What $50k in legal fees taught me about B2B sales

In fact, about the only thing it taught me was how incompetent the legal system is, especially the kangaroo courts they call “family law.” What a crock. But I digress.

I didn’t learn anything about B2B sales or SaaS, but I did learn a ton about resilience. But let me take you back a few steps first.

When I first joined the Air Force in 2002, I broke the two cardinal sins they warned all young airmen about:

1. Don’t buy a brand new car/truck

2. Don’t get married.

Well, I did both of these things within the first 12 months in service. I lost the truck about two years later, and the marriage only lasted a little longer. My terms of service ended in May 2006 and my father had been chronically ill for most of my life, so when it came time to re-up or get out, I chose the latter. We moved back in April 2006 and by June 2007 my wife was gone. My daughter, who is now 20 and closing in on 21 fast, was not even three years old yet.

I didn’t stay single long. I got remarried in September of 2008, which would set off a chain reaction of custody battle nightmares and legal action. It was truly awful for about seven years, until it finally all came to a head in December 2015 when my ex handed over custody of my daughter.

Now, this wasn’t easy. She basically just handed her over and walked away, giving us a kid who had been exposed to abuse and trauma. We spent years getting her help and therapy, but at least she was safely living with us. She grew five inches in six months and gained about 25 pounds, a testament to just getting enough to eat and the chance to get uninterrupted sleep without worrying about step-dad blowing a gasket and pulling a gun on mom (yes, it happened).

We were broke all of those year, in spite of me having good jobs. Paying $600 a month in child support plus owing your attorney tens of thousands wrecks you financially. Oh, and we had been paying for school lunches and buying clothing, too, even though that’s what child support is supposed to be for. HINT: it wasn’t being used for that.

I was in the Air National Guard full-time, which meant I was there M-F but also there over the weekend once weekend a month for drill. To help make ends meet, I also had a rural paper route for two years, working every single night/early morning of the year. No breaks. It really was rough, but it taught me a lot about resilience.

None of us wanted to be in the position we were, but we were there anyway. So, instead of bellyaching, I got up at 3:30 am every morning and drove 80 miles of dirt roads throwing newspapers. And you know what? I actually enjoyed it.

Time passed and life went on. My daughter is happy and healthy now with a bright future. More than that, we all know that we can handle just about anything life throws at us. Life is made up of more than business tips. Behind every profile and avatar there is a real person who has had struggles, who has dealt with pain.

Business is important, but life is more important. Just because things suck now doesn’t mean they will in 1, 2, 5, or 10 years.