The Carpenter: A Story About the Greatest Success Strategies of All

Chapter 12Sarah

When people called them a power couple Michael knew it was because of Sarah. She was the strongest and most positive woman he had ever known and the glue that kept their family together. They met on a sales call years before and, for him, it was love at first sight. For her, it took a few years. When she finally let her guard down and opened her heart to him, Michael, being the salesman he was, made her an offer that turned out to be the best sale of his life. Over the years Sarah’s strength and resolve never wavered as they built a house, a marriage, a family, and now a business together. But for the first time she seemed fearful. Building a house didn’t scare her. Giving birth without drugs, twice, didn’t scare her. Even putting everything they owned into their new business didn’t scare her. But ever since that day in the hospital, she was fearful of losing Michael, and when she walked in the door from work that night, she looked like someone had died.

She didn’t want to tell him. In fact, she tried not to but couldn’t hide her despair. Michael made her talk and she shared that they had lost their biggest client. The contract would run for two more months, but then they were done.

“I knew I shouldn’t have taken time off,” Michael yelled.

“It wasn’t because you took time off,” she said, trying to calm him down. “It was because of our service. We didn’t serve the account well enough. We grew too fast beyond our ability to serve the client. You know it was something ...