Taking Chances

I am signing on to do something I have never before attempted. I own a country music theatre tourist attraction on Kentucky Lake. We are celebrating our 21st anniversary. You have heard of the Grand Ole Opry in Tennessee? Well, I own, run and try to make profitable the Kentucky Opry in Kentucky. It’s like the Grand Ole Opry except the people that run the Grand Ole Opry are all millionaires, and I am more like a few hundred thousandaire.

I have promoted and marketed my country music concerts over the past couple of decades. I have worked with and fronted the shows for Merle Haggard, Lee Greenwood, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ray Stevens, Loretta Lynn and about a hundred others. I feel like I know what I am doing there; and some would say I have been extremely successful. I have stayed away from venturing too far from what I know best.

But today - today I am venturing into new water, and maybe I’ll be treading water. A man asked me a few years ago what I was good at and I said, “Starting over”. He said, “No, I mean what is your specialty?” I said, “Skating on thin ice”. I believe that is what a business owner has to do; be willing to skate on the thin ice and continuously be on the lookout for creative ways to add revenue.

I am partnering 50/50 on some rock and roll concerts; starting with Kansas & 38 Special. We could make a lot of money but we could lose some too. Life is a gamble. I’m gambling that I will succeed. We plan to live, but we could die tomorrow. We plan to win but we could lose. Success is overcoming obstacles. If you have not had very many failures, I don’t believe you can have very many successes. I used to sing the song Don Schlitz wrote for Kenny Rogers ; “The Gambler” It goes like this:
 

You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, Know when to walk away and know when to run. You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table. There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.
The Gambler-Artist Kenny Rogers -Writer Don Schlitz

My wife was a bit worried by this new venture into the unknown, and said she was concerned that I was going into an area where I had no experience. She didn’t say I should not do it, but she did say, “Just be careful that you don’t lose a lot of money.” I said, “Yes dear,” like a good hubby should. God gave me a great helpmate, for occasions such as this; to keep me from going off and doing something really stupid. I am truly thankful for her input. She has saved my butt on several occasions.

But for my part - I just won’t live my life being too cautious and not taking any chances. I just won’t do it. I’m not that kind of man.

I believe like old Teddy said:
“It is not the critic who counts. Not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause. Who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
-Teddy Roosevelt

Are you willing to take a chance on something new or untested?
Do you have a story of you taking a chance and succeeding? If so, please email me the story and I will choose a couple and reprint them in the Wizard Times.

My challenge to you today is from Jim Rohn:
Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you.
Jim Rohn

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