Q: What’ll Ya Have?

A: MY DREAMS ON A PLATTER, PLEASE

This past Saturday I found myself asking people that very question: “what’ll ya have?” I was bartending for the very first time in my life, in my brand new side gig at a neighborhood brewery.

I know a lot of people will look at me: an advertising veteran that successfully navigated a 20-year career, an entrepreneur running a coaching business, and now a part-time bartender and think -- WHY?? 

I’ll tell you why. Because I have wanted to own a bar for over 20 years and it’s been a niggling thought in the back of my mind that hasn’t diminished over time. Because I have a perfectly clear vision of a life where both coaching and bar ownership are completely compatible. Because this feels right. Because this is true to who I am. And because I have learned to follow my own truth.

So will I have to field a ton of questions from everybody, like “why are you doing this?” And “aren’t you a little old to be working your butt off for tips?”And “how will you make time for all this?” And “how old is your manager, like 24? LOLOLOL?” (answer: yes, like 24). Yes, I probably will hear all those questions, multiple times.

But is that going to stop me? No way. I can learn from a 24-year-old just as well as I can learn from a 64-year-old because I'm open to this experience. I want to learn. I will make time for this so I can see first-hand exactly what it takes to be successful, starting from being the low man on the totem pole at the front of the house. And I’m doing this because I want to have more fun in my life (as a general rule) and this is fun for me. 

So even though it was hard work and every muscle in my body was sore after Saturday, I can’t wait for my next shift.

If I listened to what “everybody” thinks about this, I can assure you I’d never be doing what I’m doing. I’d be halfway through the one and only career I'd ever tried (advertising), earning a nice paycheck with a nice job title that “everybody” thinks is impressive. But I’d also be feeling wildly unfulfilled. I’d be wondering “what if?” I’d be counting down the years to retirement when I could finally feel free.

But eff that. I’m taking the bull by the horns because I know that I can feel free any time I want. Freedom is up to each of us to make for ourselves: no one is going to come knock on our door and hand us everything we’ve ever wanted, gift wrapped with a bow. 

Freedom, as delicious as it is, almost always takes hard work.

So that’s why I’m slinging beer, working hard, putting the extra-cushioned soles of my nearly-orthopedic running shoes to the test, and starting this job now. Because I am in charge of myself. I am making decisions for myself. I’m doing me, as “the kids” would say. 

Now it’s your turn. 

You do you, boo. 

You got this.