Today was another typical day. I woke up to the sound of our 16 year old dog “losing it” just outside our door. My bride was up in a flash and within minutes it was as if Shelby and her accident hadn’t even happened. I threw on some sweats grabbed my phone and at 7:47 I was in the car taking my son, Taylor, to school. I don’t often get the chance to do this. I love it. As we drove up Carriage Road, I reminded Taylor that God has an amazing plan for his life. I told him that his role is to keep his senses open to how life “feels” as he finds his way through middle, high, and any higher form of education. He has an active role to play in this discovery process. He nodded and smiled. He didn’t say much this morning but just being with him until 8:01 said so much to me.
I returned home via Tim Hortons, as our coffee maker “bit it” the day before. Two cups and one bagel later, I was home with the Miss sharing a laugh and some time before I headed out. A quick shower, forget the shave and I was off. Bummer for me, I was off to visit the ACCOUNTANT. Tax day cometh.
As I listened to Paul tell me where, what, and how much, I found myself glancing away from the figures and toward his picture. He’s never had a picture at his place. He works in a nice office but it looks like a place where an accountant would feel at home. Nothing fancy. Always simple and straight. This visit, however, he had added a picture. I asked Paul about it and he couldn’t wait to tell.
His story.
The picture was actually a collage of pictures from his “dream trip” to Italy this past year. He told me all about the two week trip he and his bride took down the coast of Italy. He really does have another side. Hmmmm…
As I left there and headed to my client I felt something I used to rarely, if ever feel. I felt something overwhelming me. I felt something that I’ve noticed over-rides my senses on a somewhat regular basis NOW. I felt it wash over me completely. I felt sooooo peaceful.
Peace.
I drove to meet my client and his financial planner. We all know each other and were meeting over lunch. I listened to them discuss wealth management, the advantages of municipal bonds, the florida real estate opportunity, and the security of money markets. There wasn’t even a mention of one stock nor one mention of a mutual fund. Aren’t we predictable.
Next my client and I discussed our future. How and what we might work best going forward. We landed on exactly the spot I wanted. We will work together to transform his team of three into ONE. We will start this work, in earnest, in 5 days. I can hardly wait. He will get my whole-hearted best. He knows this.
My next client didn’t even want to talk about work. He wanted to talk about his life. He was so excited. Finally, nearing the end of our time, he blurted out that he and his team had just WON a big, new contract. They won a piece of business and they won it their way. We celebrated together. My heart filled as I felt his relief. Yea, baby.
While in between meetings I called a new client and asked for some feedback. How was it going? Was he satisfied with the early results? Was his partner? He gave us the thumbs up. He told me about his builder and how much he was learning. He told me it was still tough but that they were so happy to have us, the BTL band, alongside. My heart overflowed again.
As I headed to the barn, I did what we all do in our cars now. I checked my voicemails. I had one that stopped me. I had a call from a potential new client that connected to our message. This was one of the kindest voicemails I’ve ever received. I wanted to start working for them immediately as I listened to their need.
Arriving home, I snapped back to reality and made out a number of checks to our governments and then headed to my financial planners place of work. There I was greeted by a team of people that couldn’t wait to help me. They offered me coffee, figured out the wire transfers, and sent everything out “certified” while my planner and I sat and talked. We didn’t talk about stocks, bonds, equities, or annuities. We talked about his neck. His home. His children moving away and the friendly neighborhood where he lives. We laughed and then back to the rain I trampled.
More bad news hit me via email. Seems that today is the last day for a piece of history. History, at least, to me. The last remnant of CompuServe is closing down after today. The huge campus that housed me during my twenty year corporate career will be empty by weeks end. Gone for good. How could a place so filled with talent, ideas, and endless ambitions, end up empty? I felt a sadness even though I’m almost ten years removed. Moving on.
Back home before 6 bells, I couldn’t wait to “bring it.” I grabbed my new P 90 dvd, Miss, and Taylor and one hour later we were soaked, stoked, and spent. We grabbed a pizza and some Coke and talked. Taylor showed us his homework and his award winning artwork too. We agreed to watch some TV together later tonight and just hang.
Typical.
Day.
Together, with the teams I LOVE.
I LOVE my family and I LOVE this work. I LOVE this band. I LOVE my clients. I LOVE telling stories and I LOVE hearing yours. I LOVE my partners. Today, I even loved getting my taxes done. Wow…
I LOVE watching Taylor do anything. I savor him like he’s our only child. I know that I have 3 others but he IS the last. AND, I find myself just peacefully taking him in and not trying to make him anything but him. I LOVE my bride and I KNOW she LOVES me. I LOVE my God and I know, I feel, and I am beginning to sense that he LOVES watching me do anything, that he savors me like one of his own, and that He is giving me this sense of peace. AND, I am becoming more and more comfortable knowing and slowly accepting that I am NOT in control. Hmmmm…
Today was another typical day.
BUILT TO LEAD 