WHEN YOU DISCOVER YOUR SUPERPOWER, EVERYTHING STARTS TO MAKE SENSE!
by Mark Werner
As I write this in early June, we are approaching Father’s Day weekend. This is a time of happiness and thankfulness as I celebrate being a proud father. But it is also a difficult time because, in two weeks, it will be one year since I lost my dad unexpectedly. I thought we still had time.
For me, it has been a year of great reflection and awakening as I have consciously and unconsciously reflected on my dad’s life, drawing correlations with my own. I have experienced a growing sense of urgency and a deep appreciation for time – it is the one thing that makes all men equal.
My father was an incredible human being, accomplished much as a family man, and throughout his career as an engineering and construction underwriter. Growing up after WW2, a young life was tough for him, but the pursuit of money and things did not interest him. His superpower was service, and his Why was his family.
Life is full of irony, and despite his lack of formal university education, he published several books that were selected as core curriculum by the engineering school of the university from which I graduated. He loved giving back, and right up until the time he passed, he continued to share his knowledge with young engineering students through the courses he ran.
My dad was loyal and dedicated to his employer and worked for them for over 40 years. Loyalty, and hard work, were values my dad lived, and he passed those on to me. “Find a good job, work hard, and save for retirement” is the message I received loud and clear. And he walked the talk, putting his three kids through university and ensuring we had the foundation from which to leap at life head-on and face whatever the world flung at us.
As an underwriter, he was strongly risk-averse, which played through to all aspects of his life, transferring onto my own. That meant that when entrepreneurial opportunities arose, he turned them down in favor of stability, never knowing what could have been, had he ventured into the unknown and taken a risk. His attitude to life was that there is nothing that could be unaccomplished with focus, hard work, and the right attitude.
These knowledge gifts have served me well during my W2 career, spending the first 12 years at big-4 public accounting firms and the last 14 at a global specialty insurance company. In the corporate world, I learned that those who take the initiative, demonstrate leadership, and step up to the plate to fill a need, usually find doors open along the way. On the other hand, recognizing opportunities when they arise and having the relationships that enable you to take advantage of them is key to growth in corporate America. That is where loyalty and hard work comes in but so is delivery. When you deliver quality, do it on time, and manage expectations, this adds value, but it’s not sustainable. Fortunately, I was also influenced by my maternal grandfather, whom I spent lots of time with up to my teens. He loved fishing, and his attitude to work was that if you can get it done quicker, there is more time left to go fishing! From him, I learned to challenge how things get done and find ways to do them more quickly, better, and with less effort. I learned to automate and systematize.
So how does all this come full circle to the present day? Well, the reflection of what made me the way I am, and the sense of urgency that has overtaken me since my dad passed away, has led me to a fundamental mind shift. When faced with the inevitability of death and the cruel constraints of time, the truth that has become my reality is that my legacy to my kids is to equip them to attain financial freedom!
To me, financial freedom does not mean we can buy whatever we want, it simply means we are not bound by the constraints of employment and as such, have the option to choose how and where we spend time, and with whom, do the things from which we derive passion.
Since joining Arrows Capital Group, I have experienced the freedom to pursue my entrepreneurial spirit, apply the values of hard work and loyalty, build strong relationships, challenge how things are done, and accomplish them quicker, better and with less effort. These are the things I have done successfully throughout my career without really recognizing I had a unique set of skills that have allowed me to add value consistently.
But this time, it is different. This time I am giving time out of my free will, not need, and for the greater good of my team. The superpowers that built a successful corporate career are relevant, valued, and needed as we create this startup organization. I still have a challenging W2 and am blessed to work with an incredible team. Days are busy, but my mornings, evenings, and some of my weekends are spent pursuing the entrepreneurial opportunities that have finally unleashed my passion.
This is the legacy I want to pass on to my kids. The mindset, the attitude, and the value set will enable them to propel themselves to the next level in their own lives and attain financial freedom along the way. But it is not enough to tell them how to do it. I am responsible for showing them a glimmer of what is possible for them through my own transformation and example. It finally all makes perfect sense! This is my Why.
