With Odyssey in theaters, it only seems right to mention a different type of Odyssey that a lot of you can relate to:

Project_final_v3_final_REALfinal.doc

Woof, now that’s a journey you went on to get that. It may not be a full ten years, but it feels like it. So how are saved files on your computer related to your Great Things? Stay with me, but remember that…

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Last week, my interview with Dr. Yzette Lanier and Dr. Keosha Bond went live surrounding the path to motherhood that many women quietly navigate. This conversation was eye-opening and helped me view things from a new perspective. If you haven’t already, set aside some time to watch this episode, I can’t recommend it enough.

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In my first live classes on Peloton, I felt like I’d been consuming mass amounts of that dangerous lettuce floating around out there. Not to the same extent, but the nerves were overwhelming which made my tummy all rumbly. 

I was transitioning from being someone who was used to feedback in real time while coaching clients in person, who didn’t even really want to pursue fitness to begin with, and who wasn’t a fan of a lot of eyes on me, to lighting all that on fire and stepping into a public-facing role on a virtual fitness platform in the middle of a pandemic. 

Shout out to my day one audience member: little red camera light. Thanks for being there and letting me know we’re live. You sure saw some shit.

As I debuted, I had no idea what the feedback was going to be from people. I couldn’t see anyone’s reactions; I couldn’t hear their expletives as I fit in another round of work, and I definitely had no idea if I was making sense. 

Of course, there is SO much preparation that goes into it, so I wasn’t walking out there with no plan or idea what to expect, but it was a huge departure from what I was used to. It was especially challenging because I did not feel like I belonged.

I questioned why I was there. I was nowhere near the caliber of my peers and saw all my flaws magnified by the bright studio lights, whether or not anyone else saw the same. I didn’t trust that I was there for a reason, or that there was something I had that made me qualified. All I could see was that my current product did not match my coworkers’. I was on Adrian_final_v1.doc while they were all on Project_final_v3_final_REALfinal.doc

What the above filename tells me is that there were at least 7 instances while creating this document that the person saving it thought it was the final product. You know, the one ready to be shared with the world. But each time, there was just one little thing that held back the release. Maybe it was a nagging detail of how something was phrased. Maybe this was a graphic, and you couldn’t get the right alignment that looked good. 

That file name tells a journey of review, determination, and being willing to go back to the drawing board again and again. I’m also picking up a lot of stress and the internal dialogue of THIS TIME IT'S IT! 

Most everything we see out in the wild went on a journey like this. Ads, social media posts, this newsletter(!!), and more all have a graveyard of drafts and rejected finals. 

Yes, I’m using “wild” to talk about everyday life, because boy is it wild out there. Who knew that there would come a time when eating my greens like Nana asked of me could render me locked to the bathroom. Sorry, no more lettuce talk. Lettuce move on to the topic at hand.

In the context of creating a file, image, or writing, it’s okay to not get it right the first time and pivot, sometimes to something entirely different.

If this is so normal for everything we consume, why do we expect ourselves to be different? Why do we get down when we don’t produce the final version the first time?

Thanks to social media and this newsletter, I have a pretty public record of who I am as a person and the various versions I’ve been. If you scroll far enough back in my Instagram, you can see the change in filters, angles, and subjects of my photos. Like most of you, looking back can make me cringe, but it’s also a beautiful reflection of the versions of me that have been there.

There was Landscape Photography Adrian, Carefree Adrian, Trying To Keep My New Job Secret Adrian, Loneliest I’ve Ever Been Adrian, Heartbroken Adrian, Goofy Adrian, Broke Adrian…. I think you get it; there are a lot of versions. 

But no matter how cringe these versions are, and no matter how much I failed at what I was trying to do during that time, I’ve learned that the most helpful mindset moving forward isn’t to focus on how I’ve come up short or how I’ve blown my progress with a mistake; it’s looking forward to the new possibilities, adjusting quickly, and trusting the foundation that I’ve built. 

This mindset has been reinforced in me through the Great Things series. In it, I’ve talked to a decent amount of people, most of whose businesses are well established and varied in what they offer, but they all share a common link:

They don’t harp on failure. It’s exactly what I dove into with my interview with Pix11 News last week if you prefer to hear me tell you about it 😉

If something happens, these owners and chefs are able to pivot. Maybe not immediately, but they are able to collect themselves and figure out a new path forward. There is a resilience of knowing that they can get back to where they were before, or even farther, if they are confident in the strong foundation that they’ve built.

Take George Joseph Switzer III, owner of Queen Anne Ravioli, who was a former NYPD officer who then pivoted to making ravioli. While some of his marketing efforts have shifted, much of his process has not changed over the years. He uses the same flour recipe for his ravioli that is made on an almost 130-year-old machine and has fought to keep his business open since the 80s.

Chef Nasim of Sofreh Cafe has gone through many versions of herself over the years. She studied to be a lawyer, ran a successful print shop, then pivoted to focusing on her family before she fulfilled her dream of opening a restaurant. The accolades she’s received would not have come if she were focused on what she lost or couldn’t achieve.

There is also Chef Jose Moreno of Birria-Landia who went from one food truck to prepping 1500 lbs of birria a day. He’s candid that as the owner of the business, everything falls back on him. Gone are the days when he just gets to focus on one thing; he needs to be a jack of all trades. Stopping to sit in failure means that he’s going to really lose out then.

All these owners and chefs understand that what you’re doing today could be rendered irrelevant tomorrow, and they’re okay with that.

Sure, that’s an incredibly de-motivating way to look at things, but it’s the realistic truth. I can’t tell you how many classes I’ve filmed on the platform that didn’t make it onto a saved class. No one else but the people in the studio or streaming will get to experience the result of hours of programming, music selection, and any other prep that went into creating and filming that class.

Yes, it absolutely sucks, but I’d do it all over again. In the process of creating something, I learned something new about myself or the product I’ve created. That means the next time I’m in the studio, I can build on what I created before; I can make a change that will render it usable.

When something is scrapped, or you have to start over, it doesn't mean that what you're doing isn't as valuable. It just means that sometimes life happens and takes a sharp left when you expected to go right. You’ll just have to figure out the new direction you want to go in while staying confident in your skill set and what you bring to the table. If you never stop wanting to grow and work hard, you’ll find yourself fighting your way back every time and making up anything you might have thought you lost. 

But even when you reach success (or at least you think you do), you can’t forget that you have to keep learning and exploring, especially when you get older, because that's when I feel like we are the most stubborn. Even if you think you’re on Project_final_v3_final_REALfinal.doc, there’s still more that you can get to.

So if anyone is still out there saving files, I hope the next time you create a new version, you stop to remember that you two are a work in progress and that it’s okay to not get the final version the first time. After all, Great Things Take Time and a whole bunch of saves.

If you only pause to reflect on your life for one moment today, do it now.

You’re a human; you’re not going to get it right the first time. But when you stay the course and focus on the goal, not the missteps, you’re on a straight shot to your Great Things.

Your turn! Journal your answer, or if you find yourself sharing the progress of your Great Things on social, tag me at @greatthingswith_adrian so I can join in on cheering you along!

Because no matter what, there is always something to smile about.

Just like being back in the school cafeteria, sitting in the green room for my Pix11 interview meant I was wondering if anyone wanted to talk to me or if I could make friends. Turns out, Rachel Goldman was someone I could set my lunch tray down next to and dive into a deep conversation. Getting to talk with her and hear about her new book, When Life Happens, was a great reminder about being open to new experiences and meeting new people. Some of the most chance encounters could start a butterfly effect to help you tap into a whole new world. What are you saying yes to today?

Going back through old pictures brought this one back up. Fun fact: that tree in the back corner stayed there until April or May. It was my emotional support tree; I couldn’t bear getting rid of it.

Despite the wild traffic for the WNBA (love to see the support!!) we had a blast bringing some fitness to the streets of Chicago. Here are some highlights that make me smile, reflect, or feel like just a small speck in this big universe.

From products I love, to routines I follow, to tips and tricks, I'm here to answer any questions you might have. Don't overthink it. If you want to know it, I'm sure someone else does, too.

Questions will be answered in upcoming newsletters