigating a treacherous river in a raft for the first time with my team straddling the edges, one foot in the water, with me at the stern looking ahead and directing the paddlers’ efforts.”
Fortunately, I have a few coaches and support staff, making the uncharted waters safer. They embolden me to move forward swiftly, using past successes as a model.
It Shouldn’t Be This Hard
As an entrepreneur, I am a natural-born risk taker. I make mistakes and learn from them, I have made enough of them to be getting tired of learning lessons already. It is said that “most overnight successes take about 20 years.”, As I round the horn to the 19th year, I would say that I have made huge strides in my business life by;
- Systematizing processes
- Surrounding myself with fabulous people that get me and support the effort.
- Letting others make most of the decisions.
There is still plenty of entrepreneur in me. Look for great things to come from my desire to find that elusive work-life balance. Major influences in my life are attributed to family and close friends. Cheers to the past as I tear off the rearview mirror and look ahead to what the future will bring.
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