It Will Work Out…

We have probably all said it, or something close to it – “Don’t worry, it will all work out.”  Words of wisdom, often from people with greying hair.  But is it true?

Whether or not “it” will actually work out depends on the goal at the end.  Defining the “it” in terms of what you will take as a final settlement, what concessions you will take and what you feel is a fair resolution is actually the determinant to whether “it” actually works out.

Here’s an example – as a child, I wanted to be a professional race car driver, among other things.  So, let’s test this goal and see if “it worked out.”

In the early 80’s I had the opportunity to work with a team of semi-professional drivers that entered what is today the Rolex 24 Hours race at the Daytona International Speedway – preparation and pit crew duties.  We ran that twice-around-the-clock race several years, and I was bitten.  While I didn’t drive, I did get a taste of professional racing.  But it wasn’t “it” – I was not a professional racer.

Fast forward to the early 2000’s when I had the opportunity to actually race with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) at Daytona International Speedway.  I got my racing license, and raced in cars that I built myself – Porsches.  Definitely not professional racing, but going wheel-to-wheel at Daytona, Sebring and other tracks in the southeast is pretty close.

So, did it all work out?  I have raced in my own cars built by my own hand at the same tracks that the real pros race.  I realistically know that I will never be hired to drive a race car, but in my mind, I have reached my goal.  It actually did work out.  Without the goal of becoming a professional race driver, I would have probably not gotten as far as I did in automobile racing.  Along the way I made some great friends and had some awesome experiences.

This brings to mind another statement that I have both heard and said – It will all work out in the end.  Again, it depends on your definition of “it,” but it also depends on your definition of “the end.”  Then I heard this – It will all work out in the end, and if it hasn’t worked out, you’re not at the end yet.  

Wow.

This iteration says that you should not ever stop reaching for that goal.  “The end” isn’t here yet, so don’t stop striving for that thing – the “it” – that you want to work out.  If it hasn’t worked out, you’re not at the end.”

So maybe I can find someone who will pay me to drive a race car…I mean, it’s not the end yet, is it?