I'm on the plane right now. I just finished my trip at The Building Champions experience. To call it awesome would be one of the greatest understatements of my year in lending. The experience went from Wednesday through ½ of Saturday.
The Building Champions Experience was designed to strike at the core of your being. It was meant to really do a few major things. In this market, it's so imperative that people are on the top of their game if they're going to capitalize on the conditions before us. Brian Buffini says that more millionaires are made during a recession or depression than in any other economic time. While the markets might not be what we all want, for those who can seize the opportunity in those conditions, it can be revolutionary. Given the fact that this economy has driven so many out of real estate and lending, the need to be on top of your game is never greater.
Two Primary Focuses of the Conference!
So, the Building Champions Experience had two primary strategies to dial in deep. Thursday, the entire day was spent working on self. Daniel Harkavy, is humble and extremely transparent. His life failings and successes are shared openly with all of those in attendance. It's pretty rough to admit the holes in my life, but a great leader pierces a heart and the heart opens up.
Thursday was spent on Life Planning. Although this is the 5th time I've done my life plan, I did it with a purpose that had never been done before. There's two reasons that I modified last year's life plan. First, It was that I didn't really tighten it down before. I wrote it, but the frays remained. Those needed to be shaved off. The second reason I modified the plan is that I've changed since last year. While the majority of my life plan remained in tact, those pieces that didn't remain in tact just had to go.
Opening Hearts Through Words
In the afternoon, Daniel shared two stories. The first was about a guy who'd been coaching with Building Champions and who had been to the Experience in 2008. This past February he fell off of a ladder and became permanently damaged after hitting his head. He and his wife were to present on stage during the experience. Two weeks ago he died. Donna, the wife, had insisted on honoring her husband of 33 years. She wouldn't make the trip, but would present via the phone. The message was simple, but powerful. The message basically said that you're not guaranteed tomorrow. You don't know how and when it will. The two of them spent all the time since the fall in February honoring and helping each other.
Todd Duncan Opens His Heart so that My Heart Would Open up Now
Todd Duncan was scheduled next. Like Donna, Todd was to present as a featured speaker. Although I don't hang with Todd, I do consider him a friend. Although he's a nationally known motivational speaker and a New York Time's best selling author, Todd was to present at a couple of breakout sessions. He couldn't make the trip. Todd's wife Sheryl died of cancer two weeks ago, after a three year battle with cancer. Daniel relieved both Todd and Donna from any speaking at all. However, Todd wanted to honor Cheryl and present in spite of her absence.
Todd's story brought tears to everyone's eyes. I am not a crier. I was when I was a child, but something clicked in my twenties and I just don't cry at all. Todd spoke and said that during Cheryl's 3 year battle with cancer, they had really experienced some ups and downs. He told two stories that just destroyed me. He said that his oldest son, who is 11, climbed in bed with his mother two about two weeks before she died and asked her to forgive him. She asked why. He said because he was smart to her and was often times disobedient to her. Sheryl reached out and asked him for his forgiveness since she wasn't always a great mother and often times snapped at him. I'm sure this was because of the chemo, being tired or just worn down from dying a slow death. He said that his son received healing that day and that he'll never forget it.....ever!
Then he talked about the fact that words aren't used anymore. He said that text messages and e-mails 
are often the method of using words, but the handwritten letter is still the most cherished medium in this day of instant communication. I'm paraphrasing, but here's what he said.
"Sheryl wrote me a card for my birthday 3 months ago. (I should add at this time that he couldn't quit sniffling through fighting back the tears). It was the most cherished thing that I have from her. She was a proficient writer who would lift up others always through her writings. For years, she wrote letters of encouragement to people daily. Let me read the card.
‘Todd, I can't tell you how much I love you. You are my sunshine. My life has been beautiful because of you. The way that you pour yourself into me and the children makes me realize that the sun isn't just outside of our house. I'm not missing the sun at all. I have all the sunshine in you. You are the sun that gives life to our children and me. I know you'll go on and be a success in everything you do. I know it honey. I know our children will grow up and be great, just like you, because you are the sun that shines bright. Without the sun there is no light and no life and without you, my life has no sun. I release you to bring your light to others. I know God would be so pleased. I am so pleased as well. Know dear, that I am with you always and that I'll be with you in your future successes, but the biggest success is happening right now, me being with you. You are my sunshine Todd. You always will be.
Love, your Sheryl."
To say that this ripped my heart would be an understatement. I'm not a crier, but the emotion of that meeting was shattering. The message...."words matter and people rarely hear from you the words that are in your heart."
A task would follow. Each attendee was to know that you're not given tomorrow, and that words do matter. We were to take stationery that was provided and were to write letters to those who needed to hear words from our hearts about them. I wrote ten letters that afternoon. The hardest of which was my mother. I have an awesome mom, but saying it has always been difficult. She knows that I love her as she does me. However, with tears I got through this with my mother, my wife, my dad, each of my six kids as well as my two best friends.
I'm marking it down to try to do this twice a month for the rest of my life by marking this on my calendar.
Part II....business planning tomorrow.
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