I Could Have Been The Godfather!
That's right.

In the mid 70's, a very dear friend of mine who had parlayed his six-year NFL career and two Green Bay Packer Super Bowl rings into a small nest egg, asked my brother and me to be on the original Board of Directors of a start-up company he helped found. All that was required was a $1,000 investment and my/our assent. I thought about it, considered it, and refused "the offer I couldn't refuse." 

I simply did not think that a fast-food pizza joint could make it and passed up the opportunity to be one of the original founders and investors of Pizza Hut. Sigh...Oh my...Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda.

I sometimes think that I could have made Herman Cain an afterthought. (Actually, I think he already is.)

I admit that sometimes I do look back, but only to help me stay focused on looking ahead. I've learned to take risks, to take chances, to be innovative, to recognize opportunity...and to applaud it when I see it elsewhere. It all reminds me of a story that President Kennedy once told about a gardener who was once asked to plant a tree. The gardener objected that the tree was slow growing and would not bloom for a hundred years. Replied the owner of the estate, "In that case, there is no time to lose. Plant it this afternoon."

If You Build It, They Will Come
I learned my lesson before I saw the movie. It's ok to take a risk...if you think it through...if you do your own due diligence. I opened up an unconventional, "it-won't-work" coin laundromat. I initiated a "Ladies Day" at my less-than-desirably-located men's clothing store on a Monday before Christmas (my store was closed on all Mondays). Why would just women come to an ill-located area with limited parking to shop? 

Because they trusted us, because we had a Tuxedo-dressed doorman to walk them to their car, because we had wine and champagne, a handwriting analyst, a chair massage, a caricaturist, a latte coffee bar, a gift for every woman who came, and even a "Ladies Day" discount. That's why.

Save...By Spending More And Buying More
That's the new Costco slogan. And that's what we do, my wife and I. We spend more money there than at our usual trip to the grocery store by buying more than we need. Now there's a strategy. I've looked at those three unopened bottles of Heinz Ketchup in our pantry for six months now just waiting for their turn. I can almost hear them singing that famous Carly Simon song/commercial...ANTICIPATION.

Did we really think that people would pay in advance (way in advance, those same people pray) for "final expenses" or pay four dollars for a small amount of espresso mixed with a large amount of milk? (Give it a fancy name like "latte" and I sure do).

Yes.

It's all about creating memorable experiences, taking some risks and believing in yourself....and that's the agenda that many of my coaching clients bring to our sessions. We get actively engaged in these topics. Is there a fund raiser, anyone in sales, or someone who is interviewing or transitioning that shouldn't be armed with self-confidence, that shouldn't be willing to take a chance, or leave  a lasting and positive impression with their target?

No.

If only I would have had a Coach.

OK. I wouldn't be smelling the roses I smell every day now...but the aroma of the cheese and sauce and pepperoni. Hmmmmmm.

Which makes me think of the Professor:

A professor stood before his class of 20 senior organic biology students, about to hand out the final exam. "I know that you've worked hard in this course and that many of you are soon off to medical school. So that no one gets there QPA messed up because of excessive celebration this week, anyone who would like to opt out of this final today will receive a "B" for the course". With much rejoicing many students thanked the prof as they signed out on his offer and left. As the last taker left, the professor offered "one last chance" to those who remained. One more student rose up and took the offer. The professor then closed the door and took attendance of those students remaining.

"I'm glad to see you believe in yourself," he said. "You all have A's."

Underwear and Gratitude: Get It?
My two-year-old grandson loves picking out his 5-year-old brother's underwear every morning. He lives for it. It's the first thing he does after waking up. And what does he do after that, absolutely unprompted? He says "thank you" to his bro...for that privilege.

Kids...will they ever quit teaching us!
 
For over 30 years whenever a customer of my former business picked up a garment from our tailor shop, there was a substantive, handwritten personal thank you note from that customer's salesman placed inside the pocket. Every time. Every customer. It became our literal and figurative signature.

Now, many years later, when I run in to many of those same customers, they remind me about the warmth and sense of loyalty that those notes evoked.

Upon consideration, I take back the two above words "every time." Of all people, I, the owner, forgot to write one for someone who had been shopping at my store for 20 some years and who must have received dozens of these notes (each one different). He actually called me a few days later when putting the garment on because he "noticed" the absence of the note. "Larry", he exclaimed, "have I done anything to not deserve your thank you note?"
 
$20.00 = $200 million
A young couple I know starting a savings account from wedding gift money. They are taking up a 1/2 hour of this banker's time trying to decide if this is "their bank." The banker carefully and thoroughly explains all available options. He's patient, he's attentive, he listens...all of this for a paltry $20,000 for a bank that has a couple of  hundred million on deposit. The couple decides to sign. The banker handwrites a beautiful thank you note praising them for being so deliberate with their decision making process and congratulates them on the birth of their new son. 

Why does he remember? Why does he care? Because he understands that trust is more important than the details. Because he is good.
 
I coach fundraisers, retailers and all service providers, and anyone in career transition or just beginning their search on the never stated enough importance of the words THANK YOU...or other ways of expressing gratitude. Some of this note writing stuff is pretty darn basic...nothing pre-printed, personally addressed, personal salutation. Then we get a bit deeper...noting something specific about the past conversation, an attention getting PS, and, for fundraisers, emitting joy, enthusiasm and emotion. In training sessions, I have devoted up to an hour on this subject.
 
The Rabbi And The Toll-Taker
A few years ago, an extremely respected and affluent owner of a chain of stores in our community was asked to be the commencement speaker at a local university. He shared this personal experience:

Years earlier, he (we'll call him Mr. David) was in a car-ride discussion with his Rabbi about getting deeper into the religious part of his faith. The eager learner was driving and just shortly after he paid a toll taker, the rabbi said, "before you go any deeper into this study of our faith, you must learn the two most important words in any faith, 'thank you.' You did not thank that toll taker, who is a hard working human being!" Lesson learned, filed away, moving on.
 
Mr. David goes on with his graduation speech by relating that for the past few months he has been traveling often between Pittsburgh and Ohio as his new prototype "super store" is getting ready to open. On Grand Opening Day he addresses the staff and customers just before cutting the ribbon. After his eloquent welcome speech a woman approaches him and tells him what a"remarkable, kind, caring and deeply sensitive" man he is. Mr. David responds, embarrassingly,  "do I know you... how do you know me so well  to say such flattering things to me?" She responds by saying that "for the past many months I have been the toll taker you pay on the Turnpike. Every time you pay me you say "thank you" to me. No one does that. Clearly this is evidence of your unmatched character." 

WOW!
 
Two words: "thank you." They convey appreciation, respect and gratitude.
The message is in the details. That's my role.
 
A little girl approached a great concert violinist after his performance and asked him for his autograph. "I'm sorry", said the maestro, "but my hands are too tired from playing."

"My hands are tired, too,", said the little girl, "and they're tired from applauding."