Angeleno Cam

Am writing this morning from the 17th floor of the Hotel Angeleno, a 'Space Needle' type hotel transformed from a former Holiday Inn on the 405 and Sunset.

Looking out on the panoramic view of people going to work, on the infamous LA freeway, and at the houses nestled in the hills just out of the camera view, its interesting to think of all the millions of people living and working in the city that you'll likely never meet...the individual lives that they have, and what they are facing...the same feeling you have when you look at a large NYC high rise or skyscraper.

My client and I had lunch at the restaurant on 17th floor yesterday and we were discussing some aspects of the challenges she's been facing over the past few months, and I had an Atticus Finch feeling of 'walking around in her shoes.' She's a fairly new entrepreneur, a dramatic change from her former life, and we discussed the things she faced she had no idea she would, and whether its a mixture of ignorance, arrogance and cluelessness that made her do it -- and whether if she really knew on the get go all that was involved, whether she'd have been as willing to just jump in.

I'm inclined to think that most of the time we're not given to know what's around the corner or may just freak out and refuse. Most of us aren't all that brave - or trusting - to just be willing to say "Okay God, you decide what's best for me and what I should do." I mean, how would the creator of the universe know how to run our life??

I think she is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel or at least little bursts of light but I know that the 'during' part has certainly tested many things with her. Some of the subscribers to this blog I know are also in the 'during' part of some life transformations, and sometimes the going is a bit rough and often messy and scary. Easy to have all the perspective in the world after the fact.

Anyway, it was a reminder to me yesterday that when your client or customer or vendor or loved one is occasionally cranky and uptight and stressed out, they are likely dealing with their own set of day in and day out challenges, just as you are. And 99% of the time it has nothing to do with you. So for those of you (and you know who you are) who are enduring....am hoping you are hanging tough, taking things day by day and just being gentle with yourself. And for the rest of us who are on the crest of the wave, just a note for us to remember to be gentle with others too.