No, I Haven’t Lost My Marbles. They’re Right Here in This Jar.
You’ve heard the saying, right?
“Have you lost your marbles?”
It’s usually said with a laugh, often in response to someone doing something that seems… well, a bit nuts.
And I’ll be honest: as a small business owner, single dad and sandwich-generation caretaker – there have absolutely been days I’ve looked around and wondered if I had.
But I’ve got proof I haven’t.
They’re in a jar. Literally. On my desk.
Right behind me, on my credenza, sits an antique mason jar filled with colorful marbles. You might’ve seen them in the background of my Zoom calls. It’s a beautiful old piece – the kind with etched glass and a screw-top lid that’s weathered with age and wisdom.
That jar is more than decoration. It’s a reminder.
What It Represents
I once had 14 employees. I was juggling client deliverables, building systems, managing marketing campaigns, developing programs, writing proposals … sometimes all before lunch.
All while raising two kids as a single, fully present dad.
All while supporting my aging parents with no emotional help.
All while trying to grow a business that mattered.
There were moments I questioned everything.
Would it have been easier to stay in corporate America? Probably.
But was I called to do something different? Absolutely.
The Jar Says I’m Still Here
Those marbles? They’re symbolic.
Each one holds a story, a late night, a tough decision, a milestone. They represent times I could’ve walked away… but didn’t.
Some days they’re a reminder not to take myself too seriously.
Some days they’re proof I haven’t lost my grip (even if it feels like I’m holding on by a thread).
And some days, they’re just… pretty to look at.
Because the truth is – building something meaningful will cost you a few marbles.
But if you’re lucky, like me, you’ll keep just enough to keep going.
And on the days when you feel like you’re losing yours? Just look around.
You might find them in a jar, right behind you.
Bonus Marble Trivia (because why not?)
The phrase “losing your marbles” likely comes from early 20th-century slang. “Marbles” was a metaphor for one’s wits or mental faculties. To “lose your marbles” meant to lose your mind – but over time, it took on a more playful, relatable tone. Perfect for entrepreneurs, right?
