5 years ago, life gave my wife and I a “tap on the shoulder”.

My wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer (she is completely cured today).

It caused me to step back, acknowledge that life is short and leave my job as a VP (in a billion dollar company) to start Castain Training Systems.

It’s amazing what we can become, when we choose to grow instead of surrender.

Here’s the blog post I originally shared when I decided it was time for Paul Castain to grow!

I share it with the hopes that inspires you to fight, to grow and to never surrender!

This is the kind of post that you write and feel like a wuss the whole time but things need to be said and perhaps a lesson can be learned.

Back in December, I mentioned that “someone very close to me” was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I mentioned how lucky she was to have found it at the earliest stage and how she had her surgery in January.

What I didn’t tell you is that is was my wife Laura.

No matter what the circumstances, or the severity of those circumstances, it’s very difficult to watch someone you love struggle with something.

Especially when the “enemy” is invisible.

It makes me kind of wish it had a face so I could just kick its ass, but life can be somewhat of a complex carbohydrate like that.

Somewhere between the worry, the tears and the medical expenses:

A strong 28 year relationship grew stronger: I was reminded that my time with her has an expiration date.

We learned to accept small victories (a good  day, a laugh or even a day when the situation wasn’t pissing us off)

I got better at showing my emotions in front of her. I still think it would have been easier to just kick someone’s ass . . . but sometimes a dude has to cry the way that dude did in Jerry Maguire at the end when he got that big contract. Its quite liberating actually!

I became what experts call “useful” around the house and got back to cooking and helping out.

God and I had quite a few conversations . . . most recently in the form of my gratitude.

The next part is a first for me . . . I didn’t turn to my feel good “drug” of choice which has always been food!

I know that sounds weird and for some its alcohol, others its firing up the proverbial fatty . . . for me its eating foods that have contributed to me being a fatty   In this case, I actually lost 15 lbs!

The next part is radical, and I don’t suggest it for everyone . . .

Somewhere in this set of challenges, I decided to take the following quote to heart

“As it turns out, now is the moment you’ve been waiting for.” — Lucinda Williams

So I quit my job and started my training and coaching business because I got tired of putting it off.

Note: finding one’s balls is even better than my Jerry Maguire crying dude moment  Extremely liberating!

But as crazy as all this sounds . . .

I have learned

I have grown

I have found my peace and most importantly . . .

I got to find Paul Castain in the process.

I’m of the crazy mindset that surrendering might have given this experience a different face.

So it is with this experience that I proudly veer off from another one of life’s many crossroads with a can of whup ass that runneth over . . .

And my finger gun pointed sideways ready to bust another cap!

I wish you a “surrender free” journey and thank you for staying with me on mine!

With respect and appreciation.

A newly reinvented Me

If I can help you to reinvent YOU or your team, in any way, then perhaps its time for us to talk. paul@yoursalesplaybook.com