Had an amazing time today visiting one of my favorite local businesses, Florida Event Decor, with former client and friend @SuccessWithJake and @SBA_Ray 🔥

I told the story recently of the dinner where I was sitting next to a woman who had made partner at a prominent biglaw firm *that very day.* We were chatting lightly about life, work and family and I said “You can have it all.” She laughed and said “I know! You can’t have it all.” I snapped back… “CAN have it all.” In hindsight, I regret saying that because it probably made her feel bad. And the truth is she’s right. By its strict definition, it’s impossible to “have it all.” In fact, I was talking to a good friend Friday and we were going through life category by category. “Work, family…” “What else is there?” I asked him? “What would be on my list if I was a normal person.” He laughed. He was puzzled too. 80+ hours per week... at least. That’s how much I’d guess I work inclusive of marketing and general thinking about business. The rest of the time, I’m at school dropoffs, school events, fun activities for the kids, date nights, church, etc. I go burn out level hard in both categories. There’s very little left for me on the margins. Someone I know from work and socials came and visited me recently on the weekend. He admitted he “wanted to see if the lifestyle I portray is truly the lifestyle I actually live.” I thought that was funny. My mom overheard him and chimed in with back-handed motherly comment. “The one thing I’ll say about Eric is he uses every minute he has with his kids.” Thanks Mom but what did you mean by “the one thing”? Ha Anyways, I’m getting to my point. I’m reminded of the old college joke: “Good grades, a social life and/or sleep, you can only pick two.” In the adult world, it’s 15+ categories: good income, good family, good health, finances, sleep, social life, fun, etc. And you can really only pick two or three and do them well. Maybe you can do more but if so I haven’t figured it out yet? But here’s the thing: You gotta remember what you’re trying to accomplish with all this. For me, and I think most of us, the answer is obvious. Cue the cliche “what you’ll think about on your death bed” or “live to work, don’t work to live” quotes. And I think it’s so much more than that. You can absolutely have a kickass career. Crush it for your clients and people. Care deeply about your work. Make a good income. Build something cool. Leave a professional legacy. And you can still make it to school dropoffs. Make it to the field trips and school events. Take the awesome family vacations. Have good relationships with your kids. But you’re not going to sleep great. And your office is probably going to be messy. And you’re not going to have a ton of friends or fun. When (if, I should say) I get to the gates of heaven, I’m guessing I’ll probably leave behind three cups on my desk, be a little soft in the midsection, bald from stress, and have deep bags under my eyes. But, you know what guys, that’s cool. I spent the weekend camping with the family at Disney and got a visit from my good friend, @SuccessWithJake, and his family. Watching this ultra successful serial entrepreneur chase his kids around and do waterslides was a great reminder that us fellas are not alone. If you’re not feeling the pinch or the push and pull from life, frankly, you’re not doing enough. In the end, you can have “it all.” You just need to be careful how you define the word “all.” We live in a time of a never ending push for more. With social media fueling relative comparisons. You need to get comfortable doing your best and being kind to yourself. For me, great family and great work is enough. I’ll work on the six pack in the next lifetime.

Day 41 of our mission to become the #1 lower-middle-market M&A law firm. Spent the day at The Players Championship with the #1 SBA lender in the country, Huntington Bank, courtesy of Nick Swanda, and former SMB clients.