Picture this from back in the 1980’s. This true story was actually told at a memorial service for a golfing buddy of mind held in 2010 in Charlotte. You are a sales rep for a large computer company and most sales of main frames take six months or more to establish as a qualified opportunity and then close the deal. You have a three-year guaranteed salary and the end of your second year is rapidly approaching. Up until now your closes have been minimal and you are feeling the pressure of needing a big sale. You finally think you have one in the bag, at least that is what your main contact is telling you. Your contact always accepts your lunch invites and he continues to stroke your confidence as much of his noontime conversation is laced with praise about your company’s hardware features. You keep telling your regional sales manager this sale is assured and you will have the purchase order in a week.
The decision day comes and to your astonishment you did not get the PO. You are in shock and your supposed contact in the know apologizes that he did not realize there were some added features by the winner that your company did not propose.
How are you going to tell your boss? The bizarre thoughts that swirl through your mind when you’re under the gun. From, am I going to be fired or possibly transferred to another region. I love the people that I work with and I pray I still get to work here.
You finally get up the nerve to go into his office and not only does he tell you a hilarious joke but to dump salt into your laceration all you can see on his walls are the individual and regional sales awards he has accumulated. Once the small talk is over you spit out how you lost your supposed guaranteed sale. You now wait for the dreaded result from your failure. It seemed as long as a commercial during an NFL game before the manager spoke. He simply asked one question, “what did you learn?”
His response was so off guard to me that it took a moment to gather myself. What I learned was I need to be certain who all the decision makers are and to make sure I can meet their highest priority needs. He acknowledged that and reinforced how important that is to a successful sale. That was the end of the discussion and I went out of that room more determined than ever to be a success.
So that begs the question as we start to close in on this calendar year. Whether you are 20 years old or 80 years young what have you learned this year?
I will share what I have gathered from some of my experiences in 2025.
I am continually reminded to be watchful for the magnificent beauty in this world. This North Carolina beach scene in January combines an unexpected snow and a sunset.
Since being retired and now in my second year, this year has been more fulfilling since I got a part time job and feel like I am contributing to society and my self-worth.
On a Midwestern trip I learned how awesome the caves are at Mammoth Cave National Park and as we continued up to Minnesota and back down the Mississippi River how important barge transportation still is to this country.
College sports with its mega conferences, NIL money and the portal is just like a sequel to a great movie. Each version gets more diluted and my southern friends would simply label it as, “Y’all, there’s not enough sugar in this tea.”
How thankful I am that exercise has always been a part of my weekly routine which includes delightful friends that support each other.
Pumpkin carving at Halloween still gives me a tickle after all these years.
Veterans Day is just as meaningful today as it was when it was established in 1954.
Saying please, thank you and holding the door open as a courtesy for someone seems to be more appreciated this year. Could that possibly be because it’s like the title of this blog?
My wife’s idea of teaching our grandchildren how to play hopscotch was genius. It captivated them and rejuvenated us.
Each holiday becomes more cherished as I mature and I am so thankful to spend Thanksgiving with family and to be fortunate to have food on the table.
I hope we all strive to learn something new as each week goes by as if you really think about it, it is one of the natural highs in life.
One last unforeseen event happened to me earlier this year. Our son mentioned to us this week day reading he is now doing from Talbot Davis, the pastor at Good Shepard Church in Charlotte, called Come Alive Daily. Talbot starts his 5 minute reading with a mini pep talk, using two phrases often that I love. “ You are taking a MASSIVELY SMALL STEP in your living relationship with Jesus Christ” and “you have chosen to start your day with the Word over the world.” From my early days of reading the morning newspaper, then on my phone, til earlier this year, my day Always started with checking the Sports Page scores, and possibly the news headlines. It does not now. If you are looking to be nourished with peace and confidence to start your day, I know I am more alive after this morning routine.
I hope your bulb is glowing.