When we look back over situations and seasons in our life, we can see how certain events have shaped our future. Sometimes when we are in the middle of those seasons, it is hard, if not impossible, to see how it may change your life for the good. Many times, that is exactly what happens.

There have been so many of those “look back” moments that led me to where I am today, it would be impossible to name them all. When change in the form of adversity, knocks on your door, it may just be “opportunity” dressed up to look like adversity.

One year when I was still in the Navy, we were mobilized for a two-week drill with the Marine Corps in Twentynine Palms California. The name Twentynine Palms sounds like it is a beautiful place, but it was lipstick on a pig. The base was in middle of the Mojave Desert, and we were in tents for two weeks and It was 125-135 degrees each day. I was in a camp with all my buds and one day my captain came and told me he was moving me to another camp to assist. I thought, “oh no” this was going to be terrible, but it turned out to be much better and I even got to go home two days before my buds.

The day I left JLL as a managing director was a bleak day and I simply could not see the future. It was that leaving that launched Hotel AG and put me and my family where we are today. Yes, it was adversity standing in my doorway leaving JLL, but opportunity was standing right behind it.

I have many stories from, marriage, homes, work, career etc. that all resonate the same way. All those parts and pieces led/guided me to where I am today. Likewise, all your parts and pieces have guided you to where you are today.

When adversity knocks, open the door and say hello because it very well may be the beginning of something good. KT