Today’s blog post addresses a VERY important benefit of having your own business. Sure, aside from the potential to create excellent income, having your own business can create incredible time freedom. With time freedom, you can build an extremely appealing lifestyle. Sure, it takes effort. It takes strategic planning, following by disciplined implementation. It takes continuous skill improvement. Yet, if the goal is kept clearly in mind, steady progress will indeed help you achieve your goal.
Along the journey toward your ‘big goal’, make certain to celebrate wins along the way. One way to celebrate wins is to build in occasional ‘days of celebration’. These can be days (or partial days) dedicated to things you absolutely love to do, but may not quite carve the time to actually do. This celebration time can also be reserved for those special opportunities that may arise with friends or family.
One such opportunity arose for us last week. We were able to join a group of friends and go on a truly once-in-a-lifetime adventure. It occurred right in the middle of the work week, when people who are tied to a job or a profession could never get away. Yet, because of our home-based business and the flexibility it provides, we were able to carve out this time.
We were among a select group of people who were invited to join the Phoenix National Guard as they went on an expedition in a KC-135 to refuel several F-16s. What an exhilarating experience! First there was all of the security clearance that had to happen weeks in advance. Then we were told what to wear, bring, and expect. After getting up at 4 AM, we made our way over to the National Guard base, which is on the south side of Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport. We received a comprehensive briefing about the history of the National Guard, the specific base, the KC-135, and how the refueling of F-16s actually occurs. The pictures we saw were fascinating and we were all eager to begin.
Once we all got on the plane, we were explained how we secure ourselves, when we can get up and walk around, where we can position ourselves to optimally see the refueling process, and where we can get the best pictures. They encouraged us to get as many pictures as we could — which we certainly did do!
We flew up to the Northeast corner of Arizona, right along the New Mexico border, to do the refuelings. I will note that we flew much, much faster than typical commercial planes. We were all surprised how quickly we arrived at the desired air space. Then, before we knew it, we saw these gorgeous F-16s whizzing by — one after another.
Like clockwork, one would arrive and begin to seemingly hover immediately below and slightly behind us. From our plane, there was a ‘boom’, which essentially was a highly moveable ‘fuel stick’. The airman would move the boom to the exact position where it would engage and ‘click in’ to the F-16, and the quick refueling process would begin. Once the fuel was transferred, the F-16 would drop down, seemingly drift away, and a new one would appear. Amazingly, if it is an experienced F-16 pilot, the entire refueling process could be done in one minute!
The entire process was fascinating. From the big windows, where we were able to lay on our bellies and get truly up-close-and-center, we were literally only 50 feet or so above the F-16. We could even see the pilot. It was truly an amazing experience and opportunity that is rarely available to a civilian.
Yet, due to some amazing networking and friendships, along with the time freedom allowed by our home business, we were given this amazing opportunity. It is truly my deepest desire for you, too, to create a life where rich friendships, time freedom, and wealth is available to you.
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