Perspective You Don't Get to Choose

Originally sent in From the Desk of Justin Hubbard on December 18, 2025.

The short version: A lot of the problems you think you have could always be worse, and some of them are just inconveniences, depending on how you look at them. Things won't always go your way in business, so stay in gratitude, keep building, and keep showing up.

I was running, pushing a wagon full of my three children to the playground the other day. Just got in. And I see a guy I know from the YMCA gym. We wave at each other and do the quick check-in.

Him: "How's everything going?"

Me: "Can't complain. Not bad."

He says the same thing.

But as I get closer, I notice his hand is in a full cast.

So I say, "What the hell happened to you? Get in a fight with a lawnmower?"

He says, "No, a chainsaw, actually."

He tells me that during work there was a chainsaw nearby, he slipped, and his hand got caught. Just like that. He goes on to explain that he lost a couple of knuckles, didn't lose any full digits, but he doesn't have motion in one of his fingers anymore. It'll always be curved.

I felt terrible for the guy. I told him I was sorry that happened to him.

And then he says something I wasn't expecting.

He says he's grateful.

Can you imagine… this guy just got his hand mangled in a chainsaw…

And he's really in gratitude for what happened because it could've been so much worse. He starts talking about how he's focused on the positives, focused on his family, focused on what he can still do.

This guy is standing at the playground with his kid. He just got released from the hospital 2 days ago. No excuses. Not looking for anyone to feel bad for him. Just taking his licks and figuring out what his new way of life can look like.

He starts telling me how he's going to do lat pulldowns now. Lat pulldowns at a time like this?! 😂 He's explaining how he's going to find alternate ways to work out. Alternate ways to keep doing the things he loves.

And honestly, it's kind of shocking to see someone go through something like that and still be that positive. The guy's hand is cooked. Yet he's still that grounded. Still appreciating the smaller things in life.

It makes you pause. It makes you think.

It makes you take account of all the good you have in your life.

And how a lot of the problems you think you have could always be worse. And maybe they're not even problems. Maybe they're just mere inconveniences, depending on how you look at them.

I know I'm guilty of that myself.

We're moving again… 5th house in one year 😆

We left our Connecticut home on January 7, 2025, rented three different Airbnbs in Florida while trying to understand the neighborhoods, bought a three-bedroom house in March, then found out we were pregnant with our fourth kid and decided to sell and buy a new construction five-bedroom home a half mile down the street…

But this time into a house we'll be able to grow in for years. And it's a good thing. But the process has been less than pleasing. Dealing with contractors. Building out custom closets. Installing full home water filtration systems. Transferring services; pool guy, landscaper, window cleaner, house cleaner, pest guy, farm-to-table grocery delivery — and I know I'm forgetting some too (and thank goodness for my wife). Adding exterior hardscape and landscape 🌴. All that stuff.

There have been workers at my house every day for weeks. It's frustrating. I'm frustrated. It's annoying. I'm annoyed.

But I have to remind myself — these are positive frustrations. These are things to be grateful for. These are problems other people may wish to have. And I try to stay in gratitude even in these moments.

And it makes you think about business too.

Things aren't always going to go your way. Things aren't always going to be perfect. You're not always going to get it just right.

There are slowdowns. There are problems. There are stretches where things just feel heavier. Like an anvil.

And when that happens, you still have to find a way forward.

You have to stay positive.

You have to stay motivated.

You have to stay in gratitude.

And you keep building. You keep working. You keep showing up. No matter what happens.

And maybe you've got something going on too. Maybe you've been feeling down on your luck, frustrated with the world, like there's no clear resolution in sight.

Stay in gratitude and keep pushing forward.

Because if not this, then what?

The alternative isn't any better.

So keep going.

Onward and upward ✌️

— Justin

Related: Small business owner responsibility mindset · Small business discipline habits