The Comeback. Shane Hodge
have woken me up to reality but again the old catch cry of “Plenty of Time” always set in and the original couple of weeks in Asia had now dragged out to almost five years. Let me say right now I am not proud of this fact.
For me the CEO role was a disaster, it turned out to be the most Politically based place I had ever worked in, with each day having to fight another plot or plan, each day having to stave off another assassination attempt by some glory hunting General Manager and in the end my temper got the better of me and I told them in very Australian terms see you later.
Now faced with the, ‘What do I do now” problem, Tracy set me a challenge. I had always bragged that I could sell and market just about anything so she said “Can you make Oriental Dream Famous”?
I really liked the stuff she was selling, it was special and unique awesome embroidery and silverware with a long history and wonderful stories associated with the design - in fact some of the designs were over 3000 years old. I thought yes it’s possible to make a brand out of this. I sat down and wrote a business plan, went out and got a couple of Investors, the only problem was that to really make it as a brand? The Business would have to be based in Guizhou Province in China, as you have to be at the heart of the action, the culture to really make it work. So again I moved, to what would have to be the most challenging place on the planet to live as a Foreigner, China.
Now if you know somebody or have lived in China you may disagree with me, but I guess you or him or her have lived in Beijing or Shanghai. Well let me tell you it’s like Chalk and Cheese, living in a Province is like living on another planet - it’s very very tough. Guizhou is the poorest province in China.
It is 1500 feet above sea level, as an Australian I was a minority tribe, the food, living standard all very tough but I was determined I could make this Oriental Dream Work.
Five more years quickly passed, and we did make it famous. Tracy and I became household faces in Guizhou and most parts of China. We were on TV every other week, we had specials made about us that were seen by over 550 million people, and in fact CCTV6 which is the same as HBO approached us to make a Movie based around our lives. It was a very special time with some unbelievable memories, however it has also many tough times.
I struggled with the food, the loneliness, I was so homesick, but each time I thought I had the chance to go home, another event, another Interview would come up and the plan would fade. I was sick so many times, food poisoning, dehydration but the lonliness was the biggest killer. I really felt that I was almost a machine that would be turned on for special events and then put back in the Closet to wait for another major opening.
It all became a bit too much and I decided to spend time in a village around one hour from town. I could ride a motorbike and horses there, I would teach English to keep myself busy and return to the City when I was needed for a special event or meeting.
The time, the pressure, health issues, being away from Australia for so long all were getting to me and having a great impact on my relationship with Tracy. I began to hate the business and worse still became very bitter towards her and all those that surrounded her. I held Tracy at such a high level; she was the most amazing dynamic love I had so it was not a good time, nor frame of mind to be in. Something had to give, I needed a break from it all, not to run away just to get a new perspective some might say but in my case it was to get my soul back. Again I thought I could make it back home but then another chance arrived. A good friend in the US asked me to help him out with his Company for a few weeks. He offered me the ticket and said he would send me back via Australia after we got things sorted in a few weeks. I had read all his documents and it sound like a bit of fun for a few weeks and would help me get out of the rut I had dug for myself so I talked to Tracy she agreed I needed a break and away I went.
Well I don’t why, but I must have ran over a black cat, walked under a ladder, got a voodoo doll against me but when I arrived in LA nothing was like it was told. The business was a mess he had no money. I had to live with his family - it was a disaster. I used money that I had taken with me to try and help but after a period of time it finally broke the camel’s back and I decided the only thing I truly needed to do? Was getting back home, to Australia.
I had not seen my children in so long. The conversation had gotten less and less, the broken promises now made me a man of little if any integrity with my Children. The same could be said of my family who really didn’t want to know me, and as for friends? Well they had long since stopped returning my emails; my life was in an essence a disaster.
Do you understand now why I opened this chat up with my encounter with Mr. Covey and my respect for “seek first to understand before being understood?” Do you feel that I have taken my share of knocks, made selfish stupid choices and totally understand the need and desire for The Comeback?
I understand Divorce and the Breakup of relationships. I know the devastation it can bring I have been through it three times but have Comeback to have these relationships as friendships I cherish, including Tracy who is now my best friend and closest business partner.
I understand the pain, the hurt and loss you feel when you have children that are not only part of those relationship breakups, but more so I didn’t see them, hold them or hug them for almost twelve years. I understand the feeling of being hated and not part of a Childs life. I have four wonderful children who demonstrated that lesson to me, but I have the glory of a Comeback as a father, the beauty of a relationship with four children who not only now love me but respect me.
I know and totally understand what it means to fail in a business, or a professional career, drug addiction. I know the pain it causes, the loss of self esteem but I know that all this can be overcome and I have proved that a Comeback from all areas of failure is possible. I know this as I have made my Comeback not once but many times.
Friendships, Health, Spiritual, and Emotional issue that leave you at a point when you feel you cannot go on, personal losses - I understand and have lived them. I have spilt blood in the same mud most likely that you have, but I have overcome and I sit back now and enjoy the sweet feeling of success of my Comeback in all these and more areas. Can you see it now? Are you with me now?
This chat was not meant to be an Biography of the ups and the downs of Shane’s life. The book contains many other stories about my life, but this first chat was meant to give you a glimpse of the things I have gone through. This chat was to demonstrate, that I truly understand, appreciate and can apply the chats that are in this book and in the end as you can and will do. In the end you will be rewarded as others will around you with the best feeling and that feeling is…
The Comeback.
Chat One. DHL and FedEx
Have Success, Create Financial Independence, Get Rich Quick - that’s some of the titles I read when I go to the local bookstore to find information on any subject of “life” improvement. All of these things are important and I will be the first one to put his hand up and say yes when the question is asked, “Do You want to be rich and Famous”? But is this subject question the most important part of your life?
What I rediscovered over the three months with Mum? Was that a lot of people have no need for Comebacks in all areas of their lives, just some! You can see many successful people are really happy about the Ferrari in the garage of the big huge house, and you can see that some sports people are so excited about being Number One in the world. You can see that some people are smiling from ear to ear that they have the most successful business on the planet, but look deep into those people and you will find some misery in parts of their lives that they would gladly give some of the precious riches to fix.
Top Golfer has steamy Affair! Corporate CEO charged with sexual assault, Leading Sportsman destroyed by gambling habit, Son of Head of Government busted for Drugs, Superstar Actor enters rehab. Have you seen these headlines? I don’t have to tell you who these people are you will remember them. Their lives have graced the pages of our newspapers and magazines showing the riches and success and all the trimmings that go with it - Million dollar cars, zillion dollar mansions but Ten Cent hearts.
It’s not just the million dollar