Today. We. Are. Rich." was the quote I fell in love with as I read the prologue to Tim Sanders' new book by the same name - "Today We Are Rich" as I was flying home from my company's annual meeting last week.
The author tells of an incident from his youth when his grandmother, Billye, although financially strapped herself, reached out to make a difference in the life of a stranger who needed help. Afterwards, she told her young grandson: "....because we were able to share, we're worth something. By being able and willing to give, WE ARE RICH." She goes on to say "There's bank-account rich, and there's rich in spirit. The second kind is achieved when you make a difference."I sat back and wept. I now had a "name" for the emotion I was experiencing - "Today. We. Are. Rich".
Several months ago, our team, Team Thaxton, decided to become “Suits in Boots” or “boot evangelist” for the Boot Campaign. The Boot Campaign was begun by a group of five women in Texas to create awareness of our wounded warriors and to support the causes which support those warriors. The “Boot Girls” were inspired by the true story of Marcus Lutrell after reading the book, Lone Survivor.
You can watch the video to tell more about the campaign here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vedoq8a8Zvo
Our personal goal is not only for our team to purchase 365 pairs of combat boots this year, but also to inspire and influence other business professionals ("suits") to "....get their boots on...." and become "Suits in Boots". Our goal for the mortgage industry? 1,100 pairs of boots in 2011!
Little would I have imagined that at the gathering of people I call my "Fairway Family", after viewing the video, there would be such an outpouring of support and love and admiration for our wounded warriors.
The CEO of our company immediately pledged to purchase 170 pair of boots for the corporate staff, while individual branch managers, loan officers, and support staff, began to text me with their committments - 5, 10, 20 even 50 pairs of boots pledged to be purchased.
I am still moved by their acts of selflessness and willingness to participate in this honorable cause. The mortgage business has taken a hit in the last several years. It's tough. It's stressful. It's hard. And many are just plain BROKE. BUT - last week, in that room, for that time, I saw others find what I and my team had found months before - something we could become involved in that was bigger than us or the "issues" in the mortgage industry.
But I didn't have a name for it. But now I do. TODAY. WE. ARE. RICH. Because those individuals who stepped up to purchase combat boots, and even some to become "boot evangelist" -they are giving to a cause that is making a difference. That's special. That's "rich".
To quote Tim Sanders' grandmother, Billye, again:
“Today is a special day for us. Don't ever forget that feeling. Today we are rich."
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