Playing to win feels different. You don't feel like you're settling. When you make a choice and feel

excited, lit up and thrilled about it, then you're playing to win. Anything that makes you feel defeated

or resigned is just not it. I saw the difference on my pop's face when I was 14 years old.

Life or business choose the plan that is best for you. My dad worked for AT&T,

and one day his office closed. He was given the choice to move and work out of another

location or be laid off with no severance. I knew this because my parents were pretty cool with

us kids. They never hid their adult conversations.

So when they delivered the news, I knew it was coming.

Jason, we're moving to North Carolina, my mom said.

My dad stood next to her, looking stern but defeated.

It's one of the only times I've seen him a bit emotional.

Except I'd been in an earshot down the hall listening to the entire conversation,

and moments earlier this had been their discussion. Mike thinks we should stay, and I should open a sub shop. We could stay here, my dad said. You could open up a bakery. His friend, Mike Roberts,

ran a video store and pitched my dad on the idea of opening a submarine sandwich joint.

He said he'd help and my mom could open a bakery.

With Sherry's bake shop, Billy Subs and Mike's video store in place, the three of them would own the strip.

Waffs of cookies and subs would permeate and mix with the popcorn

fumes of the video store and customers would be lured from one shop to the next. I heard the pitch

of my mom's voice rise as they talked about it. She was pleased my dad thought her baking was good

enough for a shop. They were both inspired for about 10 seconds.

Then, practicality kicked in.

But Jeremy and Jesse have asthma.

...