You will regret this for the rest of your life said John to his son as he heard that he was not going to continue with his education and had decided to join a local firm of accountants. Douglas had always been fascinated by figures and how companies worked and having reviewed the university courses on offer in accountancy couldn't see the benefit of going to university.
John meanwhile had his heart set on his son going to university. For him it was the start of your opportunities. He had had such a great time at university and wanted Douglas to have the same benefits. He just knew he would regret it for the rest of his life.
Douglas just couldn't see the problem. If he didn't like accountancy or the firm he had chosen he could always go to university later. And if it happened that way at least he would have given his first love his best shot and be entering university with more experience, confidence and knowledge. Douglas just couldn't understand why his father had this doom and gloom attitude. What was it that this usually affable, intelligent man just couldn't accept. If it was a mistake it still wouldn't be the end of the world.
What is it that makes you frightened to make mistakes? Douglas had learned in his short experience at school and college that the best teacher is, mistake. The experience sticks with you. It is a much more thorough way of learning than through books. The best learning in his life had been through his own experience and the experience of others. He didn't understand what he would regret for the rest of his life.
He had seen many of his parents friends and his friends parents stuck in jobs and thought processes because they were afraid to move on. Their natural reaction when faced with anything new and different, "You are making a big mistake. You will regret this for the rest of your life". What is it that when you decide to make a fundamental change in your life others can't resist trying to put you off. But not just put you off but try to frighten the living daylights out of you with, "you will regret this for the rest of your life".
The phrase itself is amazing. It suggests that we know what is going to happen to us for the rest of our lives and we have control over our lives. Douglas may have been young but he was aware that he has no idea where his life is going to take him. He has no idea what the future holds so how would he know what to regret anyway?
What type of friends want to keep you in some type of box doing the same things, having the same experience for the next 40 years. What type of people want to stop you reaching your potential? They were not experienced people but people who had the same experience many times and now they wanted to inflict it on Douglas.
These advisers were frightened. Fear dominated their lives. Fear dominated the decisions they made and so they thought it was the same for everyone. They had given up on life for security, the nice house (paid for), car, holidays etc. etc but Douglas knew if he accepted their advice and didn't follow his dreams he really would regret it for the rest of his life.
By the way Douglas passed all his accountancy exams at the first attempt becoming one of the youngest qualified accountants in the UK. He has found his niche in financial strategy and is now working for one of he larger accountancy practices and loving every minute of it.
His dad is proud and doesn't stop talking about him. Proof that if you don't follow your dreams you really will regret it for the rest of your life.
Graham and Julie
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