Attitude Is Everything!
This is a story about my friend who is sadly no longer with us, but the spirit he embodied is the very soul of our passion for excellence and moving forward optimistically and hopefully with some measure of balance!
Be Happy!
"The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we
make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same"
Carlos Castaneda
2/8/08
We create our own world every day.
We choose to accept our situation or do something to change our lives for the better.
It's been a year since I left 3M. 33 years with one company.
This last year has been the most fun that I have had since I was a kid!
We have created a successful venture against incredible odds. Creating a brand to compete with the well known 3M Dealers in the Tampa Bay and Orlando, Sarasota region. Battling against a second year with no major storms and an economy that quite frankly stinks!
We hear from our 3M Dealer friends virtually every single day. These folks read my blog and this post is written directly for you and to you!
Be happy!
I was fortunate enough, very late in my stay at 3M to have met a truly unique man, Winston Charles. Mr. Charles was exactly my age. He had been with 3M for many years and had been given the task of building a car tinting business for 3M and the Automotive After-market Division.
Winston had a passion and fire that I had seldom seen in a fellow 3M sales person. He pushed and accepted nothing less than 100% effort. He often chided me for being down in spirits or defeatist against any troubles I might have had.
Winston was dying and he knew it. He had cancer and made his sales calls with a chemo drip. His wife would drive him to sales calls, since he was too weak to feel safe behind the wheel.
One day while he was in Intensive Care, I made a car tint recruiting call in Ft Lauderdale. I met a gent who seemed interested in the 3M Paint Protection Film and despite the fact that this wasn't my product, I tried to convince the prospect that 3M's PPF was the "Cats Meow."
I called Winston to tell him the "good news" and to ask him how things were going?
Winston answered his cell phone and before I could speak, he asked me how "things were going with me?"
He said that he was "praying for me."
Imagine that?
I felt overwhelmed with sadness and was truly humbled. He was worried about me while knowing he had perhaps a day left to live.
I can remember his words to me. .
His comfort and concern. .
His encouragement as he chided me for my anger & despair..
Winston Charles last letter to me is in my wallet and I carry it every day.
My 2 years of freedom as a business owner is my tribute to a man that I can hardly ever hope to emulate.
Be Happy!
Watch Me Now!
Posted by Mike Feldman at 3/17/2009 7:20 PM 
Categories: Consulting Coaching, Health UV Skin Cancer Heart
Categories: Consulting Coaching, Health UV Skin Cancer Heart
Thanks for writing this!!! He was a real good man, It makes one stop and think how lucky and grateful we should be!!!! Be Happy Maun!!
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As I read this story again, I too knew Winston, knew from the first moment of meeting this man. He was a gift from God in my life. It humbles me so much!! Thanks Mike, for keeping him alive in my heart!!
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