I’ll admit it. I’ve been struggling lately.

Being an entrepreneur, business owner, employer, and speaker is challenging. And that’s just my work life. Being an attentive and effective husband, father, friend, cat, dog, and bird servant is even more challenging. All while still not letting the dream of my next marathon die. Whew!

In the past I had things pretty well in hand. I had the right people in place, I had been doing what I was doing for a good long while. My days were pretty predictable. Plenty of time in the morning to workout, run, listen, write, record, and develop a positive baseline for the day.

Now, not so much. I never understood those people who said, “Life got in the way” but I do now.

Over the past few months though, I’ve begun to see a glimmer of the past. I’ve had a number of speaking engagements this year, I’ve been active in my professional associations and served on boards, and every now and then I’ll take a morning and work on something completely of my own.

That was today, again. And again, it happened.

My dear friend Harvey Keil used to say, “If you’re not running into Satan on a daily basis, you’re probably running with him.” Well, Satan, I see you!

It seems that each time I’ve tried to move forward the past few months, something has gone terribly wrong to derail my progress. Today, it’s dysfunction with a few of my employees at one of my businesses.

I’ve all but finished a project I’ve been thinking about, studying, surveying, and researching for several months today and at a crucial point I am called in to solve a dispute between employees that easily could have been solved by themselves.

And I’m reminded that this is a good sign.

How many times have you worked to a good cause, nearly finished, only to see Satan appear and derail your progress? Maybe for you it’s the political environment, the economy, the strife in society, the loss of a job, or just boredom in what you’ve been experiencing lately.

Could it be a sign that you’re about to have a breakthrough? Could it mean that you are about to make a big shift, a massive move that will propel you, your loved ones, your friends, and clients forward in such a way that everything changes for the better?

I’m betting the appearance of Satan is evidence that you are (and I am).

Now, don’t let the reference to Satan derail you, especially those of you who are non-believers. Just take Satan as a metaphor for whatever you believe works against you. See your desire to discredit this warning as evidence it applies to you too.

So, I see you Satan and that’s a good thing. It’s always best to know where the distractions and detractors are. That way you can avoid them. Keep moving. Great things are happening.