As a business owner, for the past 7+ years, the month of July has always been a time of review for me. I review our systems, processes, vendors, team, – every aspect of my operation. August has always been a time of professional development and celebration (it’s my birthday month and, along with celebrating, I have always been committed to continuous learning).

I have worked very strategically, very purposefully, and very hard to grow this business over the past 7+ years and I have been very successful. As I outlined in my last book, ‘Stop Compromising and Make All the Money You Want!”, I outlined the 7 steps that I used to grow this business, all the while growing myself.

This August has been no different. I am in Las Vegas for a 2-week period for the purpose of personal and professional development. It wasn’t originally planned this way – I mean what Canadian goes to Las Vegas in August????????!!!!! However, opportunities were presented and I always say YES to a good opportunity. But here’s the thing. I have a lot going on in my personal and business life right now and what I found happening was that I slipped back into an old mindset – that of compromising.

In brief, here’s what happened.

The first event was being held at The Venetian – not an inexpensive location in Vegas.  I made the commitment – I booked the accommodation. Bam! Done!

The second event was being held at a host satellite church for an event located in Chicago, Illinois. I attend this Global Leadership Summit every August. Non-negotiable. I typically attend at my home church. This year, because I was scheduled to be in Vegas for 2 other events, I didn’t want to miss out so I registered at the Las Vegas church for the 2-day conference.

The third event is being held at the Green Valley Resort – another high end resort hotel in Las Vegas. Enough said.

Because I would be in the USA for 2 solid weeks, I found myself looking at the expenses involved. And that’s where/when “IT” happened. I fell back into an old habit. Rather than extending my stay at the Venetian and/or extending my stay at the Green Valley Resort, I searched out and found an inexpensive Air BnB that was near the church site. The description was appealing, the location was ideal and the price was very budget-friendly. So I booked it and paid in full. Done.

I checked out of The Venetian on Thursday morning – went to the church site for Day 1 of the Conference and, at the end of the day, took Uber to the Air BnB location. And that’s where I learned my lesson.

1. The Air BnB was not a ‘suite’ (which I expected to have all to myself) – it was a bedroom (with an ensuite bathroom) in a very small apartment
2. I had to haul my heavy suitcase up a very long flight of stairs
3. There were 2 other individuals who were there – a mother and adult son
4. There was no air conditioning being used at the time I arrived because they were accustomed to the temperatures here
5. And it just continued to go downhill……..

The next morning, I got up – had my protein shake for breakfast – called Uber and headed back to the church site for Day 2, and final day, of the conference. That whole morning, I couldn’t help but think I needed to make a decision. To stay at that Air BnB would be a major compromise and would put me right back in the mindset and habit from the time I was in my marriage and where/when compromise ‘had been the name of the game’ – and which I left so I could live my best life.

Here’s the mind game:

1. ‘you paid for the Air BnB in full already’
2. ‘what’s a few days’ in this situation – you just heard one of the speakers tell her story about being captive in a 3×4 ft bathroom for 3 MONTHS with 7 other women!”
3. ‘suck it up’ and move on early next week

Here’s what I did instead:

1. I shifted my thinking to what I deserved, vs what I had ended up with
2. I knew I had the power (and the money!) to make the change
3.  It would all shift once I made a DECISION
4. It was all up to ME!

I spent my lunch hour checking out other accommodations and decided to go to the Hilton at Lake Las Vegas (google it!) that night and stay there until my other event started on the following Wednesday. Turns out that I found an INCREDIBLE DEAL on this hotel accommodation and, once there, wallowed in the fact that I ended up in this absolutely gorgeous and perfect spot for a few days. What a treat. And what a shift in thinking.

Once at the Hilton, I pretty much settled back into my way of thinking and being.

LESSONS LEARNED

1. We are all human and our habits/conditioning are very strong – know that we can change anything and everything by making a decision!
2. Stay focused on the vision – and live the life you deserve and have created – no more compromising!
3. It’s not the money, but the memories, that will stick with you.
4. Be in the moment. Once I arrived here, I made a point of being still, appreciating the environment and being in gratitude.
5. And I had fun and took full advantage of all the services available – and loved every minute of it all!
6. Just because we have a ‘lapse of intelligence” (LOL!), doesn’t mean you have to stay stuck there and whine about it.
7. Take charge of your life! Tomorrow is promised to no one.