How to Do Hard Things

(Like parallel park between two Porsches—one worth $700,000)

I used to think my childhood struggles were unique. 

But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized most of us grew up with some drama

—especially when parents projected high expectations onto us.

In my case, after my parents divorced, they had zero expectations of me.

And maybe that’s what shaped me most.

As a teenager, I didn’t want to be around my single mom—pretty typical behavior, I know. 

I buried myself in schoolwork, spent time with friends, and watched a lot of TV.

But the real battles started when my mom tried to control me. 

Our worst fights?

When I was supposed to see my dad, or when I ignored curfew.

(Yes, I got grounded.)

There was an imbalance of power at home, so I found my own power—by doing everything myself.

I figured out college applications, jobs, dentist appointments, orthodontist visits, even doctor checkups—all on my own.

And in doing so, I learned to take full responsibility.

I also made a lot of mistakes.

But those mistakes gave me something valuable: confidence.

So now I wonder…

Would I have had the courage to make a major career pivot if I hadn’t gone through that tough childhood?

Would I have had the confidence to parallel park my dad’s Tesla between two $500,000+ Porsches—with a crowd watching—outside Zumbach’s Coffee in New Canaan?

I don’t think so.

When we’re faced with hard things, we have to pull from somewhere.

From experience. 

From memory. 

From knowing we’ve done it before.

Making a hard decision and sticking with it takes willpower. 

And that willpower comes from doing hard things—again and again.

Like parallel parking under pressure.

Or navigating life when no one else is doing it for you.

Reach out if you need some motivation to do a hard thing!

Thank you for reading!

Tiffany Kent

Your Friendly Wealth Engagement Guide

Disclosures: Past performance is not indicative of future results. This material is not financial advice or an offer to sell any product. The information contained herein should not be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular security. Forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed.

This commentary offers generalized research, not personalized investment advice. It is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a complete description of our investment services or performance. Nothing in this commentary should be interpreted to state or imply that past results are an indication of future investment returns. All investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to consult with an investment & tax professional before implementing any investment strategy. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.