{"id":21973,"date":"2017-02-08T15:20:16","date_gmt":"2017-02-08T15:20:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/?p=21973"},"modified":"2021-04-20T20:16:34","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T00:16:34","slug":"because-of-them-part-3-of-my-personal-story-the-big-reveal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thefranchiseking.com\/because-of-them-part-3-of-my-personal-story-the-big-reveal","title":{"rendered":"Because Of Them: Part 3 Of My Personal Story (The Big Reveal)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"things<\/a><\/p>\n

My “Because Of Them<\/em>” series is a behind-the-scenes look into who helped shape my life. The people who helped me become who I am and what I’ve been able to accomplish* so far.<\/p>\n

*The things I’ve been able to accomplish directly<\/strong> benefit the people I help; today’s would-be franchise business owners. That’s what’s important.<\/p>\n

In Part 2<\/a> of this series of posts, I shared what my life* was like as a mid-teen up to my early 20’s.<\/p>\n

*My work<\/em>-life. My time in the restaurant business.<\/p>\n

(In between the restaurant gigs, I followed my dream to be in entertainment. Read Part 1<\/a> to see where I ended <\/em>up-and what part of the entertainment world I ended up in<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

Most of the people who helped me (them<\/em>) during those years were my bosses. They taught me a lot-and they provided me with lots of opportunities for advancement. Sometimes the opportunities were offered by my prodding. (I drove them crazy. I wanted more. Always<\/em>.) And some of the opportunities were offered because they “saw something in me<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

Admittedly, It felt good when I got the opportunities. It felt good to get promoted; it meant I had more responsibility.<\/p>\n

(I’m almost there…but I’m pretty nervous about this next part.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Please Read This Paragraph<\/h2>\n

(Part of it is from Part 2 of this post.<\/em>)
\nBy the early 80\u2019s, I was deeply entrenched in the Cleveland restaurant scene. I liked the lifestyle, too. I was working until midnight; then partying with other restaurant people until 4-5 am\u2026sleeping in until 2 in the afternoon-going to work<\/em> and then doing it all over again, 6 days a week. As I said, I liked<\/del> loved the lifestyle. It suited me, and at 22 years <\/em>old-what could go wrong?<\/strong> I was living at home, had money in my pocket, a car, and some good friends who liked to do what I liked to do. <\/em><\/p>\n

Did you see them in that paragraph? Did you see those 4 words? (They’re bolded<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Yes. Those<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Things Did Go Wrong. Horribly Wrong.<\/h2>\n

My partying turned into a full-time gig.<\/b> I was out every night. At least<\/em> 6 nights a week. Sometimes 7.<\/p>\n

As a result, my priorities changed. The career ladder I was enthusiastically (and successfully<\/em>) climbing was becoming a lot harder to climb. Truth be told, I stopped thinking about ladders. And climbing.<\/p>\n

\"career<\/a><\/p>\n

Actually, I stopped thinking about anything<\/b> that had to do with advancing my career<\/em>.<\/p>\n

And I stopped thinking about things that had anything to do with responsibility. That young adult stuff.<\/p>\n

Instead, I became focused on one thing…and one thing only:<\/p>\n

Getting drunk and getting high<\/em>. (And staying<\/strong> drunk and high<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Sadly,<\/em><\/strong> all of my energy was being used on figuring out the best way to get what I needed to keep me buzzed. I was basically working to earn enough money to support my increasingly expensive habit<\/del> habits. And since 80% of my income was coming from tips, I had cash in my pocket every night after work. (Which was always gone within a few hours<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Paranoia<\/h2>\n

I was starting to get paranoid. Real<\/em> paranoid. I felt like I was being watched. Followed even. Because of the things I was doing…the things I was partaking in.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the bar I hung out at was starting to feel wrong. In particular, there were people sitting at the bar I never saw before. Were they cops?<\/p>\n

Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe I was just being paranoid.<\/p>\n

One day you’re gonna’ self-destruct<\/em>
\n You’re up, get down, I’ll come work you out<\/em>
\n You get a good thing goin’ then you blow yourself out<\/em>
\n Silly boy ya’ self-destroyer. Silly boy ya’ self-destroyer<\/em>
\n Silly boy you got so much to live for<\/em>
\n So much to aim for, so much to try for<\/em>
\n You blow it all with, paranoia<\/em>
\n You’re so insecure you, self-destroyer<\/em>
\n paranoia, they destroy ya<\/em>
\n (Here it goes again) paranoia, they destroy ya<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

-From Destroyer, by The Kinks<\/p>\n