I think about what I created with my company and the job I was tasked to do for the past few years and I am so very proud of it all. When I was in my early 20's, I dreamed of doing something no one had done before and creating something new in the world. That's when I found poker. My Atlanta ex-boyfriend came home one day in 2004 and said he wanted to become a professional poker player. I was shocked and couldn't help myself from thinking how shady/sketchy it was. But, like a good girlfriend, I began traveling with him to various casinos and poker tournaments. What I found blew my mind. An absolute disregard for money, a free-spirited attitude, coupled with a live in the moment mind-set. I met amazing people and was hooked immediately. Not on playing the game itself, but rather on the business of it. I was given my start by a good friend in Atlanta and went from there. Fast forward to 2006, moving to Las Vegas seemed like the best option for me and so off I went. And now, in mid 2010, I am wrapping up my PR work with my clients, so very proud of the work I have done and the business I created.
I think the secret to being successful is to keep an open mind, to recognize opportunities when they come your way, and to remember they can come your way in the most unexpected ways. It's to do what you love with making money from it almost an after thought. The thing is, if you are good to people, they will be good to you. I learned that from the people in poker, an industry most people look at from the outside and see only degenerate selfishness.
There were times that I couldn't afford food, times when I had to borrow against the next months paycheck just to get by. But, I wouldn't trade those days for anything. If you never go without, if you never struggle, you will never be able to fully appreciate what you do have. If your fortitude and strength is never tested, how do you know what you can really do. The butterflies and excitement for the work I was doing disappeared sometime late last year. I remember sitting in my adorable little house and thinking, I can't do this anymore. I don't feel alive doing it any longer. I have to get out. Not that my life was so bad, I mean I was still making heaps of money, traveling, and had enough free time to do what I wanted to do, but the thrill was gone and the thrill is everything to me. Money doesn't matter, its that intrinsic feeling deep down that lights up your days. The feeling of satisfaction and excitement. That feeling gradually disappeared for me and I knew it was time to move on.
Someone said to me the other day, "Lara, you are going from being someone to being no one." I'm not so sure that I really am someone, what I do know is that if I am someone, I would rather be no one. And so, as my new journey begins and my old life transitions into the unknown, I look at it as yet another challenge. I don't know where I am going, I don't know who I will meet, and I don't know what opportunities will come my way. What I do know is that I can get through anything and thrive in any situation that comes my way. Bring it on life, bring on being uncomfortable, being scared, being lonely. Because I know that on the other side of all of that is more love, more freedom, more butterflies, and life. Living baby, that's the thrill of it all.
My thanks go out to Erica Schoenberg, Phil Hellmuth, The Brunsons, Eric Morris, Roy Winston, Jo Priam, Chris Jodry and a myriad of others that believed in me and took a chance on me. You laughed with me (and sometimes at me), thanked me, sympathized with me when I was ranting about nonsense and listened to my ideas. You all became the very fabric that made up my life, a family of sorts. I get choked up thinking about the tremendous amount of faith and trust you all put in me. I think the tears will remain in the back of my throat for a very long time when I think about you all. I'll be chasing my own thrill, but will always know that you guys are on the other side supporting me.
Peace, love, and joy!
Lara
Someone said to me the other day, "Lara, you are going from being someone to being no one."
ReplyDeleteI don't know how many times I heard that when I decided to leave the film industry behind. But it's still the best decision I ever made.
Godspeed to you.
"I think the secret to being successful is to keep an open mind, to recognize opportunities when they come your way, and to remember they can come your way in the most unexpected ways."
ReplyDeleteI think you nailed it with that... am just now in the process of learning that myself.
From someone who has been there and done that, I can attest that Change is Good, you made a great decision, you'll never look back with any regrets, its an amazing world out here in Asia. You're going to have many eye (and mind) opening experiences. Congratulations and make sure to look me up when you get to Sihanoukville, Cambodia; there's plenty of opportunities here for you.........
ReplyDeleteLara, We never met, but after learning of you through Tweets from Doyle, I began to follow you. You speak from the heart, your smart, and the perfect smartass too ;)! Then after reading the above, you have all my respect. I wish you the very best in your travels. You are "someone" to those that love you. Be safe, be happy.
ReplyDeleteScott Laughlin
Little Rock, AR
Maybe you've been defined before by those around you and "what you do". Now you will be alone and finding yourself and relying only on self and discipline in your free spiritedness. It's a brave and bold move. I would never have the guts that you have to do it, and I admire you so for turning your back on conventionalism and leaping into the unknown. No matter what happens, when you're ready to come back we will be here for you with open arms. Until then we will peek at your adventure through your eyes.
ReplyDelete