Putting 2 and 2 together

A recently retired work friend stopped by my office the other day. For the sake of privacy, we'll call him Charlie. Charlie is a gentleman and a true professional in every sense of the word. Soft spoken, intelligent, knowledgeable and unquestionable integrity are just a few of the attributes that could accurately describe him.

Charlie has sold the invisible by working in some form of publication ad sales for his entire career. Now recently retired, he's enjoying some time off, a full year ahead of he and his wife with the calendars wiped clean of places to be and folks to see. He's worked hard for it.

He no longer "has" to have a job. But, being the living breathing professional that he is, he's not completely closed the door on working a job on his terms.

One more thing. Charlie is a motorcycle enthusiast. It's still difficult for me to rationalize the idea of this impeccably dressed man, well in his 60's with spectacles and a tightly kept mustache on his upper lip, riding around on a huge, powerful motorcycle. Riding as comfortably as your most grizzled, black leather-clad stereotypical "biker."

Back to the office. We were discussing his future and the possibility of returning to some form of sales job when an idea struck me. "Charlie, you should sell motorcycles." His eyebrows shot straight up as he responded, "I've never thought of that before."

His entire career was centered around what he knew, the things he was taught in school and what he practiced in the marketplace. Selling ad space for print publications was what had filled most of his days on the planet.
But it was as if the shades of his focus we suddenly thrown open when I revealed to him my simple mathematical equation of putting two and two together.

Charlie loves his bike. He loves the way it makes him feel. It makes him feel free. Free of obligations, stresses and worries. He focused for so many years on selling what he knew, instead of selling what he loves.

I love to buy things from people who are fanatic about the product or service they present. Even more so if they "eat their own dog food."
Imagine how successful our Charlie will be, even if he works part time at selling what he loves. It seems to make all the difference in the world. He gets to work in an around the very thing that brightens his spirit. Not only that, he gets the opportunity to share that same love with others who are experiencing it for the first time. It seems that if Charlie worked, selling motorcycles, it would not seem like work at all.

I was wonderful to chat with him and see him yesterday. I brightened my entire day when I lifted that curtain for him. I feel like I've done something extraordinary whenever I get to hear someone better than me say, "I've never thought of that before."

I've been searching and reading and praying for a long time and I'm still searching for my "motorcycle sales" job. The one that doesn't feel like a job at all. I have full faith and confidence that it will be revealed to me one day. What a day that'll be!

Posted via email from Eye Say Design • The Web Log