Increasing Your Fortune

“Thanks for asking, it’s therapeutic to be able to talk with someone about it.”

-Jim McArthur

Increasing Your Fortune

I met Jim for the first time this week; my friend Stacey introduced me to him.  We scheduled a time when I could come to his office so we could get to know each other before we began to do business. 

As we talked, I began to see there were some differences between this meeting and others I’ve had in the past so I asked Jim some questions about his two boys.  What I found out was amazing.

 Jim’s boys have Muscular Dystrophy, but that’s not the amazing part of this story!

Jim, I said, “I’m sorry to be so ignorant, but I don’t really know anything about Muscular Dystrophy. Would you mind teaching me about it?”

He was then kind enough to teach me about this disease and its consequences to the bodies of his boys and also to the rest of his family.  And, toward the end of our conversation he said, “You know, even with all we’ve been through and all that we’re going to go through I’m so glad we have our boys.  I wouldn’t trade our time with them for anything!”

As he talked, I looked across the table and deep into Jim’s eyes.  They are dark brown, sincere eyes, filled with conviction and love.  I could see something else there as well.

“After our oldest was diagnosed, we decided to have more children.” He said.  “We were stunned when some people we know became angry with us for making this decision.  They couldn’t see why we’d want to put another child through this.  They couldn’t see why we’d want to put ourselves through this again.”

Since then, his oldest boy has graduated from high school and is not attending college.  He has accomplished so much.  He has also taught everyone around him so many valuable lessons.  In fact, several people have come back to Jim with an apology for saying he shouldn’t have had more children.  “We simply didn’t understand what the lives of your children would give to us and the world” they said in heartfelt tones.

We talked for about an hour.  I learned a lot.  I felt a lot.  Then I learned more.

“Thanks for talking with me about this.  It’s therapeutic to be able to talk with someone about it” Jim said.

Over the last few days I’ve thought about it again and again.  I’ve thought about all of the times I haven’t taken the time to talk with people in depth.  I thought about all the times I was afraid to ask illuminating questions to those I was speaking with.  How much have I missed?  I’ve asked myself.

At least I didn’t miss this time.  I’m a better, more knowledgeable person for having spent time learning from Jim and because of that I’ve decided that I can become hundreds of times better by simply listening to the life stories of more people I have the good fortune to speak with.

Amazing chance happenings, good fortunes, throughout your life are available to everyone who will listen to and learn from the people they come into contact with.  Try it and you will never regret it.  Cherish those around you.  They are all unique and have amazing stories to tell.

Being Personable Isn't Just for Dogs

A patchwork dog covered in white, gray, brown and tan spots.

Being Personable Isn’t Just for Dogs

I have to admit that as I walked out of my house I was sort of tetchy about it.  It was still fairly early in the morning; there was a light glow of pink radiating from the mountains shading my land from the approaching sun.  I knew morning was coming, but the clouds were still hurling snow toward the sun as if they were trying to blow the sun back to the East where it belonged.

I pressed a button to open the large door to the West, where it was still dark and snowing, so I could begin to venture into my day.  Stepping down the four steps in front of me I descended to the cold floor so I could zip my boots around my still warm ankles.  My black dog stuck her nose just ahead of me and slinked down and away, just out of my view.  I knew exactly where she would go.  She is there with me every morning and always has a better attitude about it than I do.

I piled hay into my wheel barrow and began to press forward with my water proof mittens gripping the handles in a sure handed manner.  I walked up a small slope, pushing snow away as I walked.  Sure enough, my companion was waiting for me just up ahead.  She was at her usual spot.  I threw hay into my large feeder and watched as my steer and horse walked up to begin to eat.  My dog barked and ran along the fence.  For some reason she thinks its fun.  A smile sort of cracked my face a little as I watched this ritual and I begin to walk the wheel barrow back down toward the house.  The light began to grow as I started to walk.

My entourage also began to grow.  A patchwork dog covered in white, gray, brown and tan spots raced past me and tried to get my attention.  I’ve seen him before, and I saw him then, but I didn’t let him know I noticed him.  At this time of day I usually don’t feel real friendly.  I trudge forward.

He danced around me.

I scowled at him

He brushed past me with his four legs doing a sort of two-step.

I ignored him.

He played with Cricket.  I watched them as they frolicked in the snow and dodged the few remaining snowflakes that were floating past.  The dogs were feigning a fight and flight routine.  The sun was now chasing the snow away as it shot rays of light to capture the sky.

The dogs captured me in the entrance of my big west facing door.  The patchwork dog rubbed up against my leg and looked up at me with friendly, eager eyes.  His look was one of innocence and friendship.  Then he sat, leaning on my right leg as he looked up at me with wanting eyes and a flailing tongue.

Cricket sees her opportunity and sat as well, leaning against my left leg, and looked up at me with expecting eyes.

I looked down at both dogs and let out a hearty laugh.  “You win!  You win!” I said as I reached down and rubbed the two heads with two hands.

 

Somehow we all got what we wanted.  Two of us worked to offer a warm hearted friendship and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

The dogs somehow became just like the sun to the snow.  Their hearts, filled with personable goodness brought rays of light that chased away my icy heart and reminded me of the importance of being personable to everyone

A close friend of mine once gave me a poem entitled, “Ten Things You can Learn From a Dog.” On this day I discovered one more.  Discover being personable for yourself and see that you’ll soon be the one melting icy hearts.

Be a Fortune Teller

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

Stephanie Spong

Be a Fortune Teller

There are many independent actors that come together to create each person’s future.  I don’t think it’s even possible to know or anticipate what all of them are.  But that’s okay, because while you can’t control every variable, you can control the most important element.  What is the most important element?

Here is the best way I’ve found to reveal the answer to this question.  Make your way from your computer to the closest mirror and stand squarely in front of it and take a look.  If you do it correctly you’ll see that the answer is looking right back at you.

My friend Stephanie Spong, a venture capital investor, said it best to me this week when she said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”  I was meeting with Stephanie and hundreds of other investors and entrepreneurs this week in Park City where I was able to reaffirm their time proven, results driven process for shaping the future.

First, the entrepreneur takes the time to envision the future of her business.  This vision is usually created from a combination of study and experience.  A vision is a general view of what her future business will look like when it is operating at its maximum potential.  But, if that’s as far as she goes in the process then the vision will be nothing more than a dream.  To make it more than a dream a person must go through the process of planning what needs to be done to make it a reality.

Second, she studies other successful businesses to discover models of success that can be applied to complete her vision.  This process is critical since it will reveal many things she doesn’t know, she doesn’t know.  This may also be called the discovery of unknown, unknowns and allows for the creation of a plan to overcome all revealed barriers to her success.  And, perhaps more importantly it lets her determine whether the proposed plan will yield the remarkable return she’s seeking.  Why begin to create a future that doesn’t give you what you really want?  Isn’t it important to know before you invest too much?

Third, ask other great people to invest with you.  Surround yourself with others who want to work with you to claim your shared vision.  When doing so, it’s important to carefully select only people who are the best at what they do and are committed to creating the success envisioned.  Together, you will make a team that will drive success more rapidly than any one of you can do individually; you’ll be able to take advantage of everyone’s experience, expertise, dedication and investment.

Fourth, allow for others to come and offer additional investment if you’re sure they can add value to you and your team.  If they can’t demonstrate they can add needed value in the form of resources, experience and relationships then they’ll be a detraction or not help you get to the future you really want; don’t make them part of your life.  If you’re convinced they can help, bring them on board; perhaps they can help completed your vision in a larger way than you ever dreamed possible.

Do I really believe you can predict your own future through this creative process?  Yes!  I’ve seen it time and again.  I know you can do it as well.  So, next time someone asks you what you want to be when you grow up, tell them you want to be a fortune teller!

Feeling Good About Your Best

“We did the best we could do!”

- Annie Butterfield

Feeling Good About Your Best

I walked into a large high school gym and was blasted in the face by the pounding beat of huge speakers.  At the same time a volcano of human body heat swept past my lips and rushed into my lungs.  There were people everywhere!

We were all shuffling along in one huge mass.  My wife was one step ahead of me as we were making our way to the bleachers when a rope was slipped between us and I was stopped dead in my tracks.  The crowd behind me didn’t stop so I was pushed forward, stretching the rope to the end of its elasticity.  I waited and watched the top of her head drift down the river of people until she disappeared in the sea of humanity.

The rope soon slithered away and I began moving forward again.  I looked to my left, up and down the bleachers as I walked toward my hope of finding a seat.  I saw my wife.  She was seated.  She was lucky.  It appeared as if there were no empty spots anywhere.  I waved and pressed on.

The procession soon slowed and I ventured up some steps with my eyes darting back and forth.  Then I spotted some familiar faces and a blank space at their side.  I smiled at my fortune and asked if I could sit.  They were kind and offered me refuge.  It was that refuge that made it possible for me to watch my daughter perform.

Her group ran out onto the floor.  They completed their routine, hugged each other at the side of the floor, and squealed in delight.  It was clear that they felt good about their performance.  I watched four other groups follow one after the other.  The result looked the same.  But, I wasn’t the one judging.

There was a judging panel for that.  I didn’t see them.  I don’t know who they were.  I’m unfamiliar with their methods and their rules, but I still knew they were there.  And, so did everyone else because that’s why we were all there; to see which group would be judged to be the best.  At least that’s what I thought until we were walking out of the gym on our way to the car.

As we walked, my daughter’s eyes sparkled as she said, “We did the best we could do!  We hit all of our routines!  I’m really proud of our performance!”

I watched her face.  I could feel her excitement.  I knew she was right.  They performed better than I have ever seen them perform.  This was the best of all possible results!

They had worked hard.  They put everything they had into it.  Their reward was that they knew they were the best they could be for that day and that competition.  You and I can learn a lot from their example and experience.

Work hard every day.  Put everything you have into reaching your goals and let your reward be the contentment that you’ve done the very best you could do.  Then, smile.  Feel the excitement you’ve earned and savor the feeling of being the best you could be for that one project or moment in time.  Allow yourself to feel the peace that comes from doing the very best you could do; after all, in the end, feeling good about yourself is the most important judgment of all.