On a Sunday a short time after I left my corporate position in search of a break and new opportunities (as described in my first post) I was watching my favorite football team win decisively over a rival. I am an avid sports fan and very competitive in nature, so you’d think this game would have made my day. However, I found myself distracted with some negative self-talk when I should have been high-fiving family members as my team continued to score at will. I was thinking about my future, wondering when I was going to find a new career opportunity, confused 
why career prospects were limited, etc. As I sat there thinking, my third grandchild came over to me, grabbed my finger and began to tug. Since he is only one, his verbal communication is limited to a few words. However, when he really wants something, he simply goes to you and drags you where he wants you to go! For those that know me and my relationship with my grandkids, they are “perfect” in every way, can do nothing wrong and pretty much get what they want within reason. So, I did what any reasonable grandfather in my position would do, I immediately jumped up and was subject to his will. I thought he wanted a drink, snack or a toy he could not reach. Instead, he led me to the front door. I opened the door and he proceeded to pull me outside to a walking path we take often. I asked him where he wanted to go. He just pointed ahead, so off we went. A short time later, I stopped, leaned over and asked him, do you just want to get out and take a walk, buddy?” He smiled, shook his head up and down and pulled me further ahead. The little guy just wanted to take a walk with his grandfather. He could have chosen anyone else in the room, but he chose me to be his adventure partner for the day. It hit me at that moment…my grandchild was teaching me a lesson. When you get stuck, board, in a rut or whatever, don’t just sit there and wallow! Get up, get moving and go forward to wherever the path will take you! Look for an adventure or at least, enjoy the view. That day, my one-year-old grandson was my teacher and hero. The picture in this post is my little guy holding my finger as he leads me along a path to who knows where, but somewhere great.
The very next day, I got up early, got ready and changed course. Yes, I was still going to try and secure a new opportunity at a company that may need my years of experience and knowledge, but I was not going to limit myself. I was going consider any path that may encourage the freedom that I truly now desire. I began to search for ideas to not only work from home, but to spend fewer hours in work and more hours with my family. I kept coming across online product marketing. After countless hours of research and review of many reputable, and not so reputable opportunities, I just kept seeing the concept of affiliate marketing come up over and over again. What I did not like was all the get rich quick promises out there. As we all have heard, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” And then, I believe I found something interesting with a company that did not promise to make me rich overnight. In fact, they promised it would take work and effort to succeed. So, with the support of my wife, I jumped in and discovered this online venture is the real deal, a true opportunity that will get me to where I want to be if I try, am willing to learn and practice patience. Since I started, I am learning stuff like how to build a website, how to market, how to grow an online business and many other things. I even now have a coach and mentor to assist me!
Oh, I plan to still look for a position at a company that wants my years of experience. I’m not quite ready to call it a career just yet. As I progress in this online adventure, my passion to work in my chosen field may turn into a consulting gig and not the full-time corporate position as it was before. Who knows where this journey will take me. For right now, I am enjoying life and enjoying my family. In future posts I will chronicle my journey in affiliate marketing alongside my search for career opportunities (if even needed).
And to my grandchild, thank you! I’ll follow any path you lead me on any day! By the way, my football team destroyed their rival! 🙂
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. ”
―
Because my grandkids really like dinosaurs, here a doozy of a grandpa joke:
What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary and an excellent memory?
A thesaurus-rex!
Have a great day and stay FRESH!
Ernie, What an adorable dinosaur joke! I absolutely enjoy a good Dad (or Grandad) joke. I believe children teach us valuable lessons every day, and your grandchild certainly did just that. I’m delighted to see you out of that rut and embarking on this wonderful journey. I have full confidence that you will achieve success, and I’m look forward to keeping up with your progress!
Sherri
Hello and thank you for visiting my blog! I find that humor helps (but my wife may not find my puns and dad jokes so humor as they are constant! 🙂 ). Yes, kids teach us more than we know or sometimes, care to admit.
lovely story. its good to be reminded every now and then that every journey has to begin so ewhere. How’s the affiliate stuff working out for you?
Hello Tony – It is so hard to start over and be the “new guy.” I am new to the affiliate gig but my hopes are VERY high and I am truly optimistic about success! Thank you for your visit to my blog, my friend!
Hi Ernie, I enjoyed reading this and I love the way you were able to get a life lesson from a one year old. It’s never to late to learn and its never to early to teach. God bless,
Hello – I am still in learning mode and now open to be taught by those of any age :). Thank you for the visit and blessings right back at you!
This is such a lovely story. The picture is a heart melter and I hope you go on lots of adventures together- I’m sure you will. My relationship to my grandad is very similar and I cherish all the memories I have when I was young. Love every minute with them.
Get rich quick never works. You’ve done the right thing.
I hope you get to leave your consulting job and manage to do this full time one day. The journey will be worth it. I’m looking forward to your next blog.
Thank you for the visit and yes, Grandkids are the BEST! While I am looking to become financially independent without needing to consult or a have “regular job,” I am finding I am already a “wealthy man” in many ways with the support of family and friends!
Ernie! What a wonderful read it warmed my heart so much reading about your relationship with your grandchildren. As a grandparent too, I smiled warmly to myself reading how perfect they are and how they pretty much get what they want – within reason. I couldn’t agree more, I have 8 grandchildren and they are so perfect and they do get what they want…within reason lol. Grandchildren are beautiful blessings 🙏
I just finished reading a post that had this written in it…when the student is ready the teacher appears. I am a firm believer in that and I think that is why you kept coming back around to the concept of Affiliate Marketing as it is right for you 😊
I wish you every success as you embark on your journey and a possible new job too! Awesome your team won…slayed it…whoo hoo and the joke lol…very cute.
I look forward to revisiting your blog and reading your posts!
https://karenelissabeth.com/hello-2024/
Ahhhh, yes! Grandkids are gems and a source of energy to my weary bones! Thank you for sharing what you read about students and teachers – SO TRUE! Thank you for your wishes and same to you!!!
This is so beautiful; I love your message: “When you get stuck, board, in a rut or whatever, don’t just sit there and wallow! Get up, get moving, and go forward to wherever the path will take you!” This is such a valuable lesson you learned, and I can picture your grandson grabbing your hand; my nephews do this to me often! Kids can teach us so much! I love how they look at the world with such excitement that anything can happen and is possible, and every day is an opportunity for adventure. What a great lesson to share and a wonderful reminder!
Hi Alison – I am learning more and more every day what it means to move forward! Thank you so much for the visit!
I’m certainly not as much of an avid sports fan as you – but having been born a Wisonsinite I’m cheering, “Go Packers Go!” this weekend.
What a great story and lesson from your grandson! We often find ourselves on a path to who knows where. And if there is no adventure, excitement or at least enjoying the view – what’s the point?
I also like where your priorities lie. I believe that becoming profitable with affiliate marketing is only a catalyst to help us achieve the goals that are important to us in sharing a good life with others – or as you say – staying FRESH!
Yes, I do love sports and will probably include a few sports analogies in future posts. Robert, I completely agree with your thoughts on what is truly important! And, congratulations on your Packers getting past the first round! 🙂
great encouraging story, I think for most of us family is a big reason why we do what we do – it’s great to have the encouragement and support of your family
Nathan – I could not agree more! Thank you for visiting and allowing me to share my thoughts in my little blog.
How heartwarming! Kids can teach us the best ways to look at life. I look forward to hearing more about your online journey and your grandkids. Good luck with your consulting search! I wish you the best, and look forward to your next post 🙂
Knowing me, you have heard the last about my grandkids and what they teach me. Thank you for the wishes, visiting my blog and best wishes send right back at you!
You are very wise not to believe in get rich quick promises. I wish I had your wisdom many years ago when I first started affiliate marketing. It could have save me thousands of dollars. Perhaps your grandchild has inherited your wisdom 🙂
I cannot claim to be wise, but hope I learn more to listen to those that are wise! I wish you much success in this field and I hope to learn from those, like you, in affiliate marketing! Thanks for the visit!
Ernie, that was a really good blog and I enjoyed reading it. I’m glad your team won. You’re absolutely right. The innocence of children is amazing where they just get up and carry on and we forget that as adults. We start thinking about should we do it, can we do it, how can I do it and we just end up putting roadblocks in front of ourselves. I used to do this a lot and I still do sometimes, but when I feel that pressure in my head about being negative, I just stand up and go and do what I was supposed to do. I’m trying to get away from the corporate world here in London I’ve been doing it for 26 years and I’m ready to do something for myself now from home. I wish you great success and look forward to reading what you do next . Thanks, Atif
Thank you for your heartfelt visit and words of encouragement! I appreciate you taking the time to remind me of what is important! Best wishes to you, my friend!
Ernie,
It is amazing what we can learn from innocent children. They can lead you by the hand and teach us so many lessons if we allow them to. Just like your grandchild guided you on your walk, so can your mentor guide you on your journey. We just need to hold on to our mentor and let them guide us down the affiliate marketing path step-b-step.
Thanks for sharing this moment.
CJ
Hello and thank you for your visit! Yes, I am learning to understand that a mentor can be anyone or anything that helps me achieve my goal of success. I suppose in this case I archived two things: 1) a lesson from my grandchild on moving forward and more importantly, 2) quality time with this wonderful child!
Ernie,
I loved your story! Grandchildren are the best, aren’t they? If we just stop and see things through their eyes sometimes, we may learn more than we could even realize! I wish you much success in your journey!
Kelli
They are the best! I need to remember that they teach me more than I can ever imagine. I learn from them and learn about myself because of them. Thank you for your visit!