Happy Sunday Everyone:
I said to Kim yesterday I wasn’t sure I had anything for Sunday Thoughts today. After I said it, I looked down on my phone and saw a txt from my great friend Chris Devin. If you don’t recall, Chris is a dear friend in the fight of his life against cancer. The text was about he and his brother having a song of the day they share, and his song yesterday was “i can see clearly now” by Johnny Nash. Reason for him sending it had to do with a 45-minute conversation he and I had on Wednesday, unexpected.
As I was sitting there yesterday, I thought about the progression of our friendship. He’s in MA, I’m in CA, we’ve met each other in person 2x. Yet here we are today with a deep love and appreciation for one another. We trust each other on a level few relationships reach.
My point today is both mapping out, and understanding, the investment in human connection and where it takes you. My strong suspicion is when I get to the end of my life, and you yours, we’re going to find out that not much else mattered.
3 things happened this week that made me consider this:
My conversation with Chris on Wednesday. Dave Savage, another investor in human connection, has been a meaningful part of that story over the years. Chris signed up for my Sunday Thoughts years ago after watching one of Dave’s podcasts, unbeknownst to me. Chris and I ended up at the same company (CCM). I do a monthly company call featuring a top producer or inspiring person, and two years ago the company asked me to interview Chris (as a top producer and inspiring person). That prep work became our first real connection. We both invested in one another deeply beyond that call and here we are today. Some of our call Wednesday was both of us scratching our heads wondering how we got to where we are today with one another.
Book club-Our division has 441 people in it. We have a book club. I’m sure some eyes roll at the thought of having a book club. There are 15 of us on the call every Friday 8:30, that’s it. 15 of 415 is a 4% attendance rate, not exactly a success based on numbers. Those 15 people have become like a family. We’re reading “Miracle Morning” right now. We go around the horn; each person takes a minute to pick their favorite part of a chapter. Comes to Heather P, because of the book she and her daughter started reviewing what they’re grateful for each night before bed, an exercise they haven’t done since losing her husband (Amanzio) unexpectedly 5 years ago. She’s apologizing for getting choked up while we’re all crying. We all get off the call thinking “WOW”. Side note-I had a packed morning and almost cancelled. Would have missed that. Nothing is by accident.
While I was wrapping up my call with Chris on Wednesday, I was walking into a lunch to celebrate Holly’s 11-year anniversary of being on our team. We all went around the table and described what our favorite thing about Holly was. I call her our most improved player and now MVP. Her best quote, “if it wasn’t for all of you, I wouldn’t be in this business, I love you all”. She’s an incredible teammate, a better single mom to Evan, and so committed to the people she cares about. Side note-it was our team, not me, who scheduled the lunch to celebrate Holly. I’ve surrounded myself with a team of people that care about human connection. It’s probably the smartest thing I’ve done in my career.
Human connection is a beautiful thing, how could you argue that? What’s more important? Reverse engineering some of the great relationships you have in your life creates gratitude and appreciation for the journey of those relationships. The milestones that caused the leapfrog of love, respect, and connectedness. Worth considering. Pick one-person, reverse engineer how you got from point A to Z, and I guarantee you’ll end up with a smile on your face!
Have a great rest of your Sunday!