Two days ago, I wrapped up a tough cardio session alongside one of my best friends, who also happens to be one of my hardest-working clients. It was a high-intensity interval day thanks to my Morpheus heart rate system, which is an ass-whipping to say the least. She powered through her workout, and once we both came down and could talk again, we caught up. What she shared stuck with me, and it’s something I believe many of you are facing right now.
To protect her identity, let’s call her Leigh. She’s 29, turning 30 this September. She makes over $100,000 a year as the de facto office manager for a small insurance company. She does exceptional work, supports her team, and goes above and beyond. But the organization has significant dysfunction—things mostly outside her control. It’s a constant stressor. At the same time, she’s working on her Precision Nutrition Level 1 certification because she feels called toward fitness coaching. She also has a side hustle in financial planning that she genuinely enjoys—only a handful of hours a week, nights and weekends, but it lights her up.
Leigh’s feeling trapped. Not because she lacks money or ability—she could easily support herself. She moved back home with her dad after college at Baylor, and they’ve been good roommates for years, splitting bills and building savings. But now she has a deep desire for independence. When she mentioned moving out, her dad’s response was negative and undermining, making her feel incapable. When the conversation turned to her learning sales for the side hustle, he doubled down, telling her she’s “too nice” to succeed.
Here’s the thing: Leigh is one of the most delightful, capable people you’ll meet. Being kind isn’t a weakness in sales or life—it’s a strength. The jerks only go so far.
This conversation reminded me of a powerful story from my longtime mentor, Andy Andrews. Andy is a New York Times bestselling author multiple times over, a speaker who’s worked with companies, governments, the military, and pro sports. Years ago, before he and his wife Polly had their boys, they lived on the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with their Dalmatian, Lucy—Andy called her their “dog daughter.”
Lucy loved napping on the back porch overlooking the beach. She also loved chasing storks. She could be half-asleep, completely comatose, and the second a stork landed on the beach, she’d bolt like a rocket—barking her head off, racing full speed, never catching one, of course. Andy pointed out something profound: If you only saw Lucy go from lazy to full sprint, barking like crazy, but never saw the stork, you might think she was crazy.
People who don’t share your goals, values, or vision won’t see your “stork.” They’ll look at your drive, your late-night studying for a certification, your side hustle, or your desire for independence and think you’re overreacting or unrealistic. They simply can’t see what you see.
There’s a related piece of wisdom I heard years ago that pairs perfectly with this: Only take counsel from people who have fruit on the tree.
Don’t ask your broke brother-in-law for stock market or real estate advice. Don’t take career or life direction from people who haven’t achieved what you’re chasing. They may love you, but their perspective is limited by their own results (or lack of them). Criticism from family or close friends stings the most, but that doesn’t make it accurate or helpful.
Leigh’s dad isn’t seeing her stork. He doesn’t have fruit on the tree in the areas she’s pursuing right now. His concerns come from his own place—fear of change, comfort with the current setup—but they don’t reflect her reality: a sharp, disciplined young woman with options and drive.
What Do You Do With This?
- Control the controllables. Leigh can’t fix the dysfunction at her company overnight, but she can keep doing exceptional work, finish her Precision Nutrition cert, and grow her side hustle. Focus your energy where it moves the needle.
- Curate your counsel. Seek input from people who’ve been where you want to go. Mentors, coaches, or friends with real track records. In fitness and life, this is why I’m passionate about data-driven coaching—VO2 max, Morpheus recovery scores, nutrition protocols that deliver results.
- Protect your momentum. A simple “Thank you for your opinion” can be enough. Then keep moving. Don’t let voices that can’t see your stork steal your joy or derail your discipline. This applies to fat loss journeys, career shifts, building a business, or deepening your faith.
- Remember: Nice people win. Kindness paired with competence and consistency opens doors. Authenticity builds trust—in sales, coaching, relationships, and leadership.
From a faith perspective, this aligns with wisdom we see throughout Scripture: Seek wise counsel (Proverbs), be in the world but not conformed to its patterns, and trust God’s timing even when the people closest to you don’t understand the vision He’s given you. Doors close, greater ones open—especially when we stay faithful in the small things.
Leigh’s story isn’t unique. Whether you’re 29 or 59, feeling the pull toward something more—independence, a new skill, better health, stronger relationships, or leaving a toxic environment—the principle holds. Identify your stork. Find people who can see it (or at least respect your chase). And keep running.
What’s the stork you’re chasing right now? Drop it in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to my blog. If you’re in the Dallas area and want support with fitness, nutrition, recovery, or the mindset to move forward, reach out via Work With Kelly. I’d love to help you build the systems that turn vision into reality.
And Leigh—if you’re reading this—keep going. You’ve got this. The next chapter is going to be powerful.
Best of luck with your journey.
kellyamidonblog.com 
Leave a comment