Popular author and speaker Ken Blanchard sometimes tells a powerful story about
Red, a corporate president who, as a young man, learned an important and
life-changing lesson. Red had just graduated from college and was offered an
opportunity to interview for a position with a firm in New York City. As the job
involved moving his wife and small child from Texas to New York, he wanted to
talk the decision over with someone before accepting it, but his father had died
and Red did not feel he had anybody to turn to. On impulse, he telephoned an old
friend of the family, someone his father had suggested he turn to if he ever
needed good advice.
The friend said he would be happy to give Red advice about the job offer under
the condition that the young man take whatever advice he was given. "You might
want to think about that for a couple of days before hearing my suggestion," he
was told.
Two days later Red called the man back and said he was ready to listen to his
counsel. "Go on to New York City and have the interview," the older man said.
"But I want you to go up there in a very special way. I want you to go on a
train and I want you to get a private compartment. Don't take anything to write
with, anything to listen to or anything to read, and don't talk to anybody
except to put in your order for dinner with the porter. When you get to New York
call me and I will tell you what to do next."
Red followed the advice precisely. The trip took two days. As he had brought
along nothing to do and kept entirely to himself, he quickly became bored. It
soon dawned on him what was happening.
He was being forced into quiet time. He could do nothing but think and meditate.
About three hours outside New York City he broke the rules and asked for a
pencil and paper. Until the train stopped, he wrote -- the culmination of all
his meditation.
Red called the family friend from the train station. "I know what you wanted,"
he said. "You wanted me to think. And now I know what to do. I don't need
anymore help."
"I didn't think you would, Red," came the reply. "Good luck."
Now, years later, Red heads a corporation in California. And he has always made
it a policy to take a couple of days to be alone. He goes where there is no
phone, no television and no people. He goes to be alone; to meditate and to
listen.
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please
authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances
dictate.
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