Nothing is Permanent

"Nothing is permanent in this wicked world, not even our troubles."

• Charles Chaplin
  

Nothing is Permanent

A few years ago when I started one of my first businesses I was really struggling. It seemed as if I was constantly swimming against the tide. Revenues were not growing the way I had projected and it just felt as if I wasn't making any progress. Then a conversation with my one of my Uncles made a big difference for me.

"How are things going?" asked my Uncle Truss.

"Not so well." I replied.

"Oh well, you've done well before and you'll do well again." He reminded me.

"Remember the attitude of gratitude!" He continued.

Then he walked away with a smile on his face and a spring in his step after he handed me a little card with the gratitude saying printed on it.

But, there was also something printed on his face. It was his gentle smile. A smile that conveyed to me that he really did have faith in me and he really did believe that things would be well; I knew that he knew it! He is a man that has had his share of troubles in life so I knew he talked from experience.

When he was early on into his first marriage his wife became ill and died, leaving him with a young daughter to bring up on his own. Even though it was difficult he continued on a found a wonderful young woman, who was herself a widow with a young son, to marry and together they had more children and built a wonderful life together. But, it wasn't easy for them.

I'll never forget visiting them in their home for many years as they lived in the basement while the entire upstairs was under continued construction. He worked full time outside his home and would then come home and work to complete their house at night and on weekends. They scrimped and saved, toiled and labored to finally complete their home. But, in the end their home was finished and beautiful and they didn't borrow any money to create it. It was theirs!

They lived a nice life in that house and enjoyed their children until they grew and moved away. Not long ago my Aunt Mary Lou passed away and my Uncle Truss sold their house and down sized. When I saw him last, he still had his knowing smile and the same spring in his step. He gave me his gratitude card again and said, "See, I told you you'd be doing well again!"

I looked into his eyes and saw the deep well of strength, love and experience still in residence there. I thought, "Nothing is permanent, except for one thing! Change is permanent and the way a person deals with change can be permanent!"

My Uncle Truss deals with change by keeping a smile on his face and holding faith deep within his heart. I keep his little gratitude card in my wallet and his experience and encouragement anchored to my soul. They remind me that the world is mostly good, not wicked, and that goodness of the heart can be as permanent as change!

Dream Big, So Small Things, Incorporate New Discoveries

"I am so depressed. I didn't get the promotion I applied for."

• Kilee Johnson
  

Dream Big, Do Small Things, Incorporate New Discoveries

It's the middle of the afternoon when my phone rings. Even though I was totally absorbed in my work I could see who was calling so I decided to answer the call. It was my daughter, Kilee.

"I was just calling because I didn't get the promotion I applied for. I talked with Human Resources and they were supposed to tell me what I could do to prepare for another opportunity, but they didn't help me at all!" Were the first words I heard.

"I just don't feel as if I'm making any progress." She went on to say.

I mostly just sat and listened because she was verbalizing exactly how I've felt on many occasions. I bet you've felt that way too.

When I could feel that it was my turn to speak. I decided to pass on some things I've been thinking about a lot over the past year or so.

"Life is made up a mostly small moments." I said.

Too many times people think that success in life is all about getting the big promotion, making the big play, or getting that one huge commission that will change their life. Those are indeed important events, but they are far and few between for the vast majority of us. And, when they come you should immerse yourself in them fully. Step back and really enjoy them. Savor the moment. But, don't forget all of the other moments!

"I've found that as long as concentrate on four things it really helps me." I said.

"What four things?" She replied.

"First, I make sure I have a clear vision of what my ultimate goal is."

"You need to make sure you know what your destination is so you know exactly where you're going. If you don't know what you're trying to become, then there is nothing you can do every day to work toward that goal. I think that may be what you're really struggling with."

The second thing is so intricately woven into the first that most people miss its significance. It's the only way you can really tell if you're making progress; make sure you're doing small things every day to reach your goal. Outline each activity and know what you need to do on a regular basis so you can incorporate them into your personality. They must become who you are.

Perhaps the most intriguing thing about this approach to life is that you will discover new traits to develop along the path to your goal. There is no way to know all of these unknowns today! Just use the accomplishment of your daily objectives as confirmation of who you're becoming. Finally, have faith that the right things will happen for you as you keep your focus and become your goal one step at a time. It will happen! Don't be discouraged!

Dream your dream, do the small things to become that dream on a daily basis, incorporate your discoveries along the way, and keep your eye firmly fixed on who you will become in the end. You can do it!

Insight From a Luminary

"I am always amazed that you can find wisdom everywhere and from anybody."

• Brad Bertoch
  

Insight From a Luminary

My friend Brad Bertoch has been recognized as a National Luminary in the field of Entrepreneurship. I've worked with him for more than twenty years now so it didn't take such recognition for me to see what makes him truly special.

We've reviewed hundreds of business plans during the course of our work and I've been able to observe his ability to analyze and forecast a company's chances of success. All of this experience with him has enabled me to gain a special insight into what makes him a leader in business. They're also concepts you can incorporate into your own life!

First, investors invest in a management team, not a technology or idea. It isn't enough to have a great idea to create a successful company. That really means that when you're looking to make something of your life just dreaming about having a great life isn't enough. You have to go out and do the things that will give you a great life; learn about subjects you want to build your life around and then go out and get experience in doing those things. This is the special combination and will make you into the person of your dreams.

Second, you need to make sure your business benefits from market pull, not market push. This is a simple concept that means, in the words of Thomas Edison, "I will never invent a product that people don't want ever again." Perhaps your grandmother put it another way; "You catch more bees with honey than vinegar." Become a person that other people want to be around. Be known as the person everyone wants to be with because you make them feel so good. Lonely people are generally not giving people. The more you give to others, the fuller and richer your life will be.

Third, when you're hiring other people to help you run your business, hire absolute superstars! Make sure you have high quality friends in your life. I don't mean just successful business people. Last week Brad said to me, "I am always amazed that you can find wisdom everywhere and from anybody." You just have to be looking for it. So look for people that have qualities you admire and then pattern that part of them for your own life. You become like the people you associate with.

Finally, great companies aren't built over night. They usually don't end up looking anything like they began. I take comfort in that fact every day. It's what makes life such a wonderful adventure. You truly are the CEO of your own life. Brad has taught me that if I will apply these concepts with true intent that over the long run I'll have made a life that will have lots of investors and we'll all be well paid as a result of our life together.

Invest in yourself, make sure you're a person others will want to be with, surround yourself with the highest quality people and keep improving yourself throughout your life so in the end you'll have had a rich life indeed.

Garcia’s Way

"I wanted to pass on good advice to my friend."

• Eddie Garcia
  

Garcia's Way

I've worked with Eddie for a long time and have always admired his caring, good natured personality. So, when we were talking over lunch the other day I was not too surprised to hear him express his concern over one of his clients.

I listened to him describe the challenge his client was facing and watched his personal agony as he talked about how he was working to help. I could see the pain in his eyes and feel the swell of his heart as he told me an awe-inspiring story.

His client had followed time-honored principles in preparing for a successful transaction. But today's society has created rules that mock common sense and reason. Eddie could see the insanity and was using all of his experience and knowledge to try to bridge the gap.

"It's exhausting." He expressed in tired tones.

Luckily Eddie is a man who has spent the last four years retrenching himself in his values. "Had I not made changes in my financial and personal life when the economy took a downturn I would have been in real trouble. Now I want to do everything I can to help as many people as I can."

He went on to tell me about working with a young colleague who had created an early success for himself. His confidence and wallet were brimming. But Eddie could see some potential problems that were invisible to a successful man of youth, so he took a moment to provide counsel. To his credit, the younger man accepted the wisdom offered.

It was not more than two months before he came back to Eddie and thanked him for his ability to read the waters of a moving sea and acting as a fog horn of safety. Common sense and reason can be passed on to others if offered in the way of graciousness.

Affability combined with common sense, reason, experience and knowledge is what I have come to call, "Garcia's Way." It is a path to successful personal and interpersonal transformation and can be used by anyone who simply chooses to follow it. If you've ever wanted to change the world, you can! Make Garcia's Way your way and watch your world change right before your eyes.

As I Often Do

"As often I do, I fail to take action to express my respects."

• Dan Simons
  

As I Often Do

About fifty of us had gathered together to work toward the betterment of our industry and community. We were going through a process we'd been through many times before. The big difference this time was that I had been ill for the past couple of weeks and still was not feeling my best. So as the meeting went on and the discussion danced around the philosophical differences between the participants, my lack of comfort caused me to lose my patience. And, as the wrong kind of words exploded from my mouth I regretted them instantly.

But as it is in all circumstances, once words escaped they could not be recalled. So, I had to sit through the rest of the meeting filled with embarrassment and hope. I was embarrassed by acting precipitately and I hoped that the others in the meeting would judge me by the character I had demonstrated to them over the years rather than my most current words.

A couple of days passed, but my embarrassment and hope didn't. That is until I got an email from my friend Dan Simons.

"I have observed your strengths, passions, and fight for right."

My hope had been fulfilled! Most importantly, my hope of learning for great people was also fulfilled. I reflected on the lesson being taught to me by a man I respect a great deal. I wondered how many times I had missed the opportunity to express my respect for others when they could have been uplifted by a few kind words from me. But, I can do nothing about all save the most recent occurrences.

So I've decided to follow Dan's example "to take action to express my respects" as often as possible from this day forward. I want everyone possible to feel the rush of warmth radiate throughout their body as they read the heartfelt words written by the hand of a true friend. I'll never forget Dan's expressions or the feelings delivered and I hope you'll do the same for someone else.

Let's make "As I often do" a description for our character of taking action to express our respects and love to those around us every day.

Be Kind

"Do you need some help sir?"

• Young Man in a Parking Lot
  

Be Kind

I had just left a cancelled meeting. I didn't know it was cancelled until I arrived. You'd think I would be kind of upset since I had confirmed the meeting the evening before. But, it had been a busy day and the truth was that I welcomed the short break in my heavy work schedule. It would give me some time to stop at a store and get some oil for my car.

In just a few minutes I arrived at the store and found the oil isle. I was looking for a type of oil I had never seen before so it took me a while to find it; I had no idea there were so many kinds of synthetic oil! I snatched the oil, paid for it and then walked out to my car.

Since I was enjoying found time, I thought I'd check my oil right then and there. I opened the hood, pulled the dip stick, wiped it off and thrust it in again. Sure enough, my oil was a little low so I opened the new bottle I had just purchased and began to pour it in. As I poured, a small silver Honda pulled into the parking stall next to me.

When the car stopped, a young man got out quickly and looked up at me with a smiling face.

"Are you alright sir?" He queried.

"I am. Thanks!" I said.

The young man gathered up his children and then went off to the store. I stood watching them walk away as I finished pouring my oil.

"What a nice man." I thought as I began to drive out of the parking lot. He didn't even know me. He didn't know anything about me, and still he was willing to offer his help out of concern! I continued to drive forward to my next appointment as I felt the warm glow of his gesture. Then I spotted a sign on the side of the road.

Its large red letters were sandwiched in between signs for businesses located in a small strip mall.

"Be Kind."

I thought of the young man and wondered if he had seen the, Be Kind sign as he was on his way to the store where we met. Probably not, I thought. Still, what a great sign! What a great pair!

A sign with an important message and its emissary in the form of my parking lot friend caused a large smile to stretch across my face. I could do better! I can be more kind. I can be an emissary of kindness. And, if you'll join in, there will be many more smiles stretching across faces, neighborhoods and towns. Let's all be a little kinder.

Keep Your Pivot Foot Firmly Planted

"Perfect is something that is not necessary."

• Alan J. Patricof
  

Keep Your Pivot Foot Firmly Planted

When I think of someone who is a legend the first thing that comes to my mind is that they're something special. And, I think most people would agree with me. After all, think of a legend of sports, someone like Babe Ruth.

I always thought of him as the perfect home run hitter. But when I took the time to learn more about him, I found that he struck out many more times than he hit a home run. Perhaps that should have been the only lesson I needed to learn about perfection. Yet, here standing in front of me was Alan Patricof, a legend of venture capital investing.

Alan is known in business circles as more than a legend. He is also known as one of the Fathers of Venture Capital. He helped create "venture investing" and has, for more that forty years, worked to bring the business into maturity. So, I couldn't help but sit and hang on his every word, just hoping to learn from the master directly. And it didn't take me more than one minute!

"When you're starting a new venture, perfect is something that is not necessary. I'm sure you've heard of the concept called pivoting; what you start out with today will be completely different six months from now. You have to learn as you go. Learn through the process."

I reflected on his words. I thought of my own life and how grateful I was to hear him say that perfection is not necessary. I visualized myself as a young boy and what I thought my life would be like these many years later.

My real life isn't anything like my boyhood fantasy. In some ways my real life doesn't measure up, but in most ways it is far better than I could have ever imagined. And that's the point of learning as you go.

The truth is that you don't know what you don't know and so life must be revealed a little at a time. Here a little and there a little. That's what process is. It means going from one step to the next and gaining a little with each stride.

Progression doesn't usually come in huge chunks or events. It mostly happens little by little, day by day, year by year, lesson by lesson. After all, what would be the fun in watching a ball game if you knew the outcome from the beginning? Why read a book if the entire plot was revealed immediately? What would be the measure of life if you went from youth to perfection over night?

No, perfection isn't necessary. But enjoying the process of life will make all the difference in the quality of your living; so make sure to keep your pivot foot firmly in place!