The Controlling Point
By John P. Slosek, Jr. — The Insurance Coach™
I know what everyone is thinking. John, why would you post a picture of the main sewer line coming out of the house? Well, first, this is the metaphor for todays blog. Second, it is also the controlling point. Sometimes the greatest lessons in life don't come from a classroom or a big conference hall. A few weeks ago, our home gave us one of those lessons. The toilet wasn't flushing quite right. The sinks were draining slowly, and before long, even the shower started to back up. It was clear something was wrong, but we didn't know what. We called the water department, and within about an hour, a crew arrived. They ran a snake down the main sewer line and pulled out a tangle of roots and weeds. Then one of the technicians said, "John, do you realize that this one pipe is the controlling point for your whole house?" That phrase hit me like a lightning bolt. I took this pipe for granted. I always expected it to work until it didn't. It was a wake up call.
Every sink,
every shower, washing machine and every toilet depended on that single line. And if that line was
blocked, everything else was affected. That's when it clicked. Isn't that
exactly how life works?
We all have controlling points. For some, it's health. For others, it's
finances, or even a relationship we've been neglecting. When those areas become
clogged with delay, avoidance, or simply hoping they'll fix themselves,
everything else starts to back up.
Success and
failure both leave clues, and most of the time those clues are small. A tree
root doesn't block a pipe in one day. It grows slowly over time, just like a
small oversight in business, a missed conversation in a relationship, or a
delayed decision about your own health. And the good news is this: once you
find the controlling point, you know where to focus. Clear the blockage. Make
the call. Have that tough conversation. Take the small first step. Fix the one
thing that affects everything else. And that's the lesson. Sometimes changing
your life doesn't require changing everything. It starts with finding that one
point that controls it all.
That's what
makes this lesson memorable. It's practical, it's vivid, and it's built on a
real moment that naturally teaches a timeless truth. The lesson of the
controlling point doesn't just live in our homes with a clogged sewer pipe;
history offers sobering reminders as well.
On December
29, 1972, Eastern Airlines Flight 401 approached Miami International Airport.
The crew was preparing to land when something unexpected happened. The
indicator light for the nose landing gear failed to illuminate. The crew aborted the landing and engaged the autopilot while they focused on
diagnosing that tiny light. But the landing gear itself was actually down and
locked. Think about these two pilots and an assistant in the cockpit were all
focused on the burnt-out light. Panic started to set in and in the fury of
movement the pilot hit the main control panel and disengaged the auto pilot. Unnoticed
by the crew, the aircraft gradually descended until it crashed into the Florida
Everglades. The controlling point had shifted from flying the airplane to
fixing a light bulb. How often do we do that? What became the controlling point?
The light
bulb!
Chasing a
small distraction while losing sight of the bigger picture. What is the true
cost in the human life by choosing the wrong controlling points? That question
lingers. Am I focused on the right controlling point? This is what bad habits
do…they point you in the absolute wrong direction. I have learned one of many
truths in life. This one has always hits home. “In life, you either pay the
price of discipline or the price of regret.”
Sometimes
changing one thing changes everything. Before you go to bed tonight, ask
yourself one question: What is the
controlling point in my life right now?
Is it my
attitude? My finances? My health? My marriage? My faith? My discipline? My
habits? My priorities? Or perhaps it's something I've overlooked completely. Its up to YOU! If you know personal change is needed, then have the courage to face the truth! Point yourself in a better direction.
“Before
you change the whole world... change the one thing guiding you.”
John P. Slosek Jr. is the founder of Slosek Insurance Corporation, established in 1984 and still serving clients today. For more than 40 years, John has worked in the insurance industry helping individuals, families, and business owners better understand protection, risk, and financial responsibility. In addition to operating his and his wife’s insurance agency, John has spent over 30 years as a motivational and self-improvement speaker, focusing on common-sense life lessons, personal growth, and real-world decision-making. John is also the host of The Insurance Coach® radio show, heard every Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. on Classic Hits 97.7. www.classichits977.com (Hit Listen Live). The program combines insurance education, life experiences, motivational insight, and practical advice designed to help listeners make better decisions for themselves and their families. John proudly resides in Massachusetts with his family and enjoys spending time with his children, grandchildren and his two Golden Doodles Maggie & Morgan.
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