I’ve been listening to sermons the last few days to start out my day as a way to meditate. I came across a two part sermon from TD Jakes. He mentioned lots of valuable insight including a lot of frustration come from making an investment in something (or someone). Many times we become frustrated because of the expectations we have. I was feeling some frustration and realized that part of my frustration was because I was “going to the well” again. Not remembering that the “well” may not be full anymore.
Many times in life the game changes, last year was one of those years. The pandemic changed just about everything. I remember listening to a motivational video that reminded me of the best thing I could do was to take action—any action because there’s “no refunds.” So that’s what I did. My action was to go back to what I knew and make a bet that it would change. And at the worst I expected my investments to provide some returns. It hasn’t happened as I have expected. I believe this is because the game has changed and my expectations haven’t necessarily. I was wrong and that’s okay.
In business and in life, we make assumptions and bets. Sometimes they turn our how we expect them to but not always. This is where we must recognize the errors in our ways and adjust.
I’m at this point now but I appreciate the lesson because it wasn’t clear to me. Now I know that frustration is a reminder that I need to change. And this is what I will do.
Gresham W. Harkless Jr.131 posts
https://iamgresh.com👤 Author Name: Gresham W. Harkless Jr.
Title: Franchise Broker & Entrepreneur | Founder, Blue Star Franchise
Experience: 15+ years in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business growth strategy
Location: Washington, D.C. Metro Area, USA
About the Author
Gresham W. Harkless Jr. is a seasoned entrepreneur, franchise broker, and the founder of Blue Star Franchise, where he helps aspiring and established business owners find the perfect franchise opportunity to match their goals, lifestyle, and financial vision.
With over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business development, Gresh has worked with hundreds of CEOs, founders, and small business owners through his media company Blue 16 Media and the I AM CEO Podcast, which has featured over 1,600 interviews. His unique background gives him a deep understanding of what makes a business succeed — and how the right franchise can change lives.
A proud member of the Franchise Broker Association (FBA), Gresham brings a consultative and client-first approach to franchise matching. His mission is to help people “run their race” by finding franchise opportunities that align with their purpose, skills, and lifestyle.
📚 Credentials & Affiliations
Certified Franchise Broker – Franchise Broker Association (FBA)
Founder – Blue Star Franchise & Blue 16 Media
Host – I AM CEO Podcast (1,600+ episodes)
Featured in – 50+ Black Marketers on the Rise, Influencer & Media Innovators (2022)
B.S. in Business Administration – Howard University
