Beware!

For the past few days, he has been ever present! At every corner that I turned he was there...or at least seemed to be!

It was not that he had nothing to do...he was as busy as ever...he just always made it look easy!

Believe it or not...That actually was one of his biggest weaknesses!

He made things look so easy that companies thought that they could do it without him...

A mistake that each of those companies made was to part on "bad terms!" or to be so egotistical that they would not admit to their stupidity and call him back!

He often told me of his work "at other places." and how his castles crashed after his departure...

It was sad that these organizations did not realize what they had and lost! If they had only fostered the relationship!

I may be a bit biased in my opinion of him...his work and influence...but my stance is built entirely on substance...that is a strong foundation...and I would challenge anyone to prove me wrong...

That is what a real friendship is all about! moreover...it is what a mentoring relationship is all about...if not more! As much as a mentor guides an individual down the path to success...the "guided" should be looking out for the mentor! If that element is missing...the fullness of the relationship can never be realized!

I learned early in my career that if you do not fully engulf yourself in what you do...it will never achieve its highest potential! SO...you must choose what you do wisely! That is what working with passion means...

I made my way (a bit early) to the executive dining room and he was sitting there...listening to some classical music. He often went early so that he could tune the radio to his station...when done...no one challenged the musical genre! I think that he liked listening to classical music just to "egg" the fight! But I knew better...for him...it elicited the entire range of emotions and cleared his mind to think of "great and glorious" things!

I took my regular chair...directly across from him...

He smiled and bid me a good afternoon and then he mentally sunk back into the music! He was far away and I did not try to interrupt his journey!

The staff brought my order and I began eating!

About the time my mouth was full...his sonata finished and he came back to our world!

Did you know that I used to race bicycles? Loved that! The wind and the relative speed and the feeling of freedom!

I responded with a nod of my head...not wanting to spew food all over the dining table!

It was a surrogate for what I really loved though!

I loved running...but that so consumed me that I had to find an alternative!

I looked at him quizzically!

...it happened rather by chance! I was in prep school...I think you call that grade school...

I was bored so I went to a track and field competition...one of my teachers...who was also the coach of the meager team had been prodding me to try...so I did!

I watched for a while and was caught up in the various activities!

there was an open lane in the 1,000 meter race so the coach grabbed me and told me to run!

I had NEVER ran in a competition before and hadn't the slightest inkling of what to do...he simply told me to stand behind the line and when the gun went off...run to win!

I didn't really grasp how long 1,000 meters were or the fact that after a staggered start that you could move to the inside...all I knew was to run!

The gun went off and I ran! Full out! for the entire race! The other runners took off slowly...conserving energy so that they had a final spurt of energy at the end! Not me! I ran full out!

I took such a commanding lead that no matter how much reserve the other runners had...they couldn't catch me...I had nothing at the end!

Needless to say...I won the race...AND set a meet record! But not without the other team's coaches arguing that I didn't follow the race decorum!

My coach on the other hand argued the basics...what is the purpose of the race? To get across the finish line first...and heck that young man did it from an outside lane! He ran more meters than all of the other runners!

I got my blue ribbon and was hooked! I ran at every opportunity! I learned the ropes and built a strategy! In practice I ran 4 times length of a race "full out" so that on race day...the race itself was like resting...

But guess what?

Others watched and learned and worked harder than me...and began challenging me...

I stayed my course...and over a short period of time...began taking second place! LOSING!

So I worked harder!

At one point...there was no time for homework...or eating...of anything else...I slept and ran!

So I stopped!

But the fire was still in me...and I found bicycling! It was faster and that sport had yet to learn the lessons of hard work!

So I targeted specific races...the 50 kilometer...the 100 kilometer...

and rode 100 kilometers or 200 kilometers respectively in preparation for the races!

It was awesome...I would cross the finish line...stop...rest...store my bicycle and then return to the finish line to watch the contenders cross...it actually was elating!

As the racing continued...what I could do after finishing diminished! In a short period of time...I would cross and turn to see my challengers!

Then the inevitable happened! I took second place! I lost! How devastating! I was a loser again!

Competition sucks!

I saw a pattern there...do you?

He asked that question at the most inopportune time...because I had just taken another bite...so I just nodded!

For me it was that you can never rest on the top for too long! AND...

Success is simply a matter of hard work!


But you need to realize that there is always...someone is working harder than you!

Interesting isn't it?

You strive to be the best...but there is someone out there who has more time and energy and talent...who appears and humbles you!

So...is it worth it?

I do not know!

Your country inherently promotes doing your best and winning at all costs...

It was that attitude that helped us win "the WAR!"

But I do not know if it is worth it!

Do you?

Just them I swallowed!

And...I realized that the food was inside me!