Yesterday, as I walked in Jim’s office he smiled and welcomed me in. He could’t wait to start telling me one of his great motivators to keep going was remembering FDR’s struggle. Jim first saw FDR when he was a young boy age six. He recalled how pained FDR was to move and yet how powerfully he moved a nation. I sat and listened and asked him to tell me more once or twice. He kept going with just the perfect amount of pause. Jim has told a tale or two over the years and knows how to capture his audiences attention large or small.
Eventually I changed the topic from FDR to Jim. I asked Jim how often he works out now. “Everyday,” he said without pausing. “Can’t walk though,” he laughed as he continued to explain that his back limits him from walking more than 20 yards. Amazing, I thought to myself. Amazing.
You see, Jim is none other than Jim Lorimer the partner with Arnold Schwarzenegger who together with Bob Lorimer and his terrific team in Columbus and partners around the globe, now host the worlds largest sports festival on every continent. Jim still shows up at their office in Worthington every day like clockwork at 10 bells. Bob has been busting “The Arnold” around the globe and seems to have caught the endless energy of his dad. I don’t know how he knows which country he’s in, to be honest. Yesterday, after spending time with Bob and Jim, I walked to my car and headed to my next client just kinda shaking my head. You see, until yesterday I didn’t know about my friends bad back. Turns out Jim has had four back surgeries and there’s not much more that can be done. His back is basically worn out. You would never know it. He’s never mentioned it to me. Never thought about it, he said. Jim, you see, is good n’ stubborn.
I’ve renamed his son Bob. I refer to Bob as “Mule” cause he’s super, super stubborn. I now know a bit more from whence it cometh. Sometimes, it’s really good to be stubborn. Jim’s 89 years young, you see. He’s still got plenty to contribute and sees little reason to fade slowly away. So, he keeps showing up and makes a difference. Good. I hope you, my friend, have a few stubborn role models in your world.
Sometimes, stubborn is something special. Sure is with these two. These two are good n’ stubborn. Good…
BUILT TO LEAD 