Never choose the sandwich van!

Always choose the fast lane in the fast car and PURSUE your dreams.

Taking daily consistent action builds up momentum which propels your life or business forward. You will start to see positive changes and mega results, ah remember though it won’t happen straight away and if you break the cycle too many times ‘potholes’ start to appear and you will be tempted to settle for the easy option, quitting on your dreams.

You must work every day on your mind, body and soul and take ACTION.

3am, driving back from custody to the police station. We had transported a suspect through to custody for a colleague. I was driving down a well-known road and in the distance I could see a car parked up on the side on the grass verge, which is an unusual place to stop, I assumed someone had broken down. We pulled up behind the car which was a 4x4. My colleague went to speak to the driver and I ‘ran the number plate through the box!” At that point I assumed it was all very routine!

After a few seconds my colleague walked back round to me and said “Oh my god, go and speak to that guy, he is either really scary or doesn’t understand a word I am saying, I’m not sure what is wrong with him!”

As I approached the driver’s side window I was drawn to this man’s freaky eyes, he looked scary but also he looked scared. You know Jack Nicholson in the Shining, ‘Here’s Johnny,’ yes those eyes! A sudden realisation that this wasn’t quite as routine as I first thought!

“Why are you parked here?”

Silence

“Do you understand English?”

“Yes.”

“Ok, so why are you parked here, do you need help?”

“No.”

This was over 10 years ago and to this day I can still remember how his eyes made me feel. They were very dark.

“Can you get out of the car, you’re parked along a busy dark road and not only is it dangerous, I want to talk to you.”

“I can’t.”

“Right well you’re going to give me the keys,”

At that point my colleague shouted

“GEMMA, THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE,”

At that point the passenger door flew open and a shadow of a man jumped out of nowhere, I swear to god, he appeared from a huge hole in the ground and jumped on the passenger seat.

“WHAT THE, WHERE THE, WHO THE …” He scared the hell out of me I nearly landed in lane 2.

I immediately tried to grab the keys, all whilst ‘scary eyes’ was still looking at me, ‘here’s Johnny!”

He grabbed my hand and turned the key, starting the ignition… I can’t quite remember the exact words I used but it may have involved a lot of screaming and swearing…

By this time my colleague had pushed the emergency button on the radio, signalling out to all that we needed help!

I ran back to our van, jumped in, turned the key and started to follow, not pursuing, following at a safe distance, because at the time it was against policy to pursue a vehicle in a van and I can only assume it’s because the vans are the slowest heaps of metal you will ever see, why the police invest in some makes and models of vehicles is beyond me.

I was driving the mini-van that night; it served no purpose whatsoever, ok, maybe to transport a small human to custody or the occasional dog!

As I put my foot down on the accelerator, we went from 10mph to 20, to 30 and eventually got up to 40, chugging along, total embarrassment; it would’ve been quicker if I had jumped on a Shetland pony!

“WHY THE F**K DID WE CHOOSE THE SANDWICH VAN!”

“QUBEC 4 5, can you confirm you’re not pursuing?”

“Pursuing, are you kidding, we are barely moving.” It was like going up a hill made of treacle…

My colleague and I then let out a hysterical laugh as the suspect vehicle past us on the other side of the motorway, now heading north bound! There was absolutely no point, we were done in by a tatty old 4x4.

Following at a safe distance was over far too soon so we went back to the mystery hole.

The cheeky sods were in the process of nicking copper wire, unbelievable, caught them in the act.

Just so happens that they later crashed on the way home, karma you might say. A year later they were convicted of a series of crimes. I had to give evidence in court.

“How do you know it is the same man?”

“It’s the eyes Sir!”

You have two choices in life

1) Choose the Sandwich van. Chug along at a ridiculously slow pace, moan, winge and occasionally stop. Struggle to get up those hills and fight through the challenges of life while others pass you by on the other side. Choose to go nowhere fast, choose to settle for second best.

or

2) Choose a Ferrari (or any other fast car you might like!) Put your foot down on your business / life goals and accelerate out of your comfort zone and watch how everything around you changes. Dream a dream and don’t give up until you have achieved it. Set a goal, set a deadline and bloody put your foot down to make it happen.

Always choose the fast lane in the fast car and PURSUE your dreams.