Momentum, redux..

I recently wrote a post about momentum, and how important it is to maintain it in life.  If you haven't noticed already, I AM FLAWED.  I know, how is that possible?  I mean, I write my own blog (on average, probably about once every two weeks; hardly a regular contribution to my work).  I came home from Hungary with all of the inspiration I thought I would need.  But wine will only take you so far (maybe I should reconsider this particular inspiration; your thoughts are welcomed).  This particular hiatus lasted three weeks.  Hardly a case for maintaining momentum.  I've been relaxed, to be sure.  Very relaxed.  So relaxed that the thought of putting my fingers to the keyboard has been an afterthought, by the time my son has been put to bed.  Eight o'clock PM used to be prime time (actually, 10 pm is prime time)!  It's not like I haven't had any material; I've had plenty.  And it hasn't all been inspired by the idea of winemaking (but much of the inspiration has come from wine drinking).  And here I am, once again.  Wine glass in hand (on the high chair, in this case; don't judge me.  Or go ahead and judge me; I won't care anyway.  I learned that from my father.  Thank you, Apu).  Actually, I will spare you the trouble.  I will go ahead and make some judgments of my own.

It isn't easy to maintain momentum.  In the period following Lance Armstrong's fall from grace, I got to thinking about his rise.  I was a huge fan; the battle back from cancer, the 7 straight yellow jersey finishes in the Tour de France, the LIVESTRONG foundation for cancer research and support.  Nearly all of my father's side of the family (he had six brothers and two sisters) died from cancer, including his father.  Not to mention my mother's sister and mother (seven girls and two boys on her side).  Cancer has had it's way with my family (my mother, father, and sister have had it and survived; my father has had three different cancers, not to mention his aortic valve replacement..82 years old, and still kicking ass).  I read Lance's autobiography (despite his decline, it's still an inspirational story.  As controlling as he was, I have to believe that he still beat the cancer that spread from his testicles to his lymph nodes to his lungs to his brain, etc.).  We are all flawed, and I won't judge him.  After that battle, he admitted that he still took for granted the fact that he had cancer and survived.  He never wanted to forget the fact that he was almost dead, and he wanted to live every day like it was his last.  But we all do this, every day.  And most of us haven't had to contend with such pain and suffering.  It was an important truth that he shared with the world.  We all want to live our life that way, even if we haven't been struck with potentially terminal cancer.  He survived it all, and still took his life for granted.  So do I.  And so do you (it's ok to admit it.  Can you imagine if we all did that every day?  I'd be Bill Murray in Groundhog Day..).  The fact that he beat this cancer, as advanced as it was, is far greater an accomplishment than any Tour victory.  It doesn't matter that he doesn't live every day like its his last.  He's alive to face his charges, pay his price, and move on.  I don't follow anything about his life anymore.  But honestly, who cares about the yellow jerseys.  HE'S ALIVE.  And so am I.  And so are you.  

So I slipped.  I let three weeks go by without a blog to write.  It's not a proud moment, but life is full of questions and complications.  It's what makes it fun to be alive.  Who the hell wants to be predictable?  I've predicted the behavior of way too many people (some of which have had way too much influence over my life, for way too long).  I like being unpredictable.  It's not by choice, it's my nature (and Mum, if you're reading this one, you know better than anybody).  There is no hook to this blog, so don't look for it.  I'm not going to tie it up with any words of inspiration.  On this one, fill in the blanks.  I plan on providing inspiration to the people who are reading my blog, before and after this one (and I am grateful and humbled by this, every day.  I do NOT take that for granted, I promise this).  Take this moment to do a little introspection, and take a hard look inside of yourself.  I don't care what you find.  But pull it out, and shake it off.  Kick it, shuffle your feet across it.  It's time for a self examination.  There is a danger in writing a transparent blog.  But in the end, you have to be true to your message.  I'll stand by you on this one.  And with that, a great song that has been a regular part of my repertoire as of late...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maTP315XZCQ

The most influential Austrian wine you have ever had (at 35,000 feet)

In the days leading up to my vacation, there was quite a bit of change on the work front, and the home front.  Changes in leadership at work, and I married my long time girlfriend after way too long.  Change is good, they say.  I believe that to be true.  But I needed a break, and some inspiration.  And I got both on my long overdue trip to Hungary.  

A lot has changed over the nearly four years since my last visit.  Back in September of 2010, my trip was an exploratory one.  I set up interviews with several recruiters in Hungary, in the hope of landing a management position with a multinational company. And I traveled the country (parents in tow) to meet with each of them over a 10 day stay.  There was a lot of romance to the idea of working there, and a lot of high expectations.  I fully expected to land an interview with a big company as a result of this trip, with my dual US/EU citizenship, intermediate Hungarian language skills, and desperate hope.  One of the recruiters was so excited to hear that I could actually converse in Hungarian that he was sure that he would land me an interview.  I needed a change, and I needed that job. And I wanted out of Florida, once and for all.  And as you know, if you have read any of my previous blogs, this did not pan out. Despite my best effort, it was not to be.  And it was devastating.  It would be another 18 months before I was working at my new position in Waterbury, Connecticut, with my present employer.  

The motivation for this trip was different.  Above all else, I needed a break.  I hadn't had any sort of extended vacation since my last trip to Hungary.  It was necessary, and I don't recall a time in my life where I had been more ready for a change of scenery.  I didn't know what to expect this time.  I met my parents there, and it was a whirlwind for much of the time, given my enormous family.  I spent a lot of time amongst the grapes that grow behind my property, and even more time imbibing on the fermented fruit's delightful wine (in my cellar, the kitchen, the bedroom, the grass..).  Much inspiration has come from sipping on the nectar of the gods (my blogs included, on more than one occasion).  But it was my trip back home on Austrian Airlines that provided my biggest inspiration from the trip.  

We flew United on the way to Vienna, and they charge for wine (out of a plastic bottle).  Now, I'm not a wine snob.  I know a little about wine, even less about growing it.  But if you're going to charge 8$ for a split, please bottle it in glass.  Austrian Airlines, and every other European airline that I have ever flown, doesn't charge for their wine.  And I got my money's worth on this flight.   

The Austrians are known for their white wines.  So I started with that (in a glass split).  I navigated the programming options on the screen in front of me, and there were several Austrian programs to choose from.  I chose a 48 minute program that covered the wine growing regions in Austria.  Amidst the stunning views and history of Austrian wine growing (which did not begin until about 30 years ago, after a 150 year hiatus in most parts of the country), there was one story that compelled me to:  1.  Try the Austrian red wine offering, 2.  Have 2 more whites and another red, and 3.  Finally take seriously the idea of turning my tiny little vineyard into a business opportunity.  It was the story of a man, about my age, who had always wanted to grow his own wine after his father retired from the family business.  He had his vines tested, and as it turned out, his grapes were of an ancient, somewhat rare status, with several other types of grapes in its lineage.  And low and behold, one of those grapes were precisely the type growing behind my unassuming summer home.  Of course, this man's life of wine growing was somewhat romanticized in this documentary; but honestly, what isn't romantic about the idea of having your own vineyard and profiting off of its bounty?  He even sells some of his wine to a local chocolatier, who makes chocolate laced with his wine.  I would have never bought my little property if I didn't feel the same way.  And I have been discouraged in the past by people close to me when I would entertain the idea of pursuing a business in Hungary, built around the idea of selling wine.  The gentleman in Austria runs his business off of 1 hectare of vines (about 2 1/4 acres).  I haven't measured it out yet, but I think I'm damn close to that.  Whatever the case, it has me thinking.  And I want to get my vines tested by a European commission, to verify the lineage.  Why not me, to pursue this dream?  And if you have a dream that has been shot down, why not you?  If you are reading this blog, you have a dream of building something of your own, whether lofty or modest (or maybe you have already traveled this road, and have fulfilled your dream.  If this is the case, please share with the rest of us!).   This has been my dream since I bought this slice of heaven 10 years ago.  I renewed my Hungarian passport on this trip, which will actually be an EU passport when it arrives.  Changes in motion; and I am initiating the change.  Things don't happen by accident or by osmosis.  You have to chase these dreams.  Are you ready to take the necessary steps?  Am I?  I can say that you will be reading about my steps as I continue to write.  Some may seem relevant to this dream, and some may not.  But I'm putting it out there, dammit.  And so should you.  Throw it up against the proverbial wall (of the Universe), and see if it sticks.  It may stick on the first toss, or the seventh, or the twentieth.  It doesn't matter.  We are persistent and tenacious, we wantrepreneurs/entrepreneurs.  It's what makes us special.  So wind up, and let it fly.  The world is waiting for you...

Momentum

Momentum is a crucial part of growth in life, love, or business.  I believe this.  You can use sports analogies as proof; pick your sport.  I watched Costa Rica play Greece in the World Cup round of 16 today, with one less player for more than half the game, and they won. Greece attacked on several occasions, but Costa Rica played a great defensive match. They repeatedly repelled Greece's onslaught, right up until regular time ended.  And Greece had its opportunities.  Then came the penalty kicks, and they pulled it off, winning 5-3 on the penalties.  Same thing with the Netherlands today.  They were down 1-0, tied it up in the 88th minute, and won on a penalty kick just before the end of the match (this is the team I picked to win it all, by the way).  I wasn't sure that they would beat Mexico, the way they were playing.  But they swung the momentum in their direction.  The penalty kick was controversial, but instant replay showed that they were robbed of a penalty opportunity earlier in the match.  So turnabout is fair play, right?  And besides, I wanted them to win.  

As I said, momentum in sport is as important as it is in life.  It's tough to kickstart a pursuit over and over again as it lies dormant in the back of your mind.  I feel the same way in regard to this blog; the blogs flow much more easily if I continue to write on a regular basis.  I can write after a long layoff, but it is tougher.  Momentum makes it easier, like gravity rolling a ball downhill.  It's one of life's greatest sayings, "I'm on a roll."  It doesn't mean that your mayonnaise slathered on a ball of baked dough.  It means that you're rolling, creating, moving the needle in the intended direction.  And you need a spark, something to move the needle.  Sometimes it's referred to as the "a-ha" moment.  Whatever the case, you can't start a fire without a spark, to quote Mr. Bruce Springsteen.  We all need a spark. As you may know, if you read my first post, I am an incredibly slow starter...

http://theperpetualwantrapreneur.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-perpetual-wantrepreneur-my-journey.html

But you can create momentum in your life, to move yourself closer to your goals and your dreams.  My momentum has been slowly rolling for a couple of years now, some of the details of which being shared in earlier posts.  My latest momentum?   A beautiful baby six months ago tomorrow, and a marriage to my beautiful wife two days ago.  I have to build the momentum, to keep the spark alive.  I have to decide upon the legacy I will leave my children.  There is much that I have preached that I haven't done enough in practice.  And the biggest one? Take  a guess.  I've been preaching since my kids were old enough to speak that they should work for themselves, and don't depend on anyone else for a living.  They were old enough to understand this about 4 years before I was fired from my long time employer. I should have been exploring my entrepreneurial journey a long time ago.  But regardless, I continued to preach.  My son is 6 months old.  I want him to remember the fact that his father owned his own business, once he is old enough to recall such events.  That's the legacy I want to create.  And I believe it's time to set a deadline; August.  Before September 1st, I want to have an idea for a business and begin the necessary steps to start it.  I'm leaving for Hungary in 4 days, for a much needed vacation, rest, and inspiration.  I've been going there since I was 9 months old, and it is calling me again, as it always does.  It is home, and full of life.  My entire family lives there.  And I plan to spend a lot of time with them, and time in my summer cottage, near the Austrian Alps, overlooking the beautiful Hungarian countryside.  Man needs to experience nature, to be outdoors, to be fed the inspiration that nature provides.  There is more inspiration in the Universe's creation than anything the internet can provide.  See for yourself.  Find your favorite place outdoors.  Then go there.  Take a deep breath, and hold it.  Close your eyes.  Then open them again, and look around.  Feel your surroundings, and ask yourself; what is your spark?  Start the fire, and burn it completely.  Leave nothing but ashes.  Then you will succeed in your pursuits.  Pick your spot, and seek your inspiration.  You'll be very surprised to know that it's closer than you think. 

A New Hope

So the title of this blog is derived from the original Star Wars movie, the most inspirational movie of my life.  But that won't be the theme of this blog (see http://theperpetualwantrapreneur.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-force-is-with-us-all-whether-you.html ).  I've learned a lot about life over the past 5 decades, and probably more about myself over the past 5 years than the rest of my years combined.  It's difficult to describe what the definition of life is. There are several in the dictionary, but this one is my favorite:   the general or universal condition of human existence.  There are so many cliches to describe our lives; the grass is always greener on the other side. The early bird gets the worm.  Old habits die hard (sound familiar?).  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Laughter is the best medicine.  When the going gets tough, etc., etc., etc..I suppose there is good reason why these cliches have stuck around for so long.  As I said in my first blog, I don't have an agenda for my writing.  And as I write, my hope is that my experiences will help those who take the time to read it.  I am honored by the fact that my blog has been read in the US, Canada, Hungary, Germany Malaysia, India, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine..I am honored by the interest of so many people in my journey.  But I think I can do so much more to help.  So I will share with you the conclusion of what I suppose you can call the first chapter of my blog, my thoughts going forward, and how recent events in my wantrepreneurial journey have shaped my life, and how it can help to influence yours. 

I met the new general manager last week.  For those of you who follow the astrology path, he is a Virgo, just like me.  We were born a day apart.  The energy was so positive when he was introduced to me by the VP that there had to be a logical (or astrological) explanation.  So it's a good start.  But I won't be fooled.  I need to move on.  For those of you in a similar position, be thankful if you report to somebody that you can have a good working relationship with.  But remember, that can change in an instant.  Or maybe it already has, possibly for the worse.  Or maybe it's just been a very unhealthy relationship all along. Hence, this blog.  Be ready to move, to pivot, to change.  Get uncomfortable.  This is how I plan to do it.  

I've spent the last six years of under and unemployment waiting for and creating the next opportunity.  When the going got tough, I looked to the horizon; there are other companies out there who need my services, where I can prove myself and earn a good living, until the next opportunity comes along.  And I can get out of my present predicament.  This has been my mentality, even up until a couple of days ago.  I figured, the GM with whom I've worked with for two years is gone.  It's time to find a job closer to my family in New Jersey.  Get out while I can!  Watch out, hear comes the axe!  Well, guess what.  It's bullshit.  And a copout. I've been running at the first sign of trouble for so long, that I've forgotten how to recognize my accomplishments, be confident in my abilities, and stay put until I'm ready to move on.  I mentioned last post that I'm getting married this week.  And it's got me thinking, about how to get myself out of my comfort zone until I am ready to make the jump into entrepreneurship, and out of the corporate world.  And the answer is, (drumroll, please.........) I'm going to stay put.  I'm not running anymore.  I've earned a reputation here (two turnaround successes in two years).  Parts of that reputation may not always put me in good standing with the powers that be.  But I've earned their respect.  And that's worth something. I don't want to move around.  My dream?  To have a business that is mobile, where I can operate the business from anywhere in the world.  Upstate NY is beautiful, and still driving distance from my family. With plenty of airports that can take me to Hungary.  Wherever you may be in your career, prove yourself while your there.  Work hard.  Impress yourself.  Go home knowing that you gave it 120%, each and every day.  It's the best training you can possibly present to yourself.  How will you make it on your own if you can't make it where you are?  We're going to need this experience to make it on our own, times ten (at least). There is value to where you are right now.  You are there for a reason (pick you astrological, religious, philosophical, or universal slant here).  No matter what your choice, YOU ARE THERE TO LEARN.  So learn EVERYTHING you possibly can at your job.  Consider it training for the leap to freedom.  And find a mentor or life coach or whatever you want to call it, paid or unpaid.  Start finding people in your community who think the same way that you do, who are looking for like-minded people to share and gain experience from.  You won't learn from your friends, your family, or the like (unless you come from an entrepreneurial background, which in that case, DEVOUR THE MINDS OF YOUR FAMILY, AND SEEK OUT THE ONES WHO ARE CONTENT IN THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY).  This is business, and you need somebody who has been there, done that.  Somebody smarter than you.  You won't learn if you're not challenged.  I'm searching for the right coach right now.  It may cost me a bit financially.  But ask yourself; when was the last time that you invested in yourself?  I'm not talking about college or university, but YOURSELF?  I'm worth it, and so are you.  So start looking.  John Lee Dumas of the Entrepreneur on Fire podcast has interviewed some amazing entrepreneurs.  Skim through some of his podcasts, and have a listen to somebody who may fit your mold.  They may not end up your mentor, but they will offer guidance. There is somebody of interest there for me, and his name is Adam Urbanski.  I'm looking into it.  So here you go: http://www.entrepreneuronfire.com/podcasts/.  Good luck, and I'll see you on the other side..

Tumult, carnage, and peace?

UFC, red wine, and the painted garden

I spent the weekend with my family in New Jersey, at my mother and father's house.  It was a much needed break; I haven't had a full blown vacation in nearly three years.  This was just an extra day, a Friday off before the Memorial Day weekend.  And the weekend provided a little more perspective for me.  

There were many great moments over the three days-walking the boardwalk for the first time with my wife and son, a great dinner with my brother and his fiance, breakfast with my niece and husband at their beautiful new home.  But there was one moment that stands out above the rest; a moment when I was completely alone, Saturday night after everyone went to bed.  I was sipping on some wine, watching UFC (a guilty pleasure that I can't resist, probably twice a year).  I walked out into the backyard, to my parents' garden.  It was quiet.  More quiet than I am used to, living in my apartment on the main drag, where my family listens to the rush of transports all day and night.  No road noise.  Soft grass between my toes.  And crickets, frogs, etc.  It was so peaceful that I didn't know what to do with myself.  It's a very small backyard, but it is beautiful.  And I forced myself to stay out there for a while..

My father, after having been forced into his now pensionless retirement 4 years ago (see http://theperpetualwantrapreneur.blogspot.com/2014/04/i-have-very-good-friend-whos-in-trouble.html), was lost after losing his post-retirement hobby of going to the office, and permanently losing his income.  My parents immediately sold their house in Florida, and they moved to New Jersey, to be closer to my family (my brother wasn't far behind).  They bought a cute little home in a retirement community, which my brother-in-law worked tirelessly to renovate and beautify.  And it is beautiful, inside and out.  But my father needed something to do.  He loves being outside.  So he started painting.  Not on a canvas, mind you (although we did encourage this idea), but on garden figurines.  Yes, the cement ones which adorn the gardens of people all over the world.  His yard is now full of beautifully painted garden statues (as well as my sister's garden, my niece's, my brother's, etc.).  The colors are spectacularly vivid on each and every one of them, as if to give us a peek into the window of his soul.  He also created beautiful birdhouses amongst the greenery.  As kids, we would have never known that he possessed such artistic skill (I'll speak for myself on that one).  As I looked out into the darkness Saturday night, with the soft glow of solar garden lighting cast upon the painted works, I wondered what was going through my father's head in the months following his devastating loss.  He doesn't talk about it much, even when asked.  He's an old-school Hungarian, who is much more apt to dispense great advice on life before discussing his own.  So what was he thinking?  We all know he was deeply hurt.  And he turned to painting.  None of us knew he had such talent.  He had built sheds in the past (not the pre-assembled ones, mind you, but miniature houses, of wood and nails), assembled beautiful stone fireplaces, and he can stack wood in more stunning formations than anything you have ever seen.  He's an artist.  That's what I realized in the garden that night.  Even though he was a textile manager his entire life, without any need to tap into his creative spirit, he has been an artist all along.  And through his art, he found peace.  And if you step into his backyard, you'll see the beauty in his art.  And that's the moral of this story, the theme of this message.  It's never too late to find your passion.  His life is not much different than mine, or yours, in many respects.  He chose to dig deep and engage in self-exploration.  And he found his passion.  That's what I need to do, what we all need to do.  My father loved what he did for fifty years, and he never complained about anything.  He still doesn't complain.  Outwardly, he is an eternal optimist.  Inwardly, nobody knows.  But he is my hero, and I will honor him in my pursuits.  So honor yourself, and whoever else inspires you.  Find your passion.  It's hard as hell, but you can do it.  We can all do it.  And we can walk on the summer grass, cool dew between our toes, content in the knowledge that we have followed our passion, and made a living out of it.  So grab your own "garden gnome" and have at it.  If you can see my father's garden, you'll love what you can create.  

The Force is with us all (whether you like it or not)

My sister burned 3 cds for me last weekend, after watching my son for the weekend while I attended a wedding with my wife in New York City.  It is narrated by Peter Coyote, and it's called Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind.  It's pretty brilliant.  I got what I needed out of it in the first 10 minutes of the cd, which was all about posture.  By adopting the postures necessary for Zazen, I have eliminated virtually all of the stress that has settled in my abdomen.  I'm not kidding.  And this was immediate, seconds after listening to this segment of the book.  I now stand (and sit) like a Buddhist monk throughout my day.  People look at me funny.  But I don't care.  Look, I'm not a Zen master (I'm 3/4 of the way through a really nice bottle of a 2011 Clos Du Bois Pinot Noir, 10:30 pm on a Thursday night).  I have no idea what it even means to be a Zen master, especially after my day at work today, when I read the riot act to three individuals, two of which were my direct reports, in the span of fifteen minutes.  I maintained a professional approach, but there was a lot of fire, and little Zen.  But if I were to have a gander at it, at what I believe is Zen mastery, I think it's Yoda.  And if I'm right, that would be my goal.  Which goes against many of the tenets of Zen Buddhism.  Which is why I'm not a Zen master.  But if I could be one, I would wield a lightsaber like Yoda.  It's my own dream.  I'm probably not the first to aspire to such heights.  But if nobody has started a practice which encompasses the Yoda way to Zen mastery, let me be the first.  Because to kick some ass once in a while falls within the practice of Buddhism, since there is no right, and there is no wrong.  There is only transience, and we are all transient beings, whether we like it or not (more on transience later).  But if you listen to the audiobook, we are virtually all Zen Buddhists.  We all have Buddha within us.  We start with the idea of enlightenment, and work our way back to practice.  Practice, practice, practice.  That is Buddhism.  I am the lowest horse, the one who doesn't move until the whip has penetrated my skin.  That is my state right now.  I am on my third week of consistent 10-25 minute meditations every morning.  And I am devouring this stuff.  Read it, or listen to it.  I'm on my second go-around.  It's excellent.  Here's the link on Amazon: 

 http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Mind-Beginners/dp/B0000544OP. 

Duality is a prevalent theme in the book.  Here is a Star Wars fan's version of duality, for you Star Wars fans out there (or even if you're not; you'll probably understand it better).  I'm working on grasping this concept.  Watch it, and see if you can figure it out.  I couldn't, and still can't.  But I love lightsaber duels.  So I don't care.  Here is the link.  

http://www.galactic-voyage.com/images/Fan%20Movies/duality_640x272_sv3.mov. 

So, transience.  I love this word, and I love how it applies to Buddha nature.  I stole the quote that we are all transients from Star Wars as well, Qui-Gon Jinn, specifically.  He was attempting to teach this concept to Anakin Skywalker, the future Darth Vader. Vader didn't quite get it.  He turned to the dark side (not that there is anything wrong with that, since there is no right or wrong in Buddhism.  It just is).  Obi-Wan Kenobi attempted to train young Darth after Qui-Gonn was killed by a Sith Lord from the dark side.  But he failed as well.  Or succeeded at helping Anakin on to a new career outside of Jedi knighthood.  Nobody can deny Darth Vader's success at ruling the galaxy.  And at the end of the day, we all have to take responsibility for our behaviors, our reactions, our lives.  I relate more to Obi-Wan than anyone else.  He was Zen-like in much of his behavior, but he had a temper, too (an example here, after his mentor Qui-Gon Jinn was impaled by the Sith lord.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh4l39Lo194

 He is the one without the horns; skip to 3:37 of the clip to view the duel between them.  But the entire piece is kick-ass, especially the pony-tailed Qui-Gon Jinn's meditation before his inevitable death).  Obi-Wan was vulnerable, and I liked that.  We are all vulnerable, and we are in a constant state of transience.   Life flows from one state of affairs to another and another.  That is transience.  That is perpetual change.  And the sooner we accept that life is change, that it is transience, the better off we will be.  I am working on that adaptation, every minute of every day.  Are you working on change?  Have you accepted that it is inevitable, and that it is a undeniable part of our existence?  Are you accepting of the fact that a transient life is a life without good or bad, as the next steps toward enlightenment?  How are you adapting?  Be Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, or Darth Vader.  It doesn't matter.  Just be adaptable to inevitable change, and embrace it.  And maybe you can have your own vehicle, with Chewbacca as your co-pilot, capable of traveling at light speed to any corner of our galaxy...