Recently, I saw a friend tweet a message that he’d recently been laid off from his job. A couple of days later, I received an email from my mother that my cousin had been laid off from her job, as well.

I reached out to both my friend and cousin with the same message, “One door closes and another one opens.” You may say that was trite and cliche to say; however, I disagree. I firmly believe in that message. In fact, I’m living proof of that message.

Thirteen months ago to this day, I saw a very dear chapter in my life come to a very unceremonious end. I had devoted some 14 years, 8 months, and 2 days of my life to working together with a team of individuals whom I considered more as my ‘second family’ than my ‘co-workers’, towards building a cigar brand (which will go un-named as most of you already know the company I’m referring to). Over the last year, many people have asked me, “What was it like when you left?” In short, there was no heartfelt drama…there were no bon voyage banners…no tearful farewells….and no pats on the back. It was simply a matter of grabbing the nearest trash bin, dumping the last remnants of a life I was leaving behind, and walking out the door. And the moment I heard that door shut for the last time behind me, I walked with confidence and determination into the ‘next chapter.’

Anyone that knows me has probably heard me say (on numerous occasions), “Everything happens for a reason, and it happens when it’s supposed to happen.” Well, that door closed exactly when it was supposed to, and the next one opened four days later when I met with Mike Conder to have the first meeting regarding what would eventually become Crowned Heads, LLC. Since then, we partnered with one of the premiere cigar makers on planet Earth–Ernesto Perez-Carrillo–developed a cigar called “Four Kicks,” and have a product currently on the shelves at 77 of the finest cigar shops in the United States. And, to borrow from ‘The Carpenters,‘ we’ve only just begun.

So on this “13 month anniversary” day, I say to the good people who shut that door behind me: THANK YOU. On behalf of all of us here at Crowned Heads, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Had that door not shut, the one that now has ‘Crowned Heads’ on it wouldn’t have opened, and I’m pretty certain there would be no ‘Four Kicks’ on the shelves today.

I once read a biography penned by a recovering addict that concluded with a couple of poignant messages: “Let go and let God,” and “…sometimes in life, we don’t get what we want, but we do get what we’re supposed to have.” I live my life by the former and that’s lead to the latter, for which I am humbled and ever grateful to my personal God. Whether you’re a person of faith or not, believe me–there is a plan for all of us. It’s just up to us to let go and enjoy the ride.

Happy ’13‘ and smoke somethin‘ GOOD!

Jon Huber
Crowned Heads