My very first decent job, decades ago, was, working for a multi-millionaire who was a retired Pharmacist, been through the depression, two world wars & then invested successfully in Real Estate. He was my mentor for 12 years. There was an age difference of 50 years between us. He kept calling me naive. He was 100% correct. Young, naive, ignorant & good-looking LOL
I COULDNT HEAR or SEE
He ran an ad saying, "partnership without investment incredible but true". Send resume. ME: What's a resume? I sent in 2-3 paragraphs of I am interested. He contacted me on a Sunday morning by phone. I answered first ring. Little did I know he was running tests on me. Is he available on a Sunday? Answer the phone quick? So far, so good but I did not know this.
INTERVIEW in his CAR
A 73-year-old, bald man, short, interviewing me in a car with front end damage that looked like my Rabbi from my Bar mitzvah days. I told him so. He liked me & I liked him, why, I cannot tell you. I was smart, ignorant & good looking. Skills? LOL
TWELVE YEARS of PROSPERITY
I am going to skip years' worth of good stories & life lessons. I was well paid, given a yearly bonus based on results, & educated beyond my wildest dreams, colleges or business courses. I learned everything Real Estate i.e. to buy, manage, loan money, build, trustee sales, foreclosures & so much that I must stop short of starting a list.
WHAT DO I GET THIS GUY FOR XMAS?
He owned several pair of the same clothes, shoes, brought his own lunch, no jewelry & to look at him you would not know he was worth $$$$$. He had hundreds of properties, ALL FREE & CLEAR, with nothing but money coming in every day of the week in the mail. His loan income was extra. Give him what?
FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT (whew)
He tells me at Xmas time how he gets worthless gifts from his children, family, business associates, friends & strangers every year. What am I supposed to do? Well the answer came from me focusing on him, what he did & why, for clues
ONE DAY, I SEE IT!
We would get in his car, he would put on gloves, then off we go. I asked him why he wore gloves? He said his hands got cold from the steering wheel even though he didn't like wearing gloves. BINGO for the idea. Now to shop for it! Stay with me
A LEATHER WRAP-AROUND THE STEERING WHEEL
Now take a moment. This was in the 70's. They had leather straps that you could install but no ready to go like today. I buy the matching color & now, I go to my BOSS & say: L.M. (his initials, which btw, his generation called rich people by), I need the keys to your car. Why? I have a surprise Xmas present & it requires install
RICHARD YOU ARE SO NAIVE HE IS THINKING
He goes along with me, probably rehearsing in his mind how he will thank me but not mean it. I go install this leather wrap around. I took my time. I did it right. It looked good AND more importantly, to my boss, was functional so I believed
WE LEAVE TO RUN AN ERRAND
He gets in his car, gloves laying beside him, & oohs & ahhs feeling & looking at his new steering wheel which is warm & snug. He strokes it & says: I always get meaningless gifts from my children every year (he made a face) but this is the best gift I ever have been given. My personal stock went through the roof. What joy
XMAS BONUS TIME for me
I was well paid, thankful for this job but always needed & could use that bonus given every year. It was generous. Now to the point (there are so many). I went into his world, saw what he would see/need or benefit by, & with a limited budget gave him something very personal. Theres the POINT of this POSTING
It was personal. A gift of intimacy is what it really was. It exceeded money values, shallowness & obligatory here's a Xmas gift to you. NO! It said, I care & I am also thankful to you L.M. PLUS I gave of myself. Did 12 years with this guy
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