The Last Key

Hey team, it’s Monday, Monday Message, so I wanted to tell you about a quote I read here recently. Paulo Coelho, he said, “Never Give Up.” Normally, the last key on the ring is the one that opens the door. Now, that got me thinking about a couple of different things.

First of all, have you ever been in a situation where you had a ring of keys, and you were trying to open a door? Invariably, he’s right—the last key on that ring is the one that opens the door. If you’ve been on patrol, you kinda know what I’m talking about. We’ve done a lot to try to color code keys, number keys, and do things and stuff.

But every so often, especially sometimes when you’re new, the very first time you’re out there on patrol by yourself, you have a list of keys, and you’re sitting there trying to remember which key opens which door. Inevitably, you try almost every key until you get to the last key, and it opens the door. That’s such a good feeling, right? I mean, it’s not a good feeling in the moment, but you do have the key that opens the door, even if it’s the last one.

The other thing that this gets me thinking about is just a simple fact of how life works with all of us that don’t give up. Our core values of investment, don’t give up, never quit, our resolve. Improvise, adapt, and overcome. You can make it through anything if you don’t quit. As long as you don’t give up, you keep marching forward, you keep making progress in the right direction. Even when you fall down, you fall forward. When you get up, you’re still further ahead on your journey than you were. That’s the beautiful thing about our core values, about our teamwork, about our focus and our effort moving us forward. That’s what I love about Paulo’s quote, Never give up. And as long as you don’t give up, there’s still one more key on the ring that’ll probably open your next door.

I think we’ve all been in a place; some of you might be in a place right now as you’re listening to my voice, and you’re thinking about this. You’re saying, “Chad, I’ve been thinking about quitting. I’ve been thinking about… You have no idea what my life is like.” I hear you, brother. I hear you, sister. And I know. I’ve had those moments too. But don’t give up because the last key on your ring might be just the one that’s going to open the next door. And there’s always a next door for you, even when one slams in your face, even when somebody shuts you down and tells you you’re not gonna… You’re not gonna do this, whatever this is. The next key is going to open that next door that’s going to move you right into a prosperous situation. As long as you don’t quit.

Anyway, that’s my Monday Message for the day. Let’s not quit. Keep going through those keys on the ring; you’re going to get to the one that’s going to open the door in front of you. God bless you guys. You have a wonderful rest of your week. I’ll see you next week. Let’s be valuable, nothing less will do. See you later.