It was an early morning, sleep punctuated by a blinding light shown right into my eyes at 4:45 a.m., Logan’s iPhone flashlight, his version of a wake up call. 

The original math: 

Boarding time: 6:55 a.m. – required check-in (one hour before boarding time) – driving time to airport (30ish minutes) – get ready time (40 minutes) – Pack the car and out the door (10 minutes) – unload and check in (10 minutes) = 4:25 a.m. wake up time

The actual math:

Wake up time: 4:45 a.m. + actually get out of bed (10 minutes) + get ready time (10 minutes) + pack the car and out the door (5 minutes) + emergency wallet search (10 minutes) + Driving time to airport (30ish minutes) + unload and check in (5 minutes) = Required check-in time (5:55 a.m.)

Expectations vs reality:

Wake up time: 

expectation - 4:25 a.m.

reality - 4:45 a.m.

Actually get out of bed:

expectation - 0 minutes

reality - 10 minutes

Get ready time:

expectation - 40 minutes

reality - 10 minutes

Pack the car and out the door

expectation - 10 minutes

reality - 5 minutes

Emergency wallet search

expectation - 0 minutes

reality - 10 minutes

Driving time to airport

expectation - 30ish minutes

reality - 30ish minutes

Unload and check in:

expectation - 10 minutes

reality - 5 minutes

When sleep is at a premium, you compromise; you work out a deal for more sleep and pay for it with less time to get ready. When expectations aren’t reality, you have to be willing, and capable, of rolling with the punches, creating a new strategy, getting you and your team on the same page, and then implementing that new strategy, all on the fly. If you’re unable to do that, you get left. You fail. If what you’re doing, as an individual or team, is incapable of changing with circumstance, circumstance will win every time.

We made it to the airport just in time. We flew through check-in and security, with a glasses wipe in my back pocket serving as the only delay (advice to future travelers: always clear everything from all of your pockets before going through security, lest you get publicly frisked), and we even had time to grab a couple coffees and breakfast before we boarded our plane to Boston for INBOUND 2016. 

Plane rides aren’t the most enjoyable thing in the world, but they’re not as painstaking when the manifestation of benefits from the chances taken and hard work endured by you and your team are on the other side of the flight. In order to be on that flight, to see those benefits come to fruition, you have to take a step. You have to go against the grain of the norm that is expected. You have to love your community enough to not settle for complacency. 

We made it. DesignWorks Group of Wichita Falls, Texas is in Boston for something big. We found an authentic Irish pub/restaurant, sat down, and enjoyed a meal that we never would have had the opportunity to have if we settled with what is comfortable. We’re absolutely stoked for what this week has in store. It’s a beautiful thing when you take a chance, change with circumstance, put in the effort, and then see the rewards. Join us on our journey this week. We’ll share a big announcement, post some pictures of our adventures in Boston, and keep you updated through various blogs. Stay updated by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.