Welcome To The Community

Together, we’ll dive deep and find the strength to never give up because Great Things Take Time.

Ever feel like you can’t keep up with things? Like no matter what happens, you’re one step behind. It can be a struggle, until it all feels like it’s falling in on yourself and that you’ve been defeated. If you’ve ever felt like that, today is for you.

Defeat is just a building block for your Great Things.

If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe and join the Great Things Take Time Community to get content from me every Monday.

Here's what's in today's email

• Nana's Biggest Lesson

• Moments with Maurice

• What's Got Me Smilin'

• Damn! You Put Your Foot In This

Nana’s Biggest Lesson

There were many times in my life when I met failure, especially as a teen and young adult. I’d eventually come to Nana asking for some guidance. So often she would meet me with the same line. You all know what it is.

“You know, Maurice, you should never give up because Great Things Take Time.”

But Nana, what does that MEAN?!? 

Can you think of a more annoying response when you’re searching for guidance or comfort and instead get something philosophical? I needed strategy and structure, a blueprint for success, but instead, I was getting a motivational tea towel.

Ironically, this whole platform is based on those wise words and carrying her legacy forward. Over time, I began to understand the beauty of what she told me and how it was meant to create space to flourish on your own.

Nana was like everyone’s mother. She knew many people and was always mothering you. She wanted to create a safe space for others and was always willing to guide you through your problem areas. Well.. kind of. 

But what she lacked in directness when it came to advice on failure, she made up for it by reminding you to eat your vegetables, pull up your pants, or say thank you to your mother. While she didn’t have the exact strategy to avoid defeat, she gave me the tools to stay healthy in all areas of my life so I could continue to try again. To feel safe to fail if necessary.

Don’t Be Afraid To Try

One thing I hear from people who are afraid to jump into something new or begin pursuing a goal is that they’re afraid to fail. They’re also afraid to tell others their goals in case they fail.

Anything less than optimal success stings. There is no question about that, especially when you have people who are the I Told You So Vultures just hovering, ready to dive in.

Those frustrations and failures can keep building on each other. For me, there were a few more poignant than the rest:

Showing up after a LONG night out with almost no sleep to train a client who said I smelled like I had a good time. 

Going into credit card debt while trying to keep up with appearances.

Not listening to my body and pushing myself to injury.

Being so “busy” that I skipped Sunday dinner with Nana before she had her aneurysm, missing my last possible moments with her.

On one hand, the compounding nature of failure can pack a brutal punch, a reminder that you’re not where you want to be or who you want to be. But if you stay determined, they can be your force to make a change. Each setback is a building block for a grand house that you’re building.

Or as my goddaughter (and Bingo) would sing, ♪ There's a house with a wall, with a wall, with a wall ♪ If you have kids in your life, you definitely get this one.

Feeling sorry about ourselves is easy when we’re down and out. But you can turn that into real power.

Think about the most embarrassing, stress-inducing, heart-wrenching, stomach-dropping situations in your life.

Yeah, super cool for a Monday morning, huh?

Take your moment to deal with whatever emotion comes up. Throw your phone across the room and scream. Whatever you need.

But then sit down to think about what lesson you learned from each instance that has made you stronger and more capable. Memories can be painful, but strong emotions teach you something about yourself. Feeling things means you’re alive.

From all of my failures above, I learned to adjust my priorities. This was the pattern that came up time and time again. I went with the moment, not with what mattered the most to me. But now, these missteps have grown who I am as a person, and while I’m not there yet, I’m closer to being the person I want to be because of my mistakes. Maybe all I need to do is sing the same song as Bingo every time I feel stuck?

It’s coming up on six years since we lost my Nana, a huge reason why she’s been a topic of conversation these last few weeks.

This year, it’s been surreal to be living her words every day and getting to share her story with the world. I can’t thank you enough for joining me in growing her legacy of creating a safe space for all to achieve their Great Things. It’s a great thing and well worth all the time it will take.

Moments with Maurice

Each week, my Wednesday content will leave you with a reflection and prompt to share your reactions and thoughts, and the following Monday I’ll highlight some of the responses. Taking things inward is powerful, but sharing them reminds us we aren’t alone in our thinking and that we aren’t all that much different.

This Wednesday, we discussed what it feels like when assumptions are made about a person. It can feel great to be part of a community and included in things, but alternatively, it feels awful when our uniqueness is ignored.

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

You know that driving in my car helps me disconnect and recenter myself, but rewatching this footage of a car meet from this weekend makes me smile all over again. Oh, to be a bird flying overhead with this view.

@great.things.with.adrian

Great Things Take Time is all about supporting each other while we work towards our Great Things. The most important piece of that? Downti... See more

Food is a universal way of sharing and experiencing each other.

My grandma, my mom, and I have always been the same, it brings us joy to see people enjoying what we’ve made. Because of that, I want to give space for the community to share recipes that are so full of love, it makes people say "damn, you put your foot in this!" 

Each week, I’ll highlight a recipe from the community, sharing the story behind why this meal, dish or drink is special to them. What better way for us to get to know each other better and maybe even cook together?

Ingredients:  

• Salmon filet

• Olive Oil

• Lemon

• Pepper

• Grated garlic

• Broccoli

• Rice

Recipe:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F

2. Toss broccoli with spices and olive oil and place on pan.

3. Put broccoli in oven to cook, depending on personal preference, may take between 25 minutes- 45 minutes

4. Place salmon on parchment paper and drizzle with olive oil and lemon. Sprinkle with spices

5. Put salmon in oven for 20-25 minutes until done. Alaska Salmon Company has a great salmon temperature guide.

6. Transfer salmon to a hot pan with oil for a minute to char the skin.

7. Serve with broccoli and rice and enjoy!

Submit your recipes and story here

Thanks for being with me on this journey. Over the last few months I’ve shared a lot of my life, and in turn learned so much about you all. It’s an honor to start your week and inspires me every day to hear about your wins. I know Great Things Take Time is far from perfect, but together I hope we can grow it into exactly what it’s meant to be.

Remember:

-Adrian