In Living Color…

We all take certain things for granted in life like the smell of fresh baked cookies or when we put our key in the ignition and the car magically starts. There are so many things that happen to us daily that we just don’t think about. But not everybody is the same and has the same life experiences. There are things in life that we have no control over. I’m going to share something with you that many take for granted…but not me.

I am color blind. Well, not really full-blown color blind. I’m what’s known as color deficient. I see most of the same colors that others see, I just see them differently. My color observation depends on the time of the day, the lighting, and yes…even my mood.

There are certain colors that I just really can’t tell the difference between. Such as green and brown – no clue. Reds and dark oranges – I’m totally lost. Blues and purples and pinks – I do a face palm just trying to understand the difference. And then there’s all these funky colors like mauve and fuchsia and amber and azure and champagne and on and on and on!!! For a guy like me who can barely comprehend the basic color wheel it is cruel to add these additional colors!

Ohh, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the beauty of colors, I just appreciate them differently. Let me explain. When I was in kindergarten my class was given an assignment to color a frog. I colored it orange because to me that looked like the color of frogs.

My teacher, Mrs. Waddell, thought I was being “smart” and corrected me. I told her that’s what frogs look like and again she thought I was being disrespectful so she called my mom.  I had no idea what I did wrong!

On my next visit to the pediatrician, my mom told the Doctor about the incident and he gave me a test that showed I was color deficient. Because there is a history of color blindness and color deficiency in my family, this was not a surprise. So take that, Mrs. Waddell, I was not being disrespectful I was just being me! 😊

As I progressed through my formative years it really was not a big deal until I got to high school and fashion became an issue. Everybody was dressing very color coordinated and looking smart and fresh.  I would just wear anything that I felt comfortable wearing because it really didn’t matter to me.

You see, to someone like me, everything matches. Nothing clashes and everything looks good together! I don’t understand how people live trying to match their clothes and make sure that everything looks fine. One does not need to worry about it… unless you’re a high school boy trying to get the attention of high school girls who think you look absolutely silly.

Now, I grew up in the 80s and if you know anything about that era, you know there was a lot of colors and a lot going on with clothing. This was a real distraction for me and I felt pretty bad and out of place most of the time.

Until one day this girl that I liked helped me understand that this “deficiency” was really a gift. We were discussing how I could not distinguish the colors of a rainbow and I felt pretty discouraged about that because I thought I was missing something. She asked me a couple questions. First, she asked me how could I miss something I never had? She then asked me if I was any less of a person because of this condition? Then she made a statement that changed the way that I saw this matter. She said, “You’re lucky, you get to see the rainbow in your own way. The rest of us see it the same way as everybody else. For you, it’s like your own personal rainbow.” After that I never worried about being color blind. It was an eye-opening experience to accept that my uniqueness was just part of me.

Fast forward about a decade when I was dating a very pretty girl, who is now my very pretty wife, and she was helping me pick out an outfit for my job after my university classes. I worked for a law firm at the time and on occasion, I had to go to court to support the attorney in various cases. Going to court was an important task and the attorneys in our office asked that business attire be worn in that environment.

The problem was my girlfriend was not with me and advised me what to wear over the phone. I tried to explain the options in my closet at the time and she directed me on something to wear based on what she heard. Unfortunately, what I described in my closet was not what she envisioned. When I went to court that day my attorney gave me a strange look and asked that I complete a different task outside the courtroom.  I was bummed out as I loved going to court to watch my attorney in action.

Later that night when I picked up my girlfriend for a date, she looked at me and gasped. She said, “please tell me you didn’t wear that outfit!” I then realized why I was dismissed from the courtroom that day.

Fast forward a few more years and now I’m married to this pretty lady who lays out my clothes for me the night before when I have somewhere to go that requires an appropriate appearance the next day. She does this for two reasons: 1) she wants to make sure that her husband looks neat and tidy and 2) she admits that the way I look could be perceived as a reflection on her and she cannot have me going out in public looking like a fool.

We have this running joke in our family that you will know when my wife and I have had an argument the night before based on what I’m wearing the next day. I feel very blessed to have someone in my life who will make sure that I look appropriate even though it really doesn’t matter to me.

So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!

My silly illustration has a lot to do with running an online business. When I first got started in this online business, I had no idea what I was doing and I was just winging it. Not until I finally received some direction and some mentoring, along with a lot of coaching, did I understand I needed quite a bit of help.

Just like me not knowing how to recognize colors, I didn’t know the aspects of this business and could not fully appreciate the complexity of starting an online business. I was doing a lot of things that just didn’t “match” up and spending a lot of time not knowing that what I was doing.

I often wondered why others were doing so well and I was just spinning my wheels. Then I discovered the program that offered coaching and mentoring and realized it really wasn’t anything that I could control. I was just “color blind” to my situation and had to learn how to adjust.

I was fortunate to find mentors and peers that have helped me understand how to do things.  I am not shy about asking for help or asking someone to review my work because as they say, “I don’t know what I don’t know.”

And then it hit me, my “ignorance” of not really knowing or understanding my business was actually a gift. Yeah, that does sound crazy, but it’s true. I was given the gift to learn this business and to learn it correctly. I was given the gift to fully appreciate what I have accomplished because of what I have learned in spite of my lack of knowledge in the beginning. The gift of learning and the gift of success are real. You put them together… wow, it truly is the gift that keeps on giving!

As I’ve discussed in previous blog posts I was lost in all the computer and mobile applications, complex systems, websites, marketing and a whole lot of other stuff. I was making things harder because I just didn’t know any better. I was lost and nothing seemed to fit until I decided to reach out for help and accept that I could reach my potential if I was just patient and persistent.

I’m still “color blind” to this business. I am still learning. I am still asking for help.  I never want to get to the point where I feel like I know everything because then complacency will set in. Instead, I will be constantly reviewing and continually looking in the mirror to make sure that what I do matches my goals.

Let me ask you a question. What gets in your way because of what you don’t know? I know that’s a loaded question because you just may not know the answer. But, please be open to suggestion and be open when someone says that things just don’t look right because they’re just probably trying to help.

Now, it’s getting late, the sun is going down and I think I’ll go enjoy a sunset that only I can see.

“The more we can see people as people – and not as labels – the more the world opens up for us.” – Fred Rogers

“I prefer living in color.” – David Hockney

And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:

What did the pink paint say to the blue paint? “Quit acting so blue! You’re making me blush!

What do colors say when they get in trouble? “I guess I’m in a bit of a shade-y situation!”

Why do pirates like the color Red? “Because it begins with the letter ARRRRR”

 

Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!

 

 

 

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14 thoughts on “In Living Color…”

  1. Ernie, what an inspiring post! First of all, congratulations on your amazing journey and thank you for sharing such a personal and insightful story. It’s incredible how you’ve turned something as challenging as color deficiency into a strength, and even a metaphor for your business journey. The way you described your childhood experiences, especially with the frog and your teacher, really highlights how unique and personal our perceptions can be. I loved the part where the girl told you that you see your own personal rainbow—what a beautiful way to embrace your individuality!

    Your honesty about how you initially struggled with understanding the complexities of running an online business resonates deeply. It’s so relatable to feel “color blind” to the challenges and nuances of something new, and your willingness to ask for help and accept guidance is a lesson for all of us. Your journey from confusion to clarity, thanks to mentorship and support, is truly inspiring. I’m genuinely motivated by your story and grateful for the reminder that it’s okay to not know everything at first, as long as we stay open to learning and growing. Thank you again for sharing this, and I look forward to reading more of your posts my friend. Take care, Atif

    1. Hi Atif – Thank you for visiting my blog and for your nice comments! As you can tell from my style of writing my blogs, I tried to correlate a personal story into how it can affect my business in a positive way. That just the way my brain works. I follow you closely in a motivated by your will to succeed as well as your tenacity and persistence. I look forward to watching how you succeed so that I can learn from you. Thanks again for your visit and have a fantastic week!

  2. I love your stories, Ernie! What your friend said about your unique perspective about rainbows is brilliant! This is the challenge of the entrepreneur: to see each facet of our businesses as an opportunity to move further along our chosen path. Nothing could be exciting!

    1. Hi Kate – YES! Perspective is everything, right? Regardless of the situation that you’re in, many times you can always find a positive aspect and use it towards your benefit. That’s what I have done. For your nice comments and for your visit to my blog. Have a great week!

  3. Hi Ernie,

    I loved how you tied your personal experience with color blindness into running an online business, it really highlights the importance of seeking guidance and embracing the learning process. Your story is a great reminder that we all have our unique challenges, but those differences can actually become our strengths if we approach them with the right mindset.

    Also, your ability to find humor and positivity, even in situations like mismatching clothes, really shines through. Thank you for sharing this perspective and for making me smile. 😊

    I hope you have a great week ahead…

    Meredith

    1. Hi Meredith- Thank you so much for taking the time to visit, read and comment on my blog post. Yes, I try to add a story whether I’m blogging or just talking to family and friends. I’ve always been this way and I think people now expected of me. Being colored deficient has always been a challenge but it’s not something that I cannot overcome with help and a positive mindset… just like this business. Have a fantastic week!

  4. What a beautiful and inspiring post! I really look forward to reading your blogs but this one really loved. It’s amazing how you’ve turned your experience with colour deficiency into such a valuable lesson about life and business. Your view on embracing uniqueness is so refreshing, and I love how you’ve connected it to your journey in the online world. It’s a great reminder that we all have our own “colours” to offer, even if they look a little different from what others expect. Plus, your fashion mishaps made me chuckle! Keep shining in your own unique way!

    1. Hi Sarah! Thank you again for visiting and commenting on my blog. I also appreciate how you like my silliness and you are so nice in your comments. Embracing uniqueness is key if one wants to successfully navigate this life. All of us are different, right? Why not celebrate those differences. and, as you noted, my fashion mishaps continue to make all those around me chuckle. My wife was away this weekend and it was pretty much just a t-shirt weekend for me. Thankfully I didn’t see very many people for them to comment out loud or in their own head about my fashion sense. 🙂 Have a great week, my friend!

  5. Ernie,

    I am not color blind, but my beautiful spouse still helps me pick out matching colors. I am proud that you figured out how to use what one might think of as a deficit to your advantage. For yet another week I am not blue as I am blushing at your jokes. You always keep me entertained.

    1. Hi Scott – Thank you so much for following my blog posts and for your nice comments. I’m glad you have a spouse that can help you even though you may not have a deficiency. Sometimes, the significant other people in our lives offer more than we realize… and for that we are truly blessed! I’m happy to provide all of my dad jokes, however, not sure if my family would agree with as much as I keep them rolling their eyes Ha ha ha! Have a great week!

  6. Very inspiring Ernie,
    I can say that I’ve also got a color deficiency and after wearing the green outfit of the Army for all those years, you can bet your outfit that my wife won’t let me leave the house before she’s either decided what I’m going to wear or approved what I’ve decided (as you can imagine, that part doesn’t happen too often! LOL!).
    That being said, great post and definitely can see the why and the how it relates to an online business!
    Take care!

    1. Hi Marc – Thanks for your reply! It sounds like our wives are very similar in that we have to get permission to leave based on how we look. For me, anyway, she reminds me it’s a reflection on her. Ha ha ha! Thank you for your reply and your visit to my post. And, by the way, thank you for your service!

  7. Hi Ernie! I really loved the way you closed your story: by seeing a sunset that only you can see, so you can make it yours! It’s fantastic! You made a very impressive and profound post here where we can all feel your authenticity. We are all color blind in fact because we don’t realize what true colors are. But you shine them through this post!
    And furthermore, how can you prove that we all perceive the exact same same colors? Perception is subjective right?
    Martin

    1. Hi Martin – That really is a very interesting and awesome perspective. I love it that it is all about perception and perspective and how we see things. Thank you very much for your visit to my blonde post and for your enlightening comments. Have a great day!

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