My friend Drew Ogden taught me about "the meant to be factor." Sometimes everything just comes together to point you in a new direction. When we started feeling growing pains at KDPaine & Partners and I started thinking about expanding, at first I resisted the entire concept. I really hadn't seriously considered Berlin, NH at all. And then, as it happens, I made a completely spontaneous stop at the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security in Berlin to find out how likely we were to find media anlalysts up there. After asking me a few questions and getting a general understanding of what we do, one incredibly helpful Les Glover said, "I have three or four people in can think of that would be perfect." Les' counterpart in North Conway, an hour to the south, told me "pretty much anyone around here who wants a job, has one." From then on it was pretty clear that Berlin would work. But the meant to be factors hadn't finished lining up. Turns out that one of the NH women I respect the most, Kathy Eneguess, runs the technical college up there and she's regularly turning out just the sort of employees I need. Then there's Norm Charest who epitomizes what an economic development director should be. Not only does he thoroughly know the area, and everyone in it, but he's the most helpful guy I've ever met - how many city employees would take your flat tire to get it repaired for you? Then the sun came out. I've not spent alot of time in Berlin, but every other time I've been there it's either been snowing or raining. But when the sun comes out, the place is just gorgeous.
Finally, as is wont to happen in my life, it all came together in a song. I have the latest Cormac McCarthy CD, on my "songs to run by" and was marveling, as I always do, at the man's lyrics. (He's right up there with Dylan, Phil Ochs and Leonard Cohen in my book. And, he's the only man who can work love, sex and Pi (3.1414 etc) into a love long. ) As usual I started off with Cormac's "Great Big Day" -- a spoof on all those annoying types that say "have a good day." And then it all came together in the last verse:
Workin just to get it over with, that's the road to sorrow
Give today all you got, you'll have more to give tomorrow
And I suddenly remembered why I loved running a business. Because you can make a difference, because its a great feeling to be able to give back to your community, and because as long as I can inspire and teach and learn, its worth waking up in the morning. And then came this lyric from "A little something"
You can shock the monkey or meditate with the usual results, but without some time in soul mine its a carnival gestalt; Long held convictions sound like a voice in a cartoon, but your quiet little voice will tell you what to do
And my not so quiet little voice, told me exactly what to do. Thank you all.
People in the world get the mortgage loans in various banks, just because that's fast and easy.
Posted by: Mcpherson20Jamie | December 28, 2011 at 10:23 AM