I had just graduated from Robert Morris University 2 days prior. Ever since I was in high school I had dreamed of moving to Florida upon graduating from college to start some sort of marvelous career. I’ve always been ambitious… looking 5 years down the road and seeing where I wanted to be. When I was 17 I wrote out my 5 year plan, and under Fall of 2006 I wrote “Move to Florida”.
It was May of 2006, I beat my goal I had set years prior. Go me…
Instead of driving from Pittsburgh to my new home in Daytona Beach, FL, I decided to take the auto train. My car could accompany me to my destination and I didn’t have to drive. We had taken the auto train as a family in order to get to Disney World when I was younger, so I was familiar with the experience. I remembered it being a fun adventure of sitting on the train, watching the scenery fly by as we made our way south. The trip takes about 14 hours, leaving in the evening and arriving in the morning.
Past being ambitious, I’m also very independent. I like doing new things on my own as well as testing my level of courage and confidence. Of course, we all fail to deliver from time to time in this area, but it’s still good to get our feet wet every now and again, challenge ourselves. When my father asked me if I would like him to accompany on my move, I politely declined. “Nope, I got this.”
I was starting my life in a new location. Fresh out of school, armed with a degree and dreams of making it big in the world of advertising, I was ready to do this. As I stepped on the train I could feel the excitement of the future and the fear of the unknown building pressure in my stomach. This train ride would be long, but would give me time to think, plan and dream of all that opportunities that lie ahead.
When traveling on the auto train, you are scheduled a certain time to eat in the dining car and are placed with other individuals whom you don’t know. Since I was traveling solo-style, I welcomed the company and was eager to meet new people. Little did I know, I was about to meet a gentleman who would change my life forever and be a constant reminder of what my goals are and how to achieve them.
I sat down at an empty table. Moments later, there he was… an older man, in his mid 60′s probably, dark skinned, white haired and wearing a warm smile. He was intriguing, one of those people you just know have seen and done things in his lifetime most can only dream of. He was quiet at first, seemed to be deep in thought over whether he wanted to order the chicken or the lasagna… chicken it was.
There were two other ladies at our table who were traveling together. The man and I sat quietly as the women discussed their travel plans amongst themselves. As dessert arrived, I looked up and our eyes met. I smiled at my interesting dinner companion. Then he asked “Where you headed?”
We talked briefly and I found out that he was retired, going to Florida to visit his daughter. I told him I was moving to Daytona to start my life. “Why Daytona?” he asked. I responded how Daytona Beach wasn’t exactly my ideal location, I really wanted to be in Tampa, but my boyfriend at the time had just started school there so I was compromising. I was still in Florida, right? My response seemed to disappoint the gentleman, and our conversation quickly came to a close.
I didn’t think much of it, until later, when I couldn’t sleep and decided to head into to the lounge car. It was then that I saw the man again. He was sitting by himself just staring out the window. I decided to sit with him and have a conversation. He didn’t look lonely, but he did look interesting… I was compelled.
We started a conversation about careers, life and love that lasted until the sun was starting to rise. Drinking coffee and sharing stories, I learned that this man, who had never officially graduated high school, worked his way up at an investment firm and retired as a partner of the business. It wasn’t easy. He told me how hard he worked and how many times he just wanted to give up… but he never did. He made sacrifices along the way, but everything was worth it in the end.
I told him how I admired that, and felt the same way. I wanted big things in life and wouldn’t let fear or challenges get in the way. The man challenged me on this point, however. He questioned my decision to sacrifice what I wanted from Florida for another person (referencing my decision to have moved to Daytona rather than Tampa for my at the time boyfriend) at such a young age. If my dreams and ambitions were my own, I should adhere to them… especially at this stage of the game.
I told him I was in love. Looking back, I realize I was young, comfortable in my situation and in what I thought was actual love. Despite my inexperience and ignorance to what I was getting myself into, my response seemed to settle deep into this man. Like he knew that I would learn. I didn’t know it at the time, but the next thing the man said would become the best advice I have ever received. Every time I feel like I just can’t do it, I’m afraid to keep going or I’m not sure if I’m headed in the right direction I think back to our conversation.
Sitting there, as the sun came up and we entered the state of Florida, the man told me “Always have a plan. Stick to it. Ask yourself if what you’re doing make sense according to that plan. You’ll know if it doesn’t. If you stick to the plan you’ll make it where you want to go…If you stick to the plan, you’ll learn new things and grow as an individual. In your professional life this will help you become a person of knowledge and authority. In your personal life, it will help you discover yourself and those who are truly important to you.”
“In business, the people who make the money and are truly successful are the ones who get paid for what they know, not for what they do. You have to start out by doing… but if you plan and you never stop learning, you’ll become one of the few individuals who know. Then you get to tell others what to do.”
I’ve never forgotten this. The idea of thinking that KNOWING is so much more powerful that DOING, has changed the way I approach so many things. It inspires me to constantly challenge myself to learn and excel in areas that are unfamiliar to me, which is not an easy task, both in my personal and my professional life.
I met that man 3 years ago today. I don’t know his name or what he is doing now, but I do know that I’ve learned a lot since I’ve moved to Florida. I’ve grown and changed drastically from the 22 year-old sitting on the train, but I still have a plan and I’m sticking to it. I challenge myself to be independent and ambitious… It’s not always easy, but if I give up, I fail… and I can’t let that happen.
So far, from sticking to my plan, I’ve left Daytona and a life that wasn’t making me happy. I’ve accomplished my second 5-year goal of becoming an account planner in just 1 year and my future in advertising is looking brighter every day. I’m building a new department and changing the way people think at my agency. Opportunities I never imagined possible are now within reach and I’m extremely excited to see what the future will hold.
Thank you kind old man on the train. I hope you know you’ve touched my life forever.
