The Daily RICHual

The actual quote goes like this: “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one,” and it comes from Robert Greene in his 1592 booklet 'Greene's Groats-Worth of Wit’ At the time this was written it was semi thought to be a compliment. Since the 16th century, it has become sort of an insult. Today, I totally mean it as an insult.

In the very late 60’s, I discovered the Distance Running News, a magazine that shared, surprise…. Distance running news.

Sometimes a great customer service story is focused on a grand gesture, an act that amazes the customer. A Nordstrom accepting the return of four tires from a dissatisfied man even though they don’t sell tires. A maid at the Ritz Carlton guaranteeing that the hotel would replace a guest’s missing laptop computer if it wasn’t found by days end. Most of the time, however, customer service can be found in the little things: a smile, a giving attitude, or a kind word.

In poker, they seem to go “all in” often

"ALL IN" for the business professional revolves around several areas: business, yes, but also the rest of our lives. To be truly "ALL IN" in life means more than just work. It means with the family, your body, your mind, your soul. It's about balance, yet a sort of imbalance. What I mean is keeping your life in balance by having more than just work, but creating an imbalance to the same old, usual stuff by pushing everything to the limit. When was the last time you just totally "got after it,"?

I recall hearing an interview with James Taylor and he was asked what song he believed he had sung in public the most. He said Fire and Rain. When asked how many times he’d sung it in public, he said, maybe 10,000

So how do you make it fresh? How do you keep from being totally bored with it?

His answer: it might be the first time you’veheard me sing it.

Over the weekend I experience most people's total unawareness of anything around them. How do we fix that?

I was chatting with a friend not too long ago about a class I teach called "Visual Chi: Creating and Delivering Outstanding Electronic Presentations." He seemed to go somewhere else for a few seconds (maybe a bad memory popped up) and then said, "Oh, another PowerPoint class, huh?"

"Geez, I hope not,"  I replied.

It's not that I have anything against PowerPoint, or Keynote for that matter, it's just that anything can be abused or used for evil instead of good. Even the best laid plans of presentation software creators can go south and that's what's happened to most PPT and K presentations.

Someone once said, "people don't like to be sold, but they love to buy.”

There's a tremendous wisdom to that short sentence as well as numerous far reachingaspects that cover many facets of many businesses. More on those, another time.

Left to their own resources, people will buy. They will buy technology gear, life insurance, lawn mowers, Chevys, Toyotas and Fords. They will buy houses.

The problem is, I’m not obsessed with it, Obsessed with what, you ask?  Well technology and the rush to the latest coolest thing.

I saw today that the Apple Watch 6 has hit its lowest price ever. I didn’t even know there was an Apple Watch 6, I’m still pretty dazzled by my Apple Watch 3.

I’ve done some reading lately and since, for many people, reading is a RICHual of sorts, I thought I’d share the latest tom come across my easy chair.

1. The War of Art - Steven Pressfield

2. The Practice - Seth Godin

3. Think Again - Adam Grant

4. Become What You Are - Alan Watts

I still get to the door of the store and end up saying, dang it, I forgot my mask.

Then, as I walk back to the car to retrieve said mask, I mutter things like, “that’s really bright, it’s not like we haven’t been doing this for like, over a year.” And some other self degrading comments that shall remain unpublished.

So what is the problem?

Am I just forgetful? Well, actually, toquote my Mother, if my head wasn’t screwed on I would probably forget it somewhere.