30 Years Ago

I got to work early. It was April 2, 1996.

Darrel, my boss, called me into the boardroom.

He told me they were laying off 17 people at the ad agency. I was one of them.

I don’t remember much of what he said, but I know he got teary eyed. We had worked together for over a decade. He was the best boss.

I walked back to my office. Sat there in shock.

The agency’s biggest client, and my dear friend, was being told about the upheaval at the same time by the agency’s president.

Minutes later she came to my office, gestured that we needed to get the fuck out of there. I grabbed my purse and coat and we left.

We ended up at Monk McQueens. It seemed like the appropriate thing to do. Some industry colleagues gathered to give condolences and wondered what the hell was happening. This was one of Vancouver’s biggest agencies. No one had an answer, but being around friends helped.

I drank a bit… ok, I drank a lot.

Hours later I came up with the thought that if I was no longer going to be one of Vancouver’s top agency producers, maybe I should become a personal trainer. And maybe I would not work at a gym but would train people in their homes.

No one saw that coming… not even me.

I would call the company, Go Big Or Go Home

One small thought. One hint of what could be. One leap of faith.

The path away from the advertising world wasn’t a straight line. I was lucky knowing I held the cards as the process bled out. A healthy new contract kept me around and fueled my transition.

Becoming a personal trainer, building a business, getting clients, and finding a new path was a challenge.

Hard to believe it was 30 years ago. It has been an incredible journey.

So many things changed. Even me.

I’m thankful every day that I get to do this work. Helping people obtain their goals is the best way to fuel and live your life.

Go Big Or Go Home