One of the reasons we ended up in Irvine, California, was because we were buying a business.
And then the deal fell apart.
Let me explain.
We’d already been talking about moving our family to Southern California. And around that same time, we signed a letter of intent to buy a business in Los Angeles.
So naturally, we thought… maybe this is all coming together.
We’d been looking at places around San Diego and Orange County. But with the business in LA, we wanted to be close enough to make it work while still living in the suburbs with our three young kids.
And that’s part of how we ended up in Irvine.
Everything seemed to be coming together
But let me tell you, we were so excited about this business.
We were making plans. Talking through all the possibilities. Having calls with the sellers, learning more about the business, and even looking at dates for a site visit.
Along the way, we were sharing the experience with our kids.
They knew about the business. Why we liked it. How it made money.
Even some of the things we were concerned about.
We wanted them to be part of the journey, too.
And they were excited! They knew buying a business was one of our big goals for the year.
The sellers were great. Their team was great. We really liked the business.
And then it fell apart
We found a place in Irvine. Signed the lease. Moved our family.
And then, while we were still unpacking boxes and getting settled into our new home…
The deal fell apart.
And we were heartbroken.
Not just because we lost the opportunity.
But because somewhere along the way, we’d started imagining our lives with this business in it.
What our days might look like. What we could build. Even how the kids might be involved.
And suddenly, that future we’d been so excited about wasn’t going to happen.
The kids were disappointed, too. They knew how much this meant to us.
And I think that’s what made it especially hard.
We weren’t just letting go of a business. We were letting go of a future we’d already started picturing together.
What I keep thinking about
Now, we’re genuinely grateful to be here in California. Moving here was something we wanted for our family anyway.
And we’re still looking for the right business.
But this whole experience has had me thinking.
Sometimes we get so attached to a particular plan that when it falls apart, it feels like the dream fell apart with it.
But those are two different things.
Moving to California was one dream. And here we are.
Owning a business is another. And we’re still working toward it.
The opportunity fell apart. But the dream didn’t.
And maybe the next opportunity will be even better. We don’t know yet.
But I’m learning that we can be disappointed about how something turned out and still be excited about what might come next.
Both can be true.
So here’s a thought I’ll leave you with today. And believe me, I’m working on this one myself.
Don’t get so attached to how you thought life was supposed to happen that you miss what could still happen.
Sometimes the plan changes.
That doesn’t mean the dream does.
— Tony
The Next Chapter — a small group of people building, buying, and investing. We meet every other Thursday at 4 PM PT for 60–90 minutes on Zoom.