Post date: Sep 1, 2011 5:47:18 PM
When I get into a funk, then I start cranking up the mental and artistic juices and run to my art, just as a scared child runs and clutches on to its mother's apron. Cranked out another new piece of art. It is titled, "Lesson #63". It is 12" long x 5 1/2" wide x 7" high". On the bottom is the following statement: "Getting to the top is easy......staying there, is the hard part".
Had a good business friend and, in a way, a mentor, Stanley Cohen. He gave me one of the greatest pieces of advice ever. He told me, "There are two kinds of truth in this world, John Michael, real truth and perceived truth. Your job is to find out which one is which". Has helped me to become a good listener in life and avoid getting too involved in situations that are going nowhere. Without knowing the facts or both sides of problem, there is no true way to really solve it. Has also reminded me to be like himself and the other mentors in my life and not tell others what to do, but rather advise them about both sides of the issue and then let them decide how they will resolve or handle the issue. If it is a problem, I do urge others to resolve it, as soon as possible, and not let it snowball into an out of control monster.
One issue that confronts, not only the young, but also the old, is "getting to the top". There are so many definitions, measurements and conflicts over what it means in each of our lives. The reality is that we can't all be the best mother/father, best athlete, best friend, best businessman, best politician, best carpenter, best plumber, best gynecologist, best technician, etc., etc., etc., in the world. Life does however, allow us to rise to the "top" in our individual realms. We can become "masters of our universe", but there is a snag in being omnipotent, as there are many galaxies in the universe and no one can be the master of them all.
There is a great difference between the journey to the "top" and the realities at the "top". Perhaps, that is why I say "it's easier to get to the "top" than to stay there". Regardless of our goals or aims, we all start somewhere. It can be as a simple shoe shine boy, a rookie, an intern, junior exec, apprentice, bag boy, laborer, waitress or recycler. We feel cool, for we are acting responsibly and have a few bucks in our pockets to spend along that highway to the "top". Not only do you get the pay envelope, but also a new piece of "luggage" for your travels. It is initially loaded with a few reward items, but mostly lightweight responsibilities. At each of the next steps, in your development, you receive more suitcases containing heavier and heavier responsibilities. Often we don't realize we have developed bodies like Gov. Arnold, that helps us carry all this "luggage" without the use of an airport cart. What we are more aware of is that we have gone from a VW to a Toyota, to a Lexus and now to a MBZ. We have gone from a bachelor apartment, to a 2-bedroom house, to a country estate and now leisure homes on both coasts. We have gone from eating pot pies, to dining at Sizzler's, to feasting at Elaine's and now having catered lawn affairs at our rolling manor. We have gone from borrowing money from friends and relatives, to actually having a savings account and qualifying for an unsecured credit card and now having an IRA, stockbroker and personal accountant. Almost, in self denial, we don't want to acknowledge that each of these upgrades came attached with new pieces of "luggage", loaded with heavier and heavier responsibilities. There is absolutely nothing wrong with with aspiring and a hoping for or wanting better/ best. The dilemma is losing track of our realistic limits. Don't believe me? Just look at the housing and economic situation in the USA. Just look at the ill-prepared and non-leadership in this country. Could go on and on.
When most are utterly fatigued and can't carry any more luggage, somehow a miracle occurs, they discover that they have arrived at their perceived "top" and that all of their problems and troubles are all over and solved. Realistically, they are right back almost where they started. As they say on MTV, "fine crib, but what do I do with all this luggage"? To maintain your position at the "top", you find yourself going to Ace Hardware to purchase a new "ladder" to take you to another "top". It is a vicious cycle. Don't have the answer on how to avoid it, except to be realistic about what really makes you happy.
Woke up in Washington, DC one night and visualized all this luggage in my room. A snow storm was brewing outside and I realized I couldn't get home for Thanksgiving. Made me stop and consider what was REALLY important to me. Was it making it to or maintaining staying at my perceived "top" or sharing good and bad times with family and friends or simply potty training a little one? Do know that the higher you climb, the harder it gets because you keep accumulating all that "luggage" that you have to keep toting up those damn ladders, and believe me, the competition gets more brutal and there are fewer and fewer chances for error.
Personally, in the right situation and what I know today, I would take the challenge to get to another "top". However, don't think that I would recommend to that tot, in potty training, to take the path I did or use my techniques. Would say to aspire 50% and smell the roses 50%. When one would become more, stop, and balance them out.
Is funny in a way, but have noticed that doors to most businesses have a push/pull sign on them. To get in, it does take an effort. Personally, don't trust the self opening doors. Once inside, there are exit and emergency exit signs. It can be extremely difficult to leave when there are so many "perceived" wonderful things inside that can be ours. We all talk about our achievements in life, but rarely talk about are our failures, which many were a result of us trying to get to the "top". Guess that's what makes life so wonderful. We're damned if we do and damned if we don't. Just have to do the best with the time we have on this earth.
JOHN MICHAEL
(To see photos of the above art piece "Lesson #63", go to https://sites.google.com/site/jmdodigartphotos )