As I look back on my life, one of the most momentous occasions to me was when I learned to drive. I remember thinking that once I learned to drive and get my own car, I would have absolute freedom.
I thought I would be able to accomplish anything I wanted because I had a driver’s license and a car. Now, as a youngster, I was of course naïve in thinking that learning to drive would be the end-all-be-all that life had to offer. But hey, I was young!
Learning to drive was quite an experience and extremely stressful for me. You see, my dad taught me to drive. He was a wonderful man, and at the same time very strict and stern when it came to operating a vehicle.
I first learned to drive a car with an automatic transmission and then I learned to drive with manual transmission. The manual transmission experience is a story for another time as I literally burned out the transmission within six hours of trying to learn to drive that car.
The first two things my father taught me about learning to drive was to put your seat belt on and to check your rearview mirror to make sure it was aligned properly. This was back in the day when wearing a seatbelt was not required and there were no shoulder straps. He was serious about safety and I am so appreciative for him teaching me this habit early on.
In spite of Dad’s constant reminders, I often forgot to check if my rearview mirror was positioned correctly. To be honest, it was rather annoying at the time as I never understood the reasoning for this activity. The fact that it was directly in the middle of the windshield was also bothersome.
Eventually, I began to appreciate his constant reminders about checking the rearview mirror. I started to see the wisdom of looking ahead but always checking to see what’s behind. My dad would tell me that it’s just not good enough turning your head to see if you could change lanes, but he always said be mindful of the “blind spots” and check your mirrors. He was right and checking my mirrors saved me more times than I can count!
I started to appreciate the position of the rearview mirror as I found I could focus on what was ahead with just a quick glance of knowing what was behind. To be honest, I don’t even see it anymore as it’s just there and it has become a habit for me to always check the review mirror along with putting on my seat belt.
When I became a dad and started to teach my children how to drive a car, I taught them to obey these first two rules even before they even start the car… put on your seat belt and check your mirrors. To this day, when I drive my wife’s car and adjust the mirrors, I always remind her to fix the mirrors for her view.
As I think back now, I can just imagine my father telling me to put on my seat belt and check my mirrors. I guess this is his way of still taking care of me even though he’s not around anymore to remind me.
So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!
As we finish out the year and start a new year, I find it fascinating to look ahead and at the same time take note of what is behind, just like the mirror in the top middle of the windshield. It’s out of the way for us to view what’s in front of us but right there as a simple reminder of where we’ve come and to take note of any obstacles that may be obstructing us from what is/was behind.
To me that means learning from my mistakes and challenges and always being mindful of those opportunities to learn. And as far as my windshield, it symbolizes how big my future is. It gets
dirty sometimes, but I always have the opportunity to clean it off to get a better view – just like my online business.
Sometimes things aren’t as clear as I’d like, so I put my mind in the right place “clean it off”, if you will, so that I can look at things in a much clearer view.
This year is going to be a challenging and fulfilling year, I can just feel it. I’m expanding my marketing approach on social media and I am expanding my video content with a new and fun (at least for me) feel. I’m very excited to get things going with TikTok as well as becoming open to other opportunities.
I plan to prepare for all of my ventures through training and action. I will always be mindful of what’s behind in order to prepare me for what’s ahead.
What about you? Are you starting the year off with a bang and looking forward to what is ahead? Or are you stuck re-living decisions that are behind you?
I propose we do both! One can be very successful by learning from the past, applying those learnings to correct course and having the mindset to embrace new opportunities.
So, off to clean my windshield, adjust my rearview mirror and look to the future. I hope you continue to ride along with me in my journey.
I know it sounds kind of corny, but your comments are like you sitting in the passenger seat next to me while we have a conversation.
I wish the best for you in this upcoming year and that you enjoy your journey looking ahead!
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” – Albert Einstein
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:
Why did the student driver avoid taking left turns? They didn’t think it was the right thing to do!
What do driving students and bad jokes have in common? They both have a rough start!
And a Bonus:
Why do new drivers make terrible jokes? Because their humor takes too many turns!
Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!
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Hi, Ernie!
I am excited about what 2025 will bring us! I feel like, “It’s Happening!” I am eager to do the work and watch 2025 unfold with all its exciting surprises. I enjoyed your reference to the rearview mirror as a way to help us see clearly where we’ve been and guide us to where we’re going. I look back on 2024 at the beginning of 2025, but I don’t usually let what I’ve learned in the past to guide me as consistently as you describe. Love it! I’m going to hang a little mirror above my desk to help remind me to keep perspective and guide me as I move forward. It’s an unusual and fantastic idea that keeping a glance on the past can help our future.
Nakina
Hi Nakina – You used the word unfold. I love that word as a perfectly describes the opportunity we have this upcoming year and that is to unfold our potential. Similar to unwrapping a gift. Your idea of hanging a mirror is brilliant. It not only reminds us to look backwards as we look forward but also, we can see ourselves and what we look like at the moment. Oftentimes, our faces don’t lie. I used to ask those that I managed to hang a mirror over their computer if they were in customer service and practice smiling as they talked to a customer. It’s amazing how the customers respond to a smile that cannot see. That’s what you’re comment made me do, smile! Thanks for your visit and have a wonderful day!
Ernie, That appears to be sound advice to do both. I’m looking at the experience behind me and I’m using that experience to get myself ramped-up and get back in the groove of lead ads. With some good preparations underway, the new year will soon spring forward with a bang!
Hello – Yes! You and I are in total agreement. As long as I don’t dwell on the past, especially mistakes, but use my errors to learn, I should be fine. Preparation is key! You nailed this point perfectly. Thanks for your visit to my blog post and have a great week, my friend!
What a great reflection on life and business—it’s so important to look ahead with optimism and clarity, while also taking lessons from our past. I love how you emphasized learning from mistakes and using them to fuel future growth. It’s a beautiful reminder that we can clean off the “windshield” and adjust our perspective at any time to keep moving forward. Here’s to embracing both the lessons behind and the exciting opportunities ahead! 🚗💡 Looking forward to seeing your journey unfold this year!
Hi Alison – Yes! Cleaning off the windshield with a fresh outlook is so helpful and healthy, right? I am very optimistic about this upcoming year, and I look forward to both of our successes as we take a deeper plunge in this business. I’m a true fan of yours and I’m very appreciative of your visits and comments on my blog post. Thank you for your insights and I wish you a very Happy New Year!
What another fantastic post! I love how you tied the lessons from learning to drive with the journey of running an online business—it’s such a relatable analogy! Your dad’s wisdom about always checking the rearview mirror resonates deeply. It’s such a lovely reminder to reflect on where we’ve been while staying focused on the road ahead.
I also chuckled at the part about burning out the manual transmission—been there, done that, and the stress was real!
Your optimism and excitement for the year ahead are contagious. Here’s to cleaning those windshields, learning from our blind spots, and cruising into a future full of opportunity! Cheers to an amazing year ahead!
Hi Sarah – Thank you so much for your very nice comments! As I reflect on my life and I try to apply it to my business I find that my dad had a very impactful influence on me. That makes me happy as he’s no longer with us physically, but he’s always with me as I learned from his wisdom and lessons. Yes, the clutch thing was horrible and a lessened I learned the hard way. 🙂 I look forward to what this year has to offer and I wish you the absolute best!
Happy new year Ernie,
Loved this blog entry and yes, getting that mirror straightened out is one of the 1st things I remember being taught when I started driving.
I also remember my grandfather, in his infinite wisdom, telling me: “do you know why the rearview mirror is smaller than the windshield?… It’s because what’s in back of you isn’t as important as what’s in front… mostly when you have a 45 foot truck in front of you!”.
I can also feel that 2025 will be a game-changer and hope that its infectious to you and all others in our community!
All the best!
Hi Marc – It sounds like your grandfather and my dad will cut from the same cloth, right? I agree that this year is going to be a game changer! It just has to… simple as that! Thank you for your visit to my blog and for your comments. To the absolute best and have a wonderful day!
Hi Ernie,
I really enjoyed reading this post. The way you compared driving lessons to life and business is such a creative perspective. The focus on learning from the past while staying prepared for the future is a great takeaway. It’s motivating to see how you’re approaching the new year with clarity and optimism. Here’s to a successful and fulfilling year ahead!
Meredith
Hi Meredith – Thank you for your visit to my blog post and for your nice comments. One of my goals is clarity and now that you mentioned it, having some optimism helps. I look forward to all of our success this year! Have a great day!
Hey Ernie, Learning to drive a car is always a stressful experience. But I wonder for who? The instructor or the student? As I completed recently this part of instruction with my daughter, I think dad came out of this experience with a little more stress!😅And next year it is going to be the turn of my youngest one, and the most distracted. 🫣 Well, with the adjustment of the mirror I added the cleaning of the rear camera. Now that we have other set of tools to help the driver, let’s not forget the basics of driving safely and learn from the experience of those who were there before. Nice post Ernie!
Martin
Hi Martin – I remember teaching my children to drive and can totally relate to now what my dad had to go through with me and my siblings. Talk about stress! I wish you the best as you work through this with your young ones and I also wish you the best as you work through your young business. Cheers to you and your success!
Happy New Year, Ernie! 🎉🚗✨
What a fantastic reflection on the lessons learned from driving—and how they apply to running a business! I love your analogy between the rearview mirror and the windshield. It’s so true that we must acknowledge our past experiences while keeping our eyes focused on the future.
Your commitment to learning from mistakes and staying adaptable is inspiring. I’m excited to see how your new marketing strategies and video content unfold this year! Embracing new opportunities while reflecting on what went well (and what didn’t) is the perfect mindset for success.
I’m with you on this journey—let’s keep our windshields clean and our mirrors adjusted as we navigate the path ahead! Here’s to making 2025 challenging and fulfilling!
P.S. Your dad jokes always bring a smile! Keep them coming! 😄
Hello Ezequiel – It is great to hear from you and I always appreciate your visit and your comments on my blog posts. I truly am committed to learning from my mistakes but need to really focus on not dwelling on them. That has always been a challenge for me as it’s hard to move past something when I’ve made an error. I need to learn that what is in the past is in the past and I can still move forward. And yes, I do love telling dad jokes. I’m not sure how many people besides you like hearing them, but I do plan to continue. 🙂