When the cream puffs collapsed, I almost did too.
Last Friday,
after an over-scheduled day sprinkled with
emails,
texts,
calls
all starting with “can I talk to you today?”
and the reality that there simply were not enough hours,
I went to celebrate my birthday at a cooking class.
Let’s just say: the chef seemed like she’d had a long week too.
The cream puffs collapsed.
The chicken didn’t cook through.
And I was already slightly on edge from the darts of the day.
(Did I mention I backed into my son’s car? Yeah… it was a day to remember.)
As much work as I do to practice peace
My first reaction was a mixture of disappointment and frustration that builds when you’ve tried so hard—
and it still falls apart.
But as I sat with it over the weekend
I started to think about:
What worked out well?
How could it be different next time?
What can I learn?
Here is what I’ve come up with so far:
– I learned how easy it is to make espresso cream puff filling.
– I belly-laughed with some of my favorite people as they whispered hysterical commentary under their breath.
– The world didn’t fall apart because I didn’t talk to everyone who wanted to talk to me.
– The next day my husband made me the most delicious champagne brunch, that we enjoyed at the table by the window to our butterfly garden, followed by a long beach walk.
Even though the food flopped, the people were the point.
Even though the plan fell apart, the evening didn’t.
Even though I only had 20% to bring—it turned out to be plenty.
These are lessons that built our business
(even though I have to be reminded of them every now and again):
That “more effort” is rarely the answer.
That friction is a signal—not a flaw.
And that ease and laughter don’t mean you’re doing it wrong.
Maybe they mean you’re finally building it right.
Friction is the invitation.
To build something more honest. More sustainable.
More aligned with how we actually want to work and live.
That’s what we’re doing at ADVOS Pro.
Because what you are building should serve your life— not swallow it whole.
– Gwen