From a Christmas note - "It's been a year since we first met! I remember sitting in your office & asking for your advice. You told me, "Right now, just focus on finding enough people dumb enough to do business with you.". So that's exactly what I did. Now just one year later, I have grown my business by leaps & bounds. . . . . can I ask for help yet again? I could use some more advice . . . .".

I have not spoken to this younger person since that intial encounter. Although I am certain there was more said than to just look for dumb people, I find it funny that which people choose to recall. There are some really good people out there.

Sounds like you gave him solid advice, he’s back for more.

Tell him it’s the same, just keep finding dumb people…there really is no shortage, so he’s in luck

I had something similar from a person who worked for me 20 years ago for about a year. He was much younger than me, but he was smart, had good work ethics and I respected him quite a bit for such a young man. He knew I was one of the top performers in our company and always asking me how or why I did this or that. He was 23 at the time, had 3 young daughters and was about to get divorced. I tried to advise him as best as I could but knew life would have more struggles after divorcing. He went on to divorce and later remarry, get a college degree and hold upper management positions with 3 different companies. I usually send him a Merry Christmas text and we`ve kept up with each other's career paths with a few phone calls over the years. This is the text he sent me after I wished him Merry Christmas on Christmas morning.



I was going to text you a few weeks ago because your name came up in our conversation with my children. I was educating them on their actions and I told them there was something important I learned from Tpack, and that was always have a reason for everything you do. I told them how I noticed you were very intentional with everything you did and I could tell you analyzed every action, determine the optimal method and that was the standard you created. And told them from then on, I sought to always have a reason for how I did something. Hoping my kids will act more like Tpack

No need to reinvent the wheel - what I relayed on was something that had been told to me forty years ago.

There's also the ones that heard, but they didn't listen.

They did it their way. Way more time passes, they learn the hard way. Then they say "You were right. I should have listened to you".

Some people have to be run over by the truck, for themselves, to know it really does hurt.

I wish the guy that bought my company would have listened to me. He tanked it in two years.

Hud, it's nice when people listen.

Good on ya sir

Supervise a team of rookie cops if you want to see the epitome of people who won’t listen. It was like trying to keep a dozen puppies in a box. After a couple of months I settled on what I called the big 4. Don’t let them get hurt, don’t let them get killed, don’t let them get fired and don’t let them get themselves into prison.

Fewer and fewer people know how to listen, especially the ones that never...ever...shut up. I think social media has played a part in this.

I have a son-in-law who occasionally calls me in a manic panic and asks for advice. He never follows it, but...at least he asks.

Gramps always told me I have two ears and one mouth for a reason…

Yep. My mentor, who I never can repay, gave me one compliment. He said I was smart enough to understand the business and dumb enough to do what I was told.

I am glad for the success your client had, be sure to remind him that a few good years will be followed by a few mediocre years and always keep up with the income tax.

A few years ago one of my customers told me he was going to start a pressure washing company. He has learned the ropes and knows what chemicals to apply for success. He does very well.