Why I Used to Hire a Car for Meetings

A few days ago, I drove past a car rental place, and it took me straight back.
 
There was a time in my life when I regularly hired a car from this very car rental business before driving to meetings.
 
Not because I wanted to.
Because I had to.
 
At the time, I was building my mental resilience business while working full-time as a painter and decorator just to pay the bills.
 
My own car was old, damaged, and told a story I didn’t want clients to see.
 
So I created a different picture.
 
I turned up in a hired car, trying to look like the person I believed I could become.
 
But behind the scenes?
 
I was £40,000 in debt.
Living with my mum.
And hearing “no” again and again.
 
For four years.
 
It was painful.
It was stressful.
And at times, it was deeply discouraging.
 
During the day, I painted and decorated for £70, working long hours just to survive. In the evenings and weekends, I delivered free talks to anyone who would have me.
 
Meeting after meeting.
Conversation after conversation.
Opportunity after opportunity – that didn’t come.
 
Nothing seemed to work.
 
But I kept going.
 
Then one day, something changed.
 
Someone said yes.
 
Someone booked me and paid me.
 
It wasn’t a huge amount, but it meant everything.
 
Because it gave me belief.
 
From that moment, I kept moving forward.
 
More meetings.
More networking.
More talks.
 
Slowly at first. Then steadily.
 
 
Three Key Takeaways
 
• Your current situation does not define your future
Where you are today is not where you have to stay.
 
• Progress is often slow and uncomfortable
The early years are the hardest. That’s where most people quit.
 
• One breakthrough can change everything
But only if you stay in the game long enough.
 
 
An Inspirational Story – Creating the Opportunity
 
A great example of persistence is Debbi Fields.
 
When she opened her first cookie shop, she had no business experience and very little knowledge of running a company.
 
What she did have was belief.
 
She believed she had a great product.
 
But on the first day, something surprising happened.
 
No one came in.
 
Hour after hour, the shop stayed empty.
 
For many people, that would have been the end.
 
But not for her.
 
Instead of sitting and waiting, she took action.
 
She baked fresh cookies, walked outside, and started giving them away to people passing by.
 
People tried them.
They smiled.
They came into the shop.
 
And slowly, things began to change.
 
That one simple decision built a global brand – Mrs Fields Cookies.
 
Sometimes, when nothing is happening,
You don’t wait for the opportunity…
 
You create it.
 
 
It all changed
 
Today, I am a published author and work with organisations like Rolls-Royce, Pilkington Glass, Boots, Hilton, and Vistage.
 
I coach clients worldwide on Teams and have spoken internationally 30 times.
 
I’m 72, feel like I’m 50, and I’m having the best year of my life.
 
Driving past that car rental place reminded me of something important.
 
At the time, I thought I was creating an illusion.
 
But I wasn’t.
 
I was stepping into the person I was becoming.
 
That hired car wasn’t about pretending.
 
It was about belief.
 
Belief that one day I wouldn’t need it.
 
And eventually, I didn’t.
 
                                                       
Thoughts for the Week 

1. What are you close to giving up on that might just need more time?
2. Are you focusing on short-term discomfort or long-term vision?
3. What small step can you take this week to move forward? 

 
Well, that’s it for this week.
 
Have a great week ahead, and keep believing.
 
Warm regards,
 
John