Has there ever been something in your life that you never thought would happen to you?
Maybe it's starting a business, winning the lottery, or riding 50 miles on your bike. (I have actually done all of those things).
But, there is one thing that I never thought would happen to me...
And that was getting my very own mugshot.
The worst part is... They won't even let you smile because it looks bad for the judge... bastards.
Now, I know what you're thinking as you look at my mugshot:
- Man, that is one strikingly handsome man, even in a mugshot.
- Why the hell am I on a creative criminals email list??
Now, I might say: "What a foolish question, because that's exactly the type of content I'm looking for." But, it's honestly a very fair question.
I guess this is the part where I tell you what I did, and as much as I wish I could say I was doing hard time for a bank robbery or pulling off a stealthy art heist...
The truth is... The answer is a lot lamer than I'd like to admit.
And this... This was infuriating.
Here I was, just driving along in my little Prius (seriously, I have a Prius), enjoying life, probably listening to a Huberman Lab episode.
When suddenly I was pulled over for what I thought was going to be a warning or citation for some minor or obscure offense.
As the other officer approached my vehicle, prepared to draw his weapon, and asked me to step out of the vehicle and show my hands... I realized this wasn't a warning.
I was in serious trouble.
My heart was beating out of my chest. I was in shock. I used to be an EMT. I like podcasts, books, and writing these emails. I'm no criminal...
As they asked me about weapons and began patting me down, I asked with a confused tone what I was being arrested for. The officer replied, "For unpaid tickets."
I immediately flashed back to my parent's kitchen just a few months ago...
Talking with my mom and dad that night, I mentioned how just a couple of years ago, I had gotten a ticket, and then I had lost said ticket. So, I never got around to paying it and after a certain point, I figured it had just "gone away."
That's what things do when you ignore them, right? They go away?
I had gotten another ticket a year later and took care of it right away and no one ever mentioned anything, so... 🤷🏻♂️
I told my parents, "Maybe they didn't even file the tickets and they just hope you'll pay it. I don't think I have anything to worry about."
Ha. Ha. Ha.
The officers were perfectly nice when they arrested me and I understood they were doing their job, but as I sat squished up in the back of the squad car, cuffed up with aching wrists...
I couldn't help but be furious.
Next thing I know, I'm being booked into jail with my one phone call. I tried calling mom and dad, but turns out they do listen to me and don't pick up the phone for unknown numbers lest they be scammed out of their life savings.
So I just sat there on the cold metal frame of the bed and looked at the wall of the cell.
I was angry and frustrated. I had shit to do... work to do... lunch with my dad planned.
This whole thing was a massive and uncomfortable inconvenience.
But as I sat back and looked up at the bunk above me, I realized something...
There was no point in dwelling on what had already happened.
What was done was done.
I had to own up to my mistakes and recognize that I was in this position because of the decisions I made.
I didn't take care of the ticket like I was supposed to and now it was going to cost me a lot MORE money to bail me out of this (assuming someone ever picks up the phone).
And the worst part? I didn't have anyone else to blame but myself.
So, I decided from that moment on, if I was going to be in jail, I was going to have the best time possible.
I cracked jokes with the officers, flirted with the booking officer, and tried to find humor in the absurdity of it all.
I laughed about how this was going to raise my street cred and told the officer taking my fingerprints that if she wanted to hold my hand she didn't have to arrest me, she could just ask...
They treated me fairly and we even managed to share some laughs despite the circumstances.
In the end, I only spent about 5 or 6 hours in jail before my mom finally answered. Thanks, mom.
We all had a good laugh about it and my friends began entertaining the idea of making #FreenNoah T-shirts. They also hotly debated whether or not i could have escaped on my own:
I say all of this to say... Don't be afraid of admitting when you're wrong and be able to laugh at yourself.
Being an entrepreneur isn't just about chasing success; it's also about recognizing our faults (there will be a lot of them), learning to have fun even in the worst of times, and always moving forward (even after two steps back).
The creator journey is one where you will mess up from time to time, but it's how you handle those mistakes that truly defines whether you will succeed.
Learn to laugh at yourself, take responsibility for what you can control, accept accountability, and get back to it.
In the meantime, I'll see if I can get Lauren on those #FreeNoah T-shirts. We could use a little more diversification in our monetization strategy around here.
But for now, have a chuckle with me (or at me, whatever). It's good for the soul.
Oh, and make sure to pay those tickets y'all. They don't go away.
Quote of the Week
Josiah Charles Stamp, an industrialist, economist, civil servant, statistician, writer, and banker:
"It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities."
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Cheers,
Lauren and Noah
