YOU AIN'T GONNA LEARN WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW

Day Tripper, Defined *

 

My ear could not get close enough to the speaker.

 

I kept moving the needle over the album, and touching it precisely down where I knew that guitar riff started.

 

I was 6 years old, with a fancy little Radio Shack record player, and some small(ish) speakers.

 

Putting the needle on the groove was an art that I mastered.

 

“Day Tripper” – was a song that I could not get enough of. 

 

It was pure perfection, the timing, the tone – and the intro of subtle drums, leading into sweet vocals.

 

George Harrison had played the perfect combination of space and time, and it seemed like pure creative genius.

 

I often wondered as a child if I would be able to do anything in my life, that would rise to the level of creating something, anything, that people would do the equivalent of what I was perfecting, dropping a needle and holding their ear to a speaker......

 

I never mastered guitar after years of lessons, although to be sure, I’m pretty darn good at air guitar.

 

In art class, I was pretty good at anything “abstract” -- including making those clear rubber balls, by spreading glue on the table – waiting for it to dry, and then rolling it up.

 

You see, other than playing sports – I was pretty darn average at most everything else….

 

But, I enjoyed some things more than others – even as a young kid, and……the opening riff in “Day Tripper” was one of them.

 

“Is this as good as Day Tripper?”

 

“Is this a durable as Day Tripper?”

 

You see, Day Tripper is forever.   It will outlast all of us, and to me – its both timeless, and priceless.

 

I judge everything that I like and value (creatively) against my love of “Day Tripper.”

 

I judge nearly everything that I'm introduced to with the same question: “Will I like this years from now?”

 

Walking into a baseball stadium, and seeing the green grass, as I come out of the tunnel to approach my seats is a thrill that rivals my love of, Day Tripper.  It is unexplainable, how my eyes digest and proceess, seeing the colors of a stadium for that initial moment – to this day, gives me the goose bumps.

 

 

Being at a concert, and feeling the collective energy of a band, feeding off the audience, continues to amaze me and stun me --- kinda like, Day Tripper.

 

 

Watching my daughters grow into young women is simply breath taking.  I was at a photo shoot with them this week, and I stopped to ask myself if these were the same babies I held in my arms a few short years ago?  Beyond Day Tripper for sure....

 

 

“Where does the time go?”

 

 

“Day Tripper” is forever.

 

 

The “flavor and style of the day” may change – but some things simply do not. 

 

 

I think it is important both personally and professionally, to share our “Day Tripper” aspects of what makes us who we are…..

 

 

Because the B side, of Day Tripper was “We Can Work it Out” – and, that song happens to be both of my daughters favorite Beatle tune.  Slightly ironic.  

 

 

Inspiration and good energy, are two key ingredients that come from the most bizarre of places – and those very places, define who we are.  They certainly define me.  

 

 

And, they are timeless, like a guitar riff that to this day send chills down my spine.

 

 

We all need more, Day Trippers. 

The Office Manager

 

I had my credit card stolen.

 

The story might have ended there, but it was just starting…..

 

I hired an office manager, his name was Ted.

 

Ted’s job was to take care of supplies, and manage my calendar for an early office of 25 employees.

 

He used my credit card, and then I would routinely submit an expense report to our CFO for reimbursement.

 

I found out that he bought cell phones, using my credit card.

 

He bought phone plans, and phone cards, with my credit card.

 

He bought furniture for his apartment, with my card.  

 

When I found out, I was mad.  So mad in fact, that I literally wanted to deck him in the office – but I then, thought better of it.

 

When I confronted him, he was calm and unapologetic.

 

“I didn’t think you would find out.”

 

“What does it matter?  I didn’t hurt anyone – and you have lots of stuff.”

 

I sat in my chair seething, seeking to understand how anyone could think this way. 

 

I asked him calmly, “Can you share with me how your mind processes the simple fact that you stole from me, and charged thousands of dollars on my personal card, and you have no remorse, or regret?”

 

He did not care.

 

He got up, walked out – and I never saw him again.

 

 

I’ve had people steal, cheat and lie to me – to gain something that perhaps they needed.

 

It hasn’t altered my trust in people.   It has made me more aware.

 

Recently, a friend called.   A 20 year business associate stole over $2 million dollars from him by padding his bills.

 

Was he lazy, did he trust too much?

 

I don’t know, but I prefer to think the latter. 

 

 

Trust is not a two way street.  Trust is given, or earned – but it need not be reciprocated.

 

Trust can be a one way street, and it can be lethal.

 

In today’s world it seems to be OK, and accepted to “skirt the truth” when it comes to ones word, moral/values, and honesty.

 

It’s true in both public and private life.

 

We recently found out a competitor lied about us, and our capabilities in an effort to denigrate our product, and make themselves look better.

 

And it paid dividends, as they won the business.

 

I was mad for a brief second – but then, thought to myself --- “their misrepresentations will come full circle, and the planets will correct themselves.”

 

Am I delusional?

 

I think not.

 

As terrible as it sounds, I do believe that there is always a spot for an “ethical, honest, and positive” – organization in the world of corporate America.

 

Who would dare say, “We are NOT ethical, honest and positive?”

 

No one.

 

And, that’s my point.

 

I did not question Ted, or ask him if he was “moral, ethical and honest” before I hired him.

 

He would have told me he was anyway.   He would have lied.

 

But, I could have asked differently.

 

“What are your biggest failures?”

 

“What are you most embarrassed about?”

 

“What was your single biggest mistake?”

 

“What is your weak spot?”

 

“Tell me about someone that does not like you, and what would they say about you?”

 

 

These questions – force honest answers. 

 

When I interview someone, and they cant be direct, honest, self effacing and downright in the fact that they can speak the truth about their faults, mistakes, and shortcomings…

 

Well, I don’t want them.   I can’t hire someone who cannot be honest about themselves.

 

 

I’m sure Ted would have told me (had I asked) that he had no faults, and no shortcomings.

 

Our best employees at Lotame go into great detail about their failures, embarrassments, and faults during the interview process.   These are the honest people I want to work with – and who I respect – and TRUST, from the start.

 

We end up partnering with people we deserve in the end.

 

I don’t know why people say, “The End” – because as far as I’m concerned – every new connection, is a beginning.

 

Constantly waiting to see how the fabric of the partnership turns out.

 

Will they be a “Ted”?  Or, will they be a trusted connection?

 

I thank Ted for being an early lesson, (stealing from me) and one I learned by paying for cell phone plans and cards, from nearly every bodega in the Bronx.

 

 

I hope all those free phone calls that were made by people, with my stolen credit card, paid as many dividends for those people, as Ted did for me, in “The End.” 

 

 

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