Mark Wright’s Blog

Challenges are an aspect of life that we all have to deal with.  Many times, we initiate the challenge to better our lives.  Other times they are thrust upon us.  I was in my previous position for 11 years.  While I enjoyed some of the aspects of the business, others became stagnant.  For the last year, I must admit that I really wasn’t very happy with the direction of the company and the role I played.  Things finally came to a head about thre weeks ago and for the first time in a decade, I was going to be out in the job market.  It was a daunting challenge to say the least.  Even though you aren’t necessarily happy, you acheive a level of comfort which provides a sense of security.  That security was taken away.  Since I am not married or have children, my job had a lot of definition of who I was as a person.  I was very good at what I did and that gave me a tremendous sense of pride.  Now that was gone.

However, I believe that when one door closes, another opens.  I was contacting some of my friends and family to tell them what happened and one of the calls I made was to a very dear friend Brian Smith who I met at St. Edward’s University while I was completing my undergraduate degree.  When I told him what had happened, he began to laugh which was not the initial response I hoped for.  When I asked him why he was laughing, the told me that he had an opportunity that I might be interested in.  Brian is a highly successful attorney.  He has his own law firm, Smith & Garg and he also operates Blue Sand, a website design and marketing company.  When I met with him, he explained that in addition to the business in The Woodlands, they are also opening a location in Long Beach, California.  It would involve me moving from Austin to the Woodlands and traveling frequently to the location in Long Beach.  He told me that he had always thought about me when it came to running this company, but knew that I was loyal to my previous employer.  Since that wasn’t an issue anymore, he wanted me to make the change.  One door closes and another opens.  It sounded like a great opportunity but I did have a few reservations.  Everything I knew was in Austin.  I liked Austin very much but much like my job, I was in somewhat of a rut there as well. 

After coming to Blue Sand and seeing the operation, I knew that this is where I needed to be.  Our designers and Search Engine Optimization experts are wizards.  I saw the enhusiasm of everyone here and it was so refreshing that I knew it was the right place for me .  As a person who was resistant to change in my personal life, I learned a valuable lesson.  Sometimes changes are forced upon us because we are unable to initiate it ourselves.  The last three weeks have been a whirlwind to say the least.  I have run the gauntlet of emotions but I have learned a valuable lesson.  Change and the challenges it presents can be a good thing.  We all have the capability to be better than we are currently but it involves making changes.  This is incredibly difficult but necessary.  If we are not happy but refuse to make changes and meet new challenges, growth as a person becomes impossible.

I am so grateful for the changes in my life that have occurred.  It is so refreshing to look forward to coming to work instead of feeling obligated to do so.  I can’t wait to find out what is behind the next door.  If you don’t like something in your life, make the change.  If you don’t like the change make another one that you do.  Life is so short that we can potentially spend our entire time not living it.  Be willing to make changes in your life, but also be willing to accept changes that are made in your life for you.  Happiness and comfort are not the same thing.  Sometimes one leads to the other but they are not entirely synonymous.  Be willing to see the difference between the two.   

With my new direction with Blue Sand I see a great opportunity to make changes in my life, but help my clients make changes to their businesses that will greater improve their ability to achieve success.