Words From Paul: Choosing Your Suck

Action Turns Setbacks into Strength

Life and business are always changing. Some changes are exciting; others, well—they suck. This year brought its fair share of tough moments, both personally and professionally. But instead of dwelling on how unfair something feels, I’ve learned the only way forward is to choose a course of action.

When Clients Leave: Turn Churn into Improvement 

We lost a couple of clients this year, including one who had been with us for many years. That certainly sucked. Rather than whining, our team did two things: 

• Replaced revenue proactively to avoid cutting expenses or staff. 

• Learned from the exit by asking why they left, evaluating our service delivery, and improving the processes that mattered most. 

The result? A setback became a signal—pointing us toward better service, clearer expectations, and stronger relationships. 

When Team Members Move On: Refine the System, Not Just the Role 

A couple of employees left, and that sucked too. But we used the moment to upgrade the system: 

• Strengthened training and onboarding so new hires ramp faster and succeed sooner. 

• Clarified performance reviews to ensure expectations are fair, visible, and actionable. 

• Refined hiring practices to match the right people to the right roles. 

Every departure taught us something about culture, clarity, and capability—lessons we wouldn’t have learned by standing still. 

When Life Hits Home: Choose Hopeful Action 

Our dog was diagnosed with a terminal neurological condition that will cause her to lose mobility in the months ahead. Instead of simply watching the decline, we: 

• Invested in physical therapy to extend her mobility and comfort. 

• Enrolled in a clinical trial for a new medicine that might slow progression. Even if it doesn’t help her, it could help others. 

Sometimes the most meaningful actions aren’t guaranteed to “fix” anything. They’re about dignity, contribution, and choosing hope. 

Choose Your Course of Action 

In each case, choosing action moved us forward and turned a negative into momentum. If a tough event crosses your path, ask: 

• What can we do today to reduce the immediate impact? 
• What can we learn to prevent or soften this in the future? 
• How can we grow—as leaders, teammates, and humans—because of this? 

Choosing your “suck” doesn’t mean liking the situation. It means owning the response. And that’s the only way to move forward.

 Call to Action 

What challenge are you facing right now—client churn, team changes, or something personal? Pick one action you can take today. Then tell me how it goes. I’d love to hear your story.