Finding Structure When Everything Changes

Navigating the chaos of life is something we all face, but sometimes it feels like everything hits at once. That's exactly where we find ourselves at the Liberty household – in the midst of what I've aptly called "Busy City."

The biggest event of our business year, Freiburg Fair, is rapidly approaching. This isn't just another event for Loud Proud American; it's what I call "the great equalizer of the year." No matter what's happening in the world around us, this fair has consistently saved our business every year since we started. It's our make-or-break moment, and this year we're taking bigger risks than ever before. I've spent nearly a week creating game plans, managing inventory, and positioning us for what I hope will be our most successful year yet. We're bringing in close to 2,000 items over the next couple of weeks, juggling custom accounts for agricultural businesses, and pouring every resource we have into making this fair season our best.

In the midst of this business chaos, we're also navigating personal and professional transitions. We just worked a wedding for our friends Jake and Sage, which was a tremendous success despite some challenges. We arrived thinking we were just handling the reception, only to discover we were responsible for the entire event, including the ceremony. There we were, hauling equipment up to a mezzanine overlooking the venue, setting up in a tiny space, and scrambling to be ready when the incredibly brief ceremony ended. Despite the stress and last-minute adjustments, the dance floor stayed packed all night – a testament to our ability to adapt and deliver.

Perhaps the biggest change, however, is happening in our family's work structure. After four months at a new job in medical insurance authorization, my wife has been struggling with the isolation of cubicle life. Coming from years in direct patient care, the lack of social interaction felt like working "in a morgue," as she puts it. Instead of just accepting her unhappiness, she took a courageous step by calling a meeting with her manager to discuss her concerns. What started as a conversation about potentially leaving turned into an unexpected opportunity – her company offered her the chance to work from home permanently.

This transition presents both challenges and opportunities. Working from home means creating dedicated office spaces, establishing new routines, and adjusting to being around each other more. But it also means more time with our daughter, less commuting stress and expense, and the flexibility to work from anywhere – even from the camper during fair season. It's a major lifestyle change that requires adaptation, but the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

Throughout all these transitions, I've been reflecting on something Tony Robbins said that really resonated with me: "Most people overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in two or three decades." We put such intense pressure on ourselves to achieve perfection quickly, when what really matters is the progress we make over time. Looking back at where we were when we first started dating versus where we are now – with our home, our business, our family – the transformation is remarkable. And that perspective helps ease the pressure of immediate perfection.

As we navigate these chaotic times, we're learning to give ourselves credit for how far we've come, to create structure amidst change, and to recognize that while we may not accomplish everything we want in a single year, the decades ahead hold incredible potential. Sometimes the things we complain about most – like difficult coworkers or customer interactions – are the very things we struggle to let go of when they're removed from our lives. We're creatures of habit, even when those habits cause us frustration.