Jan 6, 2022

Cuenca, ECUADOR – “That’s one way to tell 2021 to @%#& off!”

We were watching a small group of men jumping over a burning effigy. And it wasn’t even New Year’s Eve yet. I guess they were closing their business the next day so why wait?

There’s a tradition here that you should write up all the things you want to forget about the year past, stuff them into a paper-maché mannikin and light the thing on fire. Then, to really make it stick, jump over the flames three times and eat 12 grapes, one for each month of the year.

You know – out with the old before beginning the new….

(For those new to this thread, my wife and I have been traveling Mexico and Panama and are currently living and exploring Ecuador. You can find those back issues here.)

Often, they will insert firecrackers of all kinds into the effigy as well, then douse the whole thing with fuel to really lighten things up. I guess you hope a firecracker doesn’t go off when you are jumping it, otherwise…..

Where we are currently living, not far from the old city, along the shores of the Tomebamba river, there are fireworks going off every evening for no reason at all.

But for New Years – well, they take it to a whole other level.

The first ones begin as soon as there is a little darkness, around 6:30 pm. Over the next few hours, the private displays are constant but not huge. Then, around 10:00 pm the displays begin to get bigger and bigger until 11:45 the entire city erupts with fireworks in every direction you look. It’s like every parish (there are 65 of them) are trying to outdo the other. On and on it goes. I’ve never experienced anything like. The din and smoke are terrific. After 12:30 it all begins to die down but still, the sporadic banger and zinger go off for another hour.

Good luck trying to go to bed early.

I will say, however, the symbology of ridding yourself of past mistakes, thoughts etc is a good one. Even in business. Too often, I see owners clinging onto a bad idea or strategy, because of the sunk costs, thinking they must hold on to recoup their investment.

I get it. We know the saying. “Losers quit and winners keep going”.

But there is also a saying that goes something like: “doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of stupidity.”

A key ingredient to success is in knowing if your lack of success is due to a bad strategy or poor execution. Another reason why the most successful people, whether athletes or business owners, hire mentors and coaches to provide guidance and advice. Stay tuned to our new program launching later this month as it may be the secret sauce for you.

Meantime, I’d like to leave you with a few quotes to start the new year with.

“You can only lose what you cling to.” ~ Buddha
The more you cling to the stories of your past, the more of the present moment you lose. Release your attachment and let life be.

“Grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the Courage to change the things I can; and the Wisdom to know the difference”. ~Reinhold Niebuhr

To your health and success,

The “Profit Accelerator” Expert
StreetSmartsMBA.org

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