#284: 5L of paint exploded in the boot
A right mess led me to Founder Ikigai.
We were supposed to go on holiday last week, but we decided to be sensible and do some work on the house.
Clear out the eaves
Paint the log store
Paint the shed
Finish off the bathroom
A week of adulting. With a sigh we decided to do it. Stop scrolling on lastminute.com and get down to B&Q
I put the cream paint for the shed in the boot of the car without thinking anything of it.
30 mins of country lanes and no problems.
Then, we turned on the street towards home
I heard it thud.
Straight away we could smell it paint.
I opened the boot and it was like a murder scene. No blood. Just cream paint. Dripping from the boot of the car.
It dripped from up high where the boot door opened, it dripped down below where it was pouring over the bumper.
There it was, 5 litres of paint all over the boot of our brand new car.
Disaster. 8pm at night.
We were supposed to be on holiday in the sun. Here we are ruining beach towels to soak it up
We were supposed to be on the beach. Now the boot of the car is ruined with paint seeping into the crevices of the car.
We spent 4 hours clearing out what we could. Covered in paint. Supported by our neighbours.
Jim came out in his dressing gown and hosed down the parcel shelf for 60 minutes. And there was still paint coming off.
I had paint in my hair. Sarah’s nails were cream, not out of choice.
Why has this happened? Why this disaster on our week off?
Nobody needs this shit. We’ve had a hard enough year as it is. Give us a break.
The next day I met Stephen. I googled “car detailer Stoke” and called him.
He answered straight away; “I’ve seen this before, can you come down now?”
We handed him the keys. For £300 and two days work, he promised he’d get it all out.
He did.
And he loved it.
I don’t meet many people who love what they do. They’re a rare breed.
Someone that’s totally in flow. They love what they do for their work. They’re good at it. They make good money for it. They don’t struggle to get out of bed in the morning. They don’t moan. It’s not always easy. But it’s always natural.
Ikigai.
Stephen had it. Stephen, to me, was in the centre of that diagram. For £350, 48 hours of stress and 5L of paint in the boot - that was all worth it to meet someone who loves what they do. To remind me of why I do what I do.
I needed to be reminded that business or work isn’t just about passion. It isn’t just about service and mission. It isn’t just about money.
It’s about all of it and the balance between them. The centre.
The sweet spot is the middle. I’ve been there. It feels fantastic when you’re in it.
But other times, I’ve been in the edges. I’ve been in passion and service, but the money hasn’t been good so I’ve felt off. Other time the money has felt good, but I’m not in mission.
This situation reminded me of what actually matters to me, holistically. Balance, flow, purpose, impact. This tapestry woven together.
That’s what being a founder has always been for me. It’s been Ikigai. It’s been finding this magical space where everything aligns. I’m using my skills. I’m having an impact. I’m valued for it.
It’s not just been one part.
If it’s just mission. No. I’m not a charity.
If it’s “just a job”. No. Im not fulfilled.
If it’s just money. No. I need to feel I’m making a difference to the world that’s beyond money.
Stephen is absolutely excellent at his job as a car detailer and mechanic. The world needs his services. He absolutely loves cars so much he is happy to work until 7pm cleaning paint out of the nuts and bolts of a car. And, he makes decent money from it.
Stephen had ikigai, I felt it in me and I remembered - this is what I want. That’s the balance and alignment I’m tuning in for.
5 litres of paint exploding in the boot of my car made me remember; the goal for me as a founder isn’t one thing. It’s all of it.
I’m honing in to the centre.
Thanks paint.
Cheers,
James x
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