First of all congrats to Fly for a great day on the lot. I know it’s in your blood; it’s just a matter of time.
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So, I witnessed a crazy thing today. One of our sales reps was demonstrating a vehicle to a customer. They lifted the hood, walked around the vehicle (a bright red Ford pick-up), and then the rep gave the customer the keys. As the rep walked around to get in the passenger side, the customer threw the truck into reverse, locked the doors, and with the rep standing outside trying to gain access, the customer put it into drive and hauled ass off the lot, never looking back. A few of us other reps stood in awe, sure of what we were seeing, but not believing it. The truck was probably in the chop shop before the police could arrive to write the report. It was whack! All any of us could do was look on with incredulity.

Shortly afterward I met one of the guys who works with me. He’s a young man from Puerto Rico and his English is still marginal at best. He’s at that fascinating stage where you can understand him, but he is still translating directly from his native tongue. I love that phase, because it gives one such a poetic view into how other cultures describe life. He was telling me that he used to make his living as a baseball player/coach and that now he makes his living selling cars. That is what he meant but what he literally said was, “That is how I used to win my living, but this is how I win my living now.” I was really struck by the beauty of the statement. He didn’t say “make” or “earn” my living, or even “what I do”. Instead he expressed a powerful, positive position; HOW HE WINS HIS LIVING. It was only upon reflection that these two people came into glaring contrast: cheating a living vs. winning it.

I suppose there are players (who create their own success), benchwarmers (who are a part of others success without working much for it), coaches (who tell others how to succeed), spectators (who watch others succeed), and even cheats (who steal success).

What about me? I have a bit of all of them in me, and have tried most at some point. But I’m starting to really understand that life IS a magnificent game and I like the thought of winning my living.

Play Ball!