Matzke's Funhouse

love Legos!

I work for a midsized  title insurance company (not allowed to say which one because Washington has weird rules about compliance) which is being absorbed by a REALLY big title company (again…you can find me on LinkedIn if you are curious) which really is like drinking from a fire hydrant. Now I am a pretty small fish in this new pond, but keeping my business operating well during the merge is like building a lego toy in 5 minutes or less.

I love the idea of building something new right in the middle of all the bad economic news. It’s bold, smart and forward thinking. The best part is I don’t have time to over-analyze every block, it’s more like making sure the wheels don’t fall off. I can refine later, because business isn’t static and calls for daily refining anyway!

I am having fun trying to surf  the wave (our maybe just trying to outrun it!) because it keeps me on my toes and I get to forgive myself for not getting absolutely everything done every day. I get to work with new people with great ideas, get inspired and build something hopefully bigger and better than before. Boy, I am blessed to have the opportunity!

The next time you are stuck pull out a bag of Legos and start building something, see what you can come up with. Bring in a friend too-collaborate and create. It’s really energizing!

Yesterday I attended a service at which a wonderful couple renewed their wedding vows after 25 years. This couple has had their share of trials-she was in a motorcycle accident four years ago that left her seriously handicapped, wheelchair bound, and that has been coupled with the onset of MS (multiple-sclerosis). That her man has stayed by her side, still obviously loves her for the great spirit within her, is inspiring in its own right. They have had to re-create their lives and seem to be doing that with grace and joy.

After the event my date introduced me to a little place in Puyallup called the Station U-Brew -it’s purpose being obvious from the name. The owner Steve was quietly working away on a Saturday evening cleaning kegs and setting up for the morrow’s group of homebrewers. A victim of the new corporate wave of under-40 management he was downsized out of a 20+ year  career in metal because of too much acquired vacation time (you can read between those lines for sure.) Tasting the last of his house ale in a very relaxed environment I was able to learn quite a bit about brewing and a little about Steve.

visit Steve's place in Puyuallup

Steve decided to re-define himself and grasped that undeterred entrepreneurial spirit that lies dormant in so many of us,  and a little over a year later has a small but steadily growing business. He did the research, took the chance, hit roadblocks and forged the unknown in order to utilize his many skills and life experience as an American small business owner. He has plans for expanding and launching his own line of beer which I am convinced will be a hit. His family stands with him, probably like the couple earlier in the day with joy and grace.

The day was a wonderful reminder to me (a  small business owner as well) of the untapped power within everyone to create or re-create a satisfying and fulfilling life one risky, blessed step at a time. I never want to quash that spirit.

Time to go paint…..