Becoming a Master Student – Page 3 – The Turning Points of Life

Innovation = Survival

“Innovation is the creation, development and implementation of a new product, process or service, with the aim of improving efficiency, effectiveness or competitive advantage and survival.”

The pandemic of 2020 put all of us into an unexpected and unplanned situation. The consequences of a worldwide pandemic put a significant stress on individuals and businesses. Specifically, small businesses that do not typically have the luxury of robust bank accounts were stressed to the limits. Many were unable to survive. But this is the perfect situation for innovation to bring its salvation to such situations.

One small business, a pair of restaurants located in the Silicon Valley, realized successful navigation of the unexpected challenges of the pandemic. They had ‘Innovation” as part of their business by-line: Quality, Innovation & Education.

When the pandemic hit with a vengeance, governments nationally and locally, scrambled for solutions to mitigate the deadly effects of the new and novel virus. Medical experts were consulted and given unprecedented power to dictate procedures and social limitations on national, state and local counties and city venues. Restaurants and other traditional social gathering venues were shut down. They were limited to “to go” and “outdoor dining” for almost a full year in many cases. Small businesses were very vulnerable in this situation. Many restaurants and other businesses collapsed into insolvency destroying the dreams of countless entrepreneurs.

The Founder and CEO of Sushi Confidential, Randy Musterer, was uniquely positioned in many ways to meet the challenges ushered in by a global pandemic.

At the pandemic’s onset, Randy Musterer had a lot going for him. Before opening his restaurants, Randy had spent 17 years in cancer and infectious disease research. He worked at some of the most prestigious pharmaceutical companies in the world. That experience gave Randy the knowledge and understanding of what was necessary to protect people from a pandemic and its vicious contagious character. Randy’s response to the pandemic was to immediately plan for the worst. A closed restaurant can be devastating to the owner, the employees, the customers, and the suppliers of the business.

Randy, using his scientific background and experience, educated his employees. He taught them what steps they needed to take to remain in a position where they were not vulnerable to contracting the disease. He implemented protocols for his employees while in the workplace, protecting them and the customers from contracting or spreading the virus.

Next, Randy devised a strategy for keeping the restaurant functional when indoor dining was prohibited. He vigorously established an effective take-out system that gave his faithful and loyal clientele a means to still access his top-quality sushi offerings. He instantly connected with his clientele via social media to share his background in infectious disease research, what he was doing to implement safety precautions at Sushi Confidential This resulted in the ability to gain trust and support from his loyal following. He attracted the news media as credible resource for small business challenges and success amidst a global pandemic.

Randy didn’t rest with the initial success of the take-out business. Early in the lockdown, a few of Randy’s close friends in the industry were deciding how to navigate their small businesses through the pandemic. Many were not considered “essential”, therefore, were required to cease operations. Randy knew how devastating this would be to their survival moving forward. He saw an opportunity for his fellow small business entrepreneurs and invited them to sell their products through his established take-out business. Frost Cupcake Factory began offering their award-winning cupcakes on Randy’s menu. Then a local brewery, Strike Brewery, of San Jose began offering their micro brews. An award-winning Mixologist, Jason Steele, owner of Los Gatos Soda Works, soon joined the offerings with custom “take-out” cocktails, once the state changed the laws to allow hard-alcoholic cocktails “to go”. The success of these partnerships inspired other local restaurants to follow suit to create their own partnerships to help other small businesses survive, and even thrive, during the pandemic.

While many restaurants slowly pivoted to “learn” how to operate during a pandemic, Randy realized that he needed to continue to advance his offerings to keep his clientele both old and new from boredom. As restaurants were limiting their menu to be able to open and operate at a bare minimum, Randy went on a constant upgrade to his menu. On a feverish pace, he created new and innovative sushi rolls and other menu offerings. He also expanded his vegetarian, gluten-free and keto offerings.

The success of any business owner is how the owner can relate to and solve his customers “pain points”. Randy was working eighteen hours a day to ensure his restaurants’ survival. He was interacting with his customers daily and started to hear a common theme. They were bored after three months of “lock down”. How many more puzzles could the family make? How many more movies can they watch together? How do I keep my kids off “screen time” and video games? Randy knew, if he came up with a solution to their “pain points”, he could make additional revenue to ensure his restaurants’ success. Randy, having previous success with Sushi Making Classes at the restaurant, decided to create a make-your-own Sushi Kit. He included a YouTube instruction video to ensure its success. This became quite popular, especially with families with children. Families sharing their Sushi Confidential Sushi Making Kits on social media enhanced the popularity of the idea.

Randy continued his partnership with Strike Brewery. Together they brewed a hazy IPA on Randy’s Sushi Confidential label.

Not letting grass to grow under his feet, when outdoor dining became an option, Randy quickly adapted his patio for outdoor dining. When more space was needed Randy was instrumental in getting the city to create parklets on the street in front of his restaurant and all the local businesses there.

Randy invested on gaining additional outdoor dining by creating a “sushi” beer garden in the parking area behind the Campbell restaurant. When the fall holidays arrived, a surge in virus cases instigated the shutdown of outdoor dining. With people now deprived of dining in a controlled environment of outdoor dining in restaurants, they reverted to uncontrolled environments of house parties. This turn of events had the effect of causing Randy’s catering business to take off again. Randy employed some clever marketing ideas that capitalized on the questionable actions of the city and county lockdown edicts.

Randy’s intense focus on innovation has brought him through the yearlong pandemic with its amazing challenges. His appreciation for those who made great sacrifices to keep us all as safe as possible fuels Randy’s altruistic nature. He set out to honor and praise the first responders, medical teams and hospital workers by serving them sushi dinners. This commitment for them was evidenced on the day that Randy and his staff received their Covid vaccines. He brought bento box lunches for all the workers and was rewarded by being on the front page of the local section of the San Jose Mercury Newspaper.

Randy didn’t let a new vocabulary go without capitalizing on it. In the beginning, businesses were labeled “essential” and restaurants were not on the list. Randy seized that as an opportunity with T-shirts and hats challenging that idea. His subtle protest for the restaurant snub.

Customized Sushi Confidential masks rounded out the opportunity to capitalize on the unprecedented circumstances created by the pandemic that came out of no where.

An innovation is an idea that has been transformed into practical reality. For a business, this is a product, process, or business concept, or combinations that have been activated in the marketplace and produce new profits, growth for the organization and in difficult situations survival.

Randy has mastered innovation for the benefit of his staff, his clientele, and his family.

My Samaritan

Sitting in church on a Sunday morning, two strangers entered the church just after the service began. I glanced over briefly and noted that one of them looked awfully familiar. What’s this person doing here? No, it couldn’t be him! That’s impossible, just couldn’t be him!

In our church small group midweek discussion evening just four days prior, we explored the experience of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. A lesson of that experience among others was that we often hold prejudices towards those who think differently than we think. Jesus vividly showed His disciples that though they shunned Samaritans, Jesus did not. I walked away from that discussion evening wondering do I have any “Samaritans” in my life? Are there people I disparage behind their back and don’t realize I am doing so?

It didn’t take long for God to respond to my wondering.

Four days after that small group evening, an unexpected, unplanned and “unexplained” series of events took place for me.

Our church has two congregations in the San Diego area, Vista and National City. Vista is an English only congregation and National City is Spanish with English translation. Since my mother-in-law was in her 90’s, she had a difficult time assimilating the translated services in National City. So, we always attended Vista on a Sunday mornings.

It was Father’s Day Sunday in June 2015 when my wife Carol and I went to my mother-in-law’s home to take her to church as we usually did. Alas, she was feeling under the weather and explained she would not be able to attend church. We prayed with her and left. On the way to the car, we decided to attend service in National City as we had not been there for quite some time. We thought it would be good to see our friends who attend there.

We arrived at the church to a joyful reunion. We were warmly greeted by the members who were still outside and then made our way into the church. We placed our offering into the offering box and took our seats in the fourth-row pew opposite the choir.

The service began with the Bishop, our very dear friend.

A few minutes into the service two strangers came in and quietly took a seat behind the choir, just across the aisle form me. At first glance, I thought I knew the gentleman as he appeared very familiar. But after some thought dismissed him as just looking remarkably like a man I had worked with some thirty-five years before. I hadn’t seen this person since. I figured it was impossible for it to be the same man.

For a few minutes, distracted from my attention to the sermon, I pondered the unlikely possibility. I finally discarded as preposterous the chance that I knew this stranger and quickly returned my attention to the service.

The bishop soon reached a point in the sermon where he requested the choir to render a hymn.

To my surprise the stranger and the lady he was with moved across the aisle and sat in the pew in front of me. Then I realized it is him. That’s Mike who I worked with for ten years at a local company.

I was shocked and immediately prayed, asking God, “What dear heavenly Father are You teaching me by this extraordinary situation?”

Then I heard the whisper of the Holy Spirit’s words, “Meet your Samaritan!”

It didn’t take long for me to understand. For the last thirty-five years whenever I had a conversation about managing styles, I used Mike’s management style as an example how not to manage. Truly I treated him as the Jews treated Samaritan’s, rejection and criticism.

Wow, I thought. I really did have a “Samaritan” in my life. Now the question was, what am I going to do about it?

Jesus taught that we are to love one another, even when we disagree with them.

When the service was over, Mike and his companion made their way to the exit. I caught up with them in the foyer.

I addressed the lady, “I am sorry, but I don’t recognize you.”

She responded, “Oh I recognize you Evangelist Musterer. You baptized my son in this church many years ago. I’m Marilyn.”

I said, “Marilyn, I am sure you are right. But I am so very sorry that I don’t recognize you.”

I looked at Mike, “But I know you!”

Mike said, “No you don’t. We’ve never met!”

“You are Mike Smith and we worked together at TRI from 1978 to 1988. I’m Allan Musterer.”

Mike stood in astonishment, mouth agape. We wended our way outside and continued our brief conversation. Mike explained that he and his wife had moved to Florida where she eventually passed on from cancer. Mike started a business and hired Marilyn as an administrative assistant. Since they both had sons in San Diego, they traveled together for Father’s Day to visit their sons. Marilyn wanted to attend church that morning so since she didn’t have transportation Mike agreed to join her.

I offered my condolences and since they had to leave, I gave Mike my business card and asked him to contact me when he returned home.

The following Wednesday I shared my extraordinary Sunday experience with our small group discussion meeting. It inspired a lively conversation. My only regret was that I didn’t get Mike or Marilyn’s contact information. I wanted to share with Mike and Marilyn what the unexpected meeting meant to me.

The next Sunday, my mother-in-law was feeling well so we attended service in Vista. Mike and Marilyn again attended in the National City church. My friend Bob, recalling my disappointment for not getting their contact information, approached them and after a brief conversation got their emails for me.

I sent each of them an email explaining what I experienced and asked for their forgiveness. But alas did not get a response. I felt much better that I could explain myself and ask for their forgiveness.

I continue to stand in awe of what complex lengths God went to in arranging this powerful lesson from the life of Christ to bring it so vividly into my life today. As you read this experience, consider all the intricate “coincidental” actions of so many people that it took to create this story.

TURNING POINT

I realize again and again to what lengths the love of God goes to teach me to follow the teachings and wisdom of Jesus Christ. So often I can get lost in the hustle of life and slip into conduct that is not consistent with being an active serving Christian. I now make a deliberate effort to measure my words. I am not yet perfect, and still have my stumbling along the way, but I can count on the whispered reminders of the Holy Spirit. I just pray for a heart with skill to listen when He speaks.

My Book “SOLOMON’S RECIPE” has arrived!

The essence of my book, SOLOMON’S RECIPE, was the first post on my blog. I expanded it into my first published book. It is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble and most online book stores. Should you read it and find it worthy, please recommend it to your circle of friends. I am always open to your comments and how the book may have blessed you.

Note: Book is available as a paperback and eBook (Amazon Kindle + Barnes & Noble Nook)

Amazon Link::

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=solomon%27s+recipe+by+allan+musterer&crid=1BRENE2PNBGXS&sprefix=solomon%27s+%2Caps%2C336&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_10

Barnes & Noble Link:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/solomons-recipe-allan-musterer/1134053223?ean=9781646060207

Look for upcoming books “The Turning Points of Life ~ Realizing Those Moments That Change Everything” & “The Evolution of a Sushi Chef through the Eyes of His Father” and “Grieving ~ Finding Peace and Comfort in the Face of Loss”

Previews currently available on my Blog @ www.lifeturningpoints.org

Books2Inspire website is now available at www.allanemusterer.com

Sincerely,

Allan

On Being A Blessing

As I noted in my introduction to this blog, I am hoping to become a blessings for at least someone each day through my postings or through meeting a friend or a stranger and responding to the urging of the Holy Spirit to speak to them. To prepare myself for that eventuality, my morning prayer includes these words: “Lord, make me a blessing to someone today. Guide me to that person or persons with Your Spirit and grant me the vision to see them, the ear to hear Your Spirit’s whisper and the courage to act without understanding what is happening.”

Some years ago, I received a gift in the form of a CD, Michael Crawford’s “On Eagle’s Wings”. One of the songs on that album became a personal favorite because it spoke to my morning prayer in a special way. I offer here the lyrics and perchance you want to listen to the song sung by Michael Crawford here they are:

Not Too Far From Here
Hilary Weeks

Somebody’s down to thier last dime
Somebody’s running out of time
Not too far from here

Somebody’s got nowhere else to go
Somebody needs a little hope
Not too far from here

And I may not know their name
But I’m praying just the same
That You’ll use me Lord to wipe away a tear
Cause somebody’s crying
Not too far from here

Somebody’s troubled and confused
Somebody’s got nothing left to lose
Not too far from here
Somebody’s forgotten how to trust
Somebody’s dying for love
Not too far from here

It may be a stranger’s face
But I’m praying for Your grace
To move in me and take away the fear
Cause somebody’s hurting
Not too far from here

Help me Lord not to turn away from pain
Help me not to rest while those around me weep
Give me Your strength and compassion
When somebody finds the road of life too steep
Somebody’s troubled and confused
Somebody’s got nothing left to lose
Not too far from here

Somebody’s forgotten how to trust
And somebody’s dying for love
Not too far from here

Now I’m letting down my guard
And I’m opening my heart
Help me speak Your love to every needful ear
Someone is waiting not too far from here
Someone is waiting not too far from here

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: TY LACY (5820) / STEVE SILER (11499)
Not Too Far From Here lyrics © Ariose Music, ARIOSE MUSIC GROUP INC, ARIOSE MUSIC GROUP INC.

Prism Viewing

An old adage states: “When your only tool is a hammer, everything you see is a nail.” This perfectly describes the filters that color our perspective. How we see profoundly influences our attitude and our attitude dictates the quality of our life. These thoughts prompted contemplation with regard to my personal turning points. I found repeatedly that as I reflected on my many turning points, I become more deeply grateful for them and the realization of how I had been blessed through them. Turning points caused me to look at my life through a different prism.

My thoughts were guided by a recent introduction to prisms in a way quite different from my previous view. My technically focused education introduced me to prisms and their unique effects many years ago in physics classes. But now I saw them more figuratively as prisms related to our viewpoints. I found the following descriptions useful as a basis.

From the dictionary:

PRISM: NOUN
• Geometry: a solid geometric figure whose two end faces are similar, equal, and parallel rectilinear figures, and whose sides are parallelograms.
• Optics: a glass or other transparent object in prism form, especially one that is triangular with refracting surfaces at an acute angle with each other and that separates white light into a spectrum of colors.
• used figuratively with reference to the clarification or distortion afforded by a particular viewpoint: “they were forced to imagine the disaster through the prism of television”

A prism then has the quality of breaking down invisible components of light and revealing the hidden colors that make up what is referred to as “white light”. Figuratively then it reveals the detailed truth about any viewpoint.

How then can this fact help understanding our viewpoints?

Consider the thought: Prism Viewing

Prism viewing affords the person the ability to see the elements of life in finest details of the heretofore unseen. Depending on the choice of prism we engage, we will see the beauty or the ugly, the good or the evil of a scene in our life.
I sought to look at some possibilities both “negative” and “positive”.

The prism of anger opened up many unseen minute details of what in general had prompted anger in the first place. The anger prism view gave countless more reasons to increase one’s anger and become more consumed by its effects. Unchecked, it would create a spiraling effect ultimately resulting in an unprovoked physical action. I perceived this as a “negative” prismatic viewer because if the potentially destructive effects of anger.

On the contrary, the prism of kindness produced a very different perspective of the same situation. The kindness prism opened visions of fine details of what may have caused an otherwise angered response. With kindness there was opportunity for one to see new ways to assuage whatever was awry. Prompted with this prism view we would be enabled to reach out and help resolve situations and potentially reconcile the issues at hand. This I perceived as a “positive” prismatic viewer because of the potentially corrective effects of kindness.

I expect some readers will take issue with this viewpoint, citing righteous anger in the face of some injustice. Of course that perspective has it merit. I propose one looks at this from the standpoint of the outcome of the revelation of the prismatic view. Does it produce good or does it produce evil?

It is important to realize and appreciate that we have full control as to what prism we choose to view our life circumstances. These thoughts prompted me to investigate positive prisms available. It was very obvious that the negative prisms are many fold. With little thought, here are some negative prisms that come to mind: prejudice, being offended, judgment, anger, resentment, hatred, covetousness, jealousy, envy, fear and the list continues.

To better understand the positive prism arrows that populate my personal quiver, I went to my reliable source, the Holy Bible. There I found the following:

Galatians 5:22-23 New King James Version (NKJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law.
This passage provides a concise but thorough list of positive prisms. As usual, I go to the Message Bible to see an additional word set to describe these qualities.

Galatians 5:22-24The Message (MSG)

22-23 But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
23-24 Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.

With these perspectives, I found that the careful choosing of appropriate prisms produced results very beneficial for me. New opportunities to be a blessing for someone seemed to appear more often. I found more words that expanded the population of my prism quiver beyond the nine in the referenced scripture. Words like Graciousness, Meekness, Accessibility, Altruistic, Availability, Understanding, Compassion, and Humbleness described more quality positive prisms from which to choose.

What remained for me was mastering the act, or art, of choosing the appropriate prism for every circumstance. Communion with the Holy Spirit offered the opportunity for His influence on my choices, making each one progressively more beneficial. However, such mastery did not come easily; it took a determined, deliberate and constant effort. And it had to be viewed as a process of growth that would continue forever. Years of inappropriate prism viewing created strong inclinations, habits of choosing the wrong prism. Slowly, with steady concerted effort coupled with prayer and a sincere desire to change, I experienced progress in the quest to rid myself of the undesired prisms. Replacing them with the blessed ones was much slower than I had hoped. The road seemed endless. Along that road I discovered many turning points that provided encouragement on the journey.

One such turning point was found in an old lesson from the book “The One Minute Manager” wherein it suggested one work at “catching” someone doing something right and praising them for it. This approach was in opposition to the tendency to employ the prism that inclined one to catch someone doing something wrong and seize the moment to correct them. This offered an interesting set of contrasting prisms.

I recently revisited a story that touched me and inspired further contemplation. It was entitled the “Second Mile” by Robert Wells. It is an excellent example of how changing one’s viewing prism made all the difference.

THE SECOND MILE

The great road stretched for miles in both directions and was very crowded. Groups of people on foot traveled steadily onward. Donkeys, heavy-burdened, passed along. A long train of camels, with great bulky loads high on their backs, plodded by.

The boy, David, standing by the side of the road, watched everything with eager eyes. “Someday, I’ll follow this road for a long, long way” he thought. “I’ll follow it all the way down to the Great Sea, and I’ll not stop even there.”

His eye fell upon a single figure, walking alone, along the crowded road. “He’s a Roman soldier,” thought David. “I can tell by the way he’s dressed. How I hate the Romans! If it weren’t for them we Jews would be free again. Then we wouldn’t have to pay their taxes or obey their laws. I hate them all!”

He stared at the Roman soldier who was almost opposite him now in the road. Suddenly, the soldier stopped. He shifted the heavy pack he carried, and eased it down to the ground. Then he straightened up again and stood resting a moment. David still stared at him, thinking angry thoughts. Then, just as the soldier turned to pick up his pack once more, he noticed David standing not far off. “Hey, boy!” he called. “Come here!”

David wanted to turn and run, but he stood frozen in his tracks. No one dared to disobey one of the soldiers of Rome. David went nearer, slowly. The soldier motioned to his pack. “You will carry it for me,” he said.

David knew that there was no help for him now. He knew the hated Roman law. Any Roman soldier could make any Jewish boy or man carry his load for him in any direction he was traveling for one mile. “But only for one mile!” thought David, angrily, as he unwillingly lifted the pack.

The soldier had already turned away and had started on along the road. He did not even bother to look back to see that David was following him. He knew that he would not dare do anything else.

David followed. The pack was heavy, but David was strong. He swung along easily, but his thoughts were angry. He wanted to throw the soldier’s pack down in the dirt and stomp on it. He wanted to shout and rage at that hated Roman soldier striding easily ahead of him. But he could do nothing except follow along, keeping his bitter thoughts to himself. “Just one mile. He can’t make me go a step further. Only one mile.” The words made a sort of song in his mind in time to his steps. “One mile, one mile…”

Then, as he was plodding along, David suddenly remembered another day when he had walked along this very same road. One day he had gone out a little ways from the city with some of his friends, to find a young teacher of whom they had heard about. They had found him out on a hill side among a large crowd of people. David had stopped with the others to listen to what he said.

“What made me think of him now?” wondered David with one part of his mind. Another part was still repeating over and over, “One-mile-one-mile-one-mile-“

“Of course,” he remembered suddenly. “The Master used those very same words. What was it He said about one mile?”

He walked on frowning for a moment before he could remember. Then he said the words to himself: “Whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.” That was what He said! David had not paid very much attention to it at the time. He remembered now other things the Master had said. “Love your enemies.” “Do good to them that hate you.”

Then once more David found himself repeating the strangest of them all, “Whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.” “Does he mean–could he mean–like, now?” David puzzled. “But why? Why should I go more than one mile?”

David was so busy thinking that he did not notice that the soldier had stopped, and so he almost ran into him. “You have come one mile,” said the soldier. “Give the pack to me.”

“I will go on,” said David. He did not know why he said it. “It has not been far, and I am not tired.”

The Roman soldier stared at him in surprise, and for the first time David really looked into his face. He saw that the soldier was very young. He saw, too, that he was very, very tired, in spite of the straight soldierly way in which he stood.

“You have come a long way,” said David.

“Yes,” said the other, “a weary way of many miles.”

“Have you far to go?”

“I go to Rome.”

“So far!” said David. “Then let me carry your pack for another mile.

“You are very kind,” said the soldier, but his face was still full of surprise.

So they went on, only now, the Roman soldier waited for David and walked beside him along the road. And suddenly, David found himself talking to the soldier as if they had known each other for a long time, and he told him all about his home and his family. And David listened while the soldier talked of his travels in faraway places. They were so busy talking that the distance seemed very short.

“Tell me,” said the soldier at last, “how did it happen that you offered to come this second mile?”

David hesitated. “I hardly know,” he said. “It must have been what the Master said, I think.”

Then he told the soldier all that happened out on the hill and all that he could remember of the Master’s teaching.

“Strange,” said the soldier thoughtfully. “Love your enemies. Do good to those that hate you. That’s a hard teaching. I should like to know this Master.”

They had come now to the top of a hill and the end of the second mile. David looked back along the road toward his home.

“I must go back,” he said. “The hour is late, and my parents will wonder where I have gone.”

The soldier took his pack and shouldered it again. The two clasped hands.

“Farewell, friend,” said the soldier.

“Farewell, friend,” answered David, smiling up into the soldier’s eyes. Then the two parted.

As David strode back along the road, the words of the Master kept running through his mind: “Whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.” And as he repeated the words he found himself adding, with a strange, deep joy, “It works! It really works!”

It’s so very true! I walked one mile with an enemy — I walked the second mile with a friend.”

I henceforth must endeavor to choose well the prism I peer through in each and every circumstance.

Turning Points

How we see things, circumstances and people and our subsequent reactions and underlying feelings reveal our attitude. I endeavor to choose well the prism I peer through in every circumstance. What new turning points await revelation as this journey continues I do not know. But assuredly, my eyes will be watching, so my “pen” can be reporting.

Appreciating Adversity – Finding the Blessing in your Cross

Adversity is the ever present situation that seeps into our lives usually at the most inopportune times. And it is most often met with fear and distain. Who wants to face adversity? It challenges us and takes us out of our comfort zone. It threatens our peace and security. It is altogether distasteful.

Adversity appears bigger than it is

I grew up under the extraordinary teaching of my parents. In spite of the adversity in our lives that took myriad forms, I learned that in adversity was hidden invaluable blessing and benefits. I discovered the existence of these hidden treasures and how to find them.

My parents were not wealthy economically. They were extremely wealthy in spirit. That spiritual wealth created an ideal environment to prepare me for life’s adversities in all the forms they take.

My mother was challenged with constant issues regarding her health. I witnessed her suffering and the courage she demonstrated coping with it opened my deep respect for her. Her faith has undaunted by the adversity that visited her almost daily. Later in life, I found one of her secrets. It was revealed in a poem she had secreted among her personal papers. This poem was evidence for me that she mastered the ability to search for and find the blessings in her cross.

MY CROSS

Upon my back was laid a grievous load,
A heavy cross to bear along the road.

I staggered on, until one weary day,
Lurking temptation sprang across my way.

I prayed to God, and swift at His command
The cross became a weapon in my hand.

It slew my threat’ning enemy, and then
Became a cross upon my back again.

I faltered many a league, until at length,
Groaning, I sank, and had no further strength.

“Oh God!” I cried, “I am so weak and lame!”
And lo! my cross a staff of strength became.

It swept me on till I regained the loss,
Then was upon my back, again a cross.

My soul a desert. O’er the burning tack
I persevered, the cross upon my back.

No shade was there, and in the burning sun
I sank at last, and thought my days were done.

But lo! the Lord works many a blest surprise –
The cross became a shade before my eyes!

I slept; I woke, to feel the strength of ten.
I found the cross upon my back again.

And thus, through all my days, from that to this,
The cross, my burden, has become a bliss,

Nor ever shall I lay the burden down,
For God one day will make my cross a crown!

While reading this poem I contemplated how it must have helped her to focus on blessings and not the adversity. As I imagined my mother reading it this poem in times that required her to see things from the perspective it created, I realized more deeply its value. It also revealed that a concerted effort was required to achieve the proper focus. One needed to work their way through the jungle-like entanglements of emotions that erupt when facing overwhelming adversity. Dense feelings of hopelessness and defeat accompany such difficulties that relentlessly unfold in life.

Further thought reminded me of the definition of appreciation that I had researched years before. Seeing adversity with appreciation had the power to overcome the resistance to look for the benefits of an adversity at hand.

Appreciation’s meaning that became so valuable to me can be explained as follows:

I was dissatisfied with the initial meanings I found in the dictionary on my desk. So I resorted to my old college dictionary. I had to dig it out from the bottom shelf of the book case. Opening it and paging through its browned faded pages I found this:
Appreciation: “the exercise of wise judgment, delicate perception, and keen insight in realizing the worth of something”

I began to dissect this meaning as the implications in the description fascinated me. I investigated each component and found that some additions were apropos. After some time I settled on the following:

“the exercise of wise judgment, delicate perception, keen insight and sensitive awareness in realizing the worth or value of something or someone”

Applying this to my study to find the value of adversity, I sought to determine what each component of this definition could reveal and initiate some new deeper thoughts on the subject.

To further my study I analyzed each word or phrase. I found the following to be true and worthwhile in understanding how appreciation applies to the successful dealing with adversity.

Exercise is putting forth effort by me for my benefit. Exercise requires deliberate action on my part often requiring sacrifice and painful exertion to accomplish the task for which it is rendered. This work and the toil that accompanies it are necessary if one truly seeks to find values hidden in adversity.

Wise judgment is my evaluation employing my cache of knowledge and experience. When I exercise wise judgment, I engage my knowledge of the adversity under study, and add to it my comprehension of the character of that adversity, completing it with my understanding of its implications. I am then positioned to make a valid judgment of the values that surface.

Delicate perception is the view I have when my vision is based on my observance of the fine points. Here, I look not on the big picture, but rather focus deliberately on the fine details of the adversity I am facing. I question what I see with the intention of looking deeper with finer detail. This allows me to find treasures that the casual observer will overlook.

Keen insight implies that sharpness of my investigation is cutting deep and looking under the surface beyond the obvious. The thought that nothing is ever what it appears to be, instigates the deeper exploration below the visible surface, a dissection of the adversity. It gives understanding of what is at work now seen in the open.

Sensitive awareness is the faculty that uses my sensitivity to be aware, touched and moved. With this talent, I am equipped to see the peripherals that enhance or detract from the adversity under consideration.

Realizing the worth or value is the making the treasure real to me. When the four exercises above are completed and fully engaged, worth and values are not merely known, they become real, possessed and embraced.

Something or someone indicates to me that appreciation applies to material things and people but now can be expanded to include adversity. When we consider this expansion to adversity we can better understand how far reaching appreciation can be applied in our life.

TURNING POINT

The realization that the values and benefits of adversity are typically hidden deep in the emotions it instigates was a turning point for me. Now, before emotions can overwhelm me, I am positioned to commence my search for value and meaning thereby tempering any anguish emotions are prone to foment within. When emotions are in check, and values and meanings can be embraced, dealing with the resident adversity is most successful and even edifying. Gratefulness replaces despair and fear, and appreciation in all its potential performs its purpose.

A Four Second Transformation – Ogre to Prince

Did you every have an impression of someone until suddenly, in a matter of a few seconds that impression took a 180 degree turnabout? You thought you had a person nailed and then suddenly without warning it happened. This is my story of a four second transformation that became a turning point for me.

Being a teenager with a strict father had a way of creating a short memory. All the things my dad did for me as a child disappeared from my memory as I struggled with his strict ways in my teenage years. When in retrospect I reflected on the fact that I saw him in the extreme, as an ogre, I became sad and filled with regret. To my immature and in-the-moment mind, all I saw was a strong, strict and limiting father. My mother on the other hand was understanding and tried to balance dad’s stern and unwavering ways.

My mother and I had a very close relationship forged in my very early years. Unlike my dad I never forgot her kindness and loving ways when I was a teenager.

When I was about sixteen, my brother and I saw my mother as our coach. In fact we teased her at times with that nickname. We could say things to her we could never think of saying to our dad. Mother gently and wisely coached us in many situations typical teenagers experience. She had a special way of getting us to agree with whatever she said, while in contrast, we resisted most of our father’s words. Thankfully, the wisdom hidden in Dad’s counsel, eventually found its way into our realization.

One time my mother had to have a hemorrhoid operation. In those days it was one of the most painful surgeries one could experience. The day after the surgery Mother was recovering in the hospital. Dad, Roy and I had dinner together in our small kitchen. About to finish the meal, Dad announced to Roy and me that he was going to visit our mother in the hospital. We responded expressing our desire to go too. Dad resisted but we pressed him until he gave in.

Dad drove to Passaic General Hospital and parked on the street behind the hospital. The parking lot in front of the hospital had very limited parking space so it was out of the question to even think of parking there. The path to the hospital from the street where we were parked was comprised of large flights of steep wooden stairs. The stairs were serpentine as they twisted and turned up the steep hill.

Dad ordered us to wait fifteen minutes before we headed up the stairs. He said he needed “time to get mother prepared for our visit.” We wondered what he was talking about, getting mother “prepared” for us.

Obediently we waited and firmed up our plan for the visit. It was a brash plan to enter our mother’s room and ask her, “Hi Mother, how’s your ass?”

Being teenagers we didn’t give a thought as to how that would be received by either of our parents, we just thought it would be “cool.”

When fifteen minutes had passed, Roy and I got out of the car, locked it and headed up the steps. It seemed like forever to reach the top. Like everyone else climbing those stairs we were out of breath when we reached the top and began the short walk to the hospital entry.

Roy and I found our way to our mother’s hospital room, paused outside for a few minutes to compose ourselves and marched in with an air of arrogance.

A few steps into the room and we stopped dead in our tracks. One look at my mother’s face and I froze in a state of utter shock. The fact that she was in such excruciating pain shocked me into total paralysis. I felt as if I had a watermelon in my throat, making it impossible for me to utter a single word. I wanted to say something to comfort her, but it was simply impossible for me to speak.

After a few seconds, I saw Dad sitting at the edge of the bed, Mother’s hand in his as he gently stroked her forehead with his other hand. He was comforting my mother. Instantly, my father changed from an ogre to a prince as I realized he did what I could not do, comfort Mother in her moment of need and pain.

I felt so inadequate and useless in the face of the man who loved Mother with such gentle strength. Without a word, the scene put my arrogant teenage attitude into its proper place. The respect I had lost for my dad returned in that instant. Life in the family would never be the same as this big-time turning point changed the course of my attitude forever.

Turning Point

At times it takes a powerful traumatic emotional experience to create a turning point for us. We must understand that it may take time for the turning point’s lesson to reveal its profoundness. Sometimes though, it can hit home instantaneously. Whatever course the turning point may take, it behooves us to cherish them and the treasure they have the potential to be.

I have found that looking back and recounting my turning points, they can help others to get past misunderstandings such as I had for my dad when I was an impetuous teenager. Fortunate for me and my brother, we saw the truth of his wisdom rather quickly and that became a treasure to our benefit.

My Career Turning Point

In my early teens, I thought I would become a pharmacist. I didn’t make that decision based on much knowledge of what a pharmacist did in their profession, but my image of a pharmacist was positive. When I entered a pharmacy as a young boy it was clean. The pharmacist was dressed in a white shirt and tie and clad in a distinctive white coat. It seemed to my young mind a dignified and admirable profession. I didn’t consider what it would take to become a pharmacist, except I did know it would require multiple college degrees. I went about my life thinking that’s what I wanted as my career.

Then an unexpected turning point came into my life. My cousin Don Manning was in his late teens and attending Newark College of Engineering. He had won a scholarship from General Electric. The terms of his scholarship required him to work at their small appliance design facility in Newark as an intern while attending school.

Cousin Don Manning

Don’s mother Helen was my mother’s sister. She was a widow and suffered from debilitating arthritis in her hips. Aunt Helen had great difficulty walking, requiring two canes to get around. Raising Don and his younger brother Fred, she faced a real struggle both physically and economically. Fortunately, she was blessed with the owner of the apartment building where they lived having compassion and understanding. He employed Aunt Helen as the apartment superintendent. With her mobility so severely compromised by her hip situation, her two boys did all physical activities required by the tasks of the superintendent. Aunt Helen managed the financial part of he job.

Aunt Helen Manning

Aunt Helen couldn’t drive either so she relied on her sons to get her around. From time to time Don or Fred would bring their mother to our house so the two sisters could visit.

On this particular turning point day, Don brought his mother to our home to visit my mother. While the sisters sat together on our back porch, my mother crocheting a baby sweater and Aunt Helen tatting a handkerchief, Don and I went to my upstairs bedroom to talk.

My upstairs bedroom was large, comprising most of the second floor of our small house. There was a small dormer at the front of the house where I had made a sitting area and library. In the cozy nook of my library Don told me about his work at GE and the subject matter of his engineering classes.

He explained in great detail how he designed intricate components of toasters and miniature ovens and other small appliances. He described how the classes he had taken in college equipped him with the ability to design solutions to the mechanical and electrical issues he faced on the job. Along with the design concerns were the challenges of making the appliances function within cost guidelines and the numerous additional restrictions required. I sat there listening in utter fascination.

The more Don shared his education and work experience the more I wanted to become an engineer. My whole career focus changed that afternoon. It changed my plans for the course of study I chose when I went to high school the following year.

I eagerly shared my desire to become an engineer with my parents and that I wanted to attend college to get an engineering degree. I assumed my father was testing my sincerity and determination when in response he said, “We will send you to college, but we will buy you car when you graduate high school if you don’t.”

I guessed he figured that if I had the wisdom to turn down that tempting offer and was willing to sacrifice not having a car for four years; he was willing to make the sacrifice to send me to college. It didn’t take much thought for me to turn down the offer of a car.

I attended Garfield High School from September 1957 till I graduated in June 1961. I took what was called “College Preparatory” curriculum that was heavy on mathematics, science and English. I was blessed with some extraordinary teachers, how extraordinary they were I didn’t realize until I entered college and began a career in engineering.

Garfield High School

One of the most influential teachers was Mr. Sal Franzino, my chemistry teacher. Mr. Franzino earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Bucknell University, a college that possessed an excellent reputation in chemistry among other disciplines. What made Mr. Franzino so influential for me was his incessant “sales pitch” for Bucknell University. He had a teaching style that caused me and my fellow students to do a lot of research and a lot of writing. At the time it was not appreciated because it required long hours in the library researching chemistry and chemists. It took more hours writing the paper based on our library research that was due every week.

When I began considering what college to attend, I began with some very prestigious engineering institutions. I dreamed of attending Cal Tech in Pasadena California and MIT in Massachusetts. Then I thought of Ivy League schools and set my sights on Dartmouth in New Hampshire. I also considered Annapolis, the Naval Academy. When I came down to reality, I considered Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy New York and, influenced by Mr. Franzino’s sales pitch, Bucknell University in Lewisburg Pennsylvania.

Mr. Franzino at the Blackboard

I was blessed at the time with a special mentor in my uncle Albert. Uncle Al, my mother’s brother, was a very successful builder and business man. In fact he built the house we lived in and all the houses in our immediate neighborhood. He was also an Elder in our church and I had great respect for him. Once when he came to serve in our congregation, I saw him come into the back of the church. As he passed by the offering box, he was distracted and his offering missed the slot and fell to the floor. I saw that the number on the bill was 100. As a very young boy in a family of modest financial means, I had never seen one of those before. But my thought was that one day I wanted to be able to offer $100.

Another characteristic of my uncle Al was that he knew how to reach people, especially children. When he came to our congregation to serve, usually about ten minutes or so into the sermon he would say, “Now children, if you will sit up nice and straight, I will tell you a story.”

All the children snapped to attention anticipating another one of his memorable stories that had a profound spiritual lesson embedded within it. All the children loved him because he acknowledged us with respect and genuine interest.
At the urging of my mother, I visited with my uncle Al to get some guidance both naturally and spiritually regarding my college education. What college should I pursue? I came to him with a proposed list of schools and we discussed them one by one.

Uncle Albert Stier

The first thing he focused on was the Naval Academy. He asked me, “Do you want to make the Navy your career?”

I said, “No, not really.”

In reality, I was ashamed to tell him why I put it down on my list. I considered it because of all the attention our high school alumni from Annapolis got when they showed up at school in their impressive uniforms. I know that wasn’t a valid reason but I deemed his answer to me very wise.

My uncle said, “I want you to think about this. If you go to Annapolis, about a third of the time you will be studying military classes to prepare for a naval career. If you go to another school, that time could be invested in more courses related to your engineering profession. I can get you an appointment to the academy, but you must make the decision.”

It didn’t take much with his offered wisdom to take Annapolis off my list.
He then suggested we look at the rest of my list to see if there was one of our churches in the town of each college. He hoped that I could attend church services each Sunday while at school. A few colleges were eliminated. But one school that had no church within the town and remained on the list was Bucknell. Lewisburg was the home of one of our members, an elderly lady who could not make the sixty mile drive south to the nearest church in Harrisburg. My uncle suggested we keep Bucknell on the list, because if I was accepted there, I could drive this lady to church on Sundays.

With the list of colleges to apply complete, I set out getting the application documents. The more I thought about the schools on my list, the more I thought about Bucknell. One day I asked my dad if he would drive me the 200 miles to Lewisburg so I could see the school first hand. That was not a reasonable request in his eyes. Long distance drives was not dad’s thing. So he said, “I’ll put you on a bus and you can go alone.”

Was this yet another test of my resolve? I had never taken a long distance bus trip alone before. But I was bound and determined to see for myself if Bucknell was the right place to go.

A few weeks later very early in the morning I boarded a bus in Newark. It travelled across the eastern coal country of Pennsylvania on that cool fall morning of my senior year. It was a six hour drive with numerous stops in little coal towns along the way. I arrived in Lewisburg at noon and stopped in a local shop near the bus depot for lunch.

After lunch, I headed out to find the school. I had a small map that I found in the university curriculum booklet I had received with my application material and used it as a guide. I walked through the quaint residential streets from the center of town toward the university, taking in the ambiance and dreaming what it would be like to live there for four years.

When I reached the university grounds I wandered around for a half hour or so. I must have looked bewildered because a coed stopped me and asked if I needed help. I explained the purpose of my visit and she offered to give me a tour of the campus.

We walked around for a few hours as she pointed out the various buildings and the subject matter each offered. The buildings were a mixture of very old and very new, giving the feeling of great tradition and advancing for the future.

Dana Engineering Building ~ Bucknell University

I thanked my host for being so gracious and informative and headed back to catch the five o’clock bus that would take me home.

The experience of the day sealed my decision that Bucknell would be my first choice.

I bought some snacks to take on the bus before I boarded at five o’clock that afternoon. Six hours later I arrived in Newark at Union Station where my Dad was waiting for me.

On the drive home I shared with him my enthusiasm about the school, but he did not show much of a reaction. I am sure that he was quite concerned as to how he would be able to finance my college tuition. The tuition at Bucknell was almost 60% of his gross annual income. Somehow, my mother would work her magic with finances to make Bucknell a possibility. I needed to get accepted there first.
As my applications to the other schools on my list reaped acceptances, I anxiously awaited a letter from Bucknell. When it finally arrived I was overjoyed to be accepted.

I received two scholarships at graduation that helped with the financing. My mother had a part time job in the high school cafeteria ever since I announced my desire to go to college. I also worked in the summers since I was sixteen. First I worked in a ladies’ garment factory for two years and then at the ice cream factory where my dad worked. I saved much of the money earned and applied it toward my education.

In September 1961, my dad borrowed roof racks for the car and bought me a large black steamer trunk. Filling the trunk with all I would need at school was exciting. Finally the day came to leave Garfield for Bucknell. We loaded the trunk on the roof carriers, the family got in the car and we headed off to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Turning Point

Those brief hours in my room with my cousin Don sharing his enthusiasm for engineering was a major turning point for me because it changed my focus on the career I pursued. But turning points seldom are just singular in nature. They are followed by more turning points. The initiating one with Don was followed by the challenge of my father, influence of my chemistry teacher and the mentoring of Uncle Al. Each contributed a turning point that led to my college experience and pursuit of my engineering education. I am grateful to each person who contributed their part to the successive turning points and to God who employed them to affect each one at just the right time.

The Judas Goat

My dad often took me places that were profound learning experiences for me. I don’t know if they were part of a deliberate plan of his, but regardless, I learned lifelong and life changing lessons as a result.

I remember one day, probably a Saturday afternoon he took me and my brother to the last place I would have expected. He took us to a slaughterhouse in Secaucus, New Jersey. I don’t recall how old I was at the time, but most likely I was eight to ten years old. It was for me a very interesting experience.

We arrived sometime in the early afternoon in summertime. The sun was high in the sky. It was hot and very humid, typical of a New Jersey summer day. Dad parked the car amidst a sprawling complex of wooden corrals. The smell of farm animals permeated the air. The corrals were jam packed with animals waiting for their turn to enter the bowels of the slaughterhouse. Pigs populated some of the corrals we saw and lambs others.

Dad led us to a large corral that had hundreds of lambs housed within. As I looked over the crowded arena, I noted that there was one animal that stood out. It was bigger and had curled horns and a long white beard hung from its chin. It also had a bell hanging from its neck. I recognized it as a goat.

I asked, “Dad, why is there a goat among the lambs?”

He said, “In a little while, you will understand why he is there.”

Dad reached into his pocket and retrieved his pack of Camels cigarettes. He removed a cigarette and reached over the top of the corral. I climbed up onto the bottom rung of the corral’s railing and hung my arms over the top. It didn’t take long for the sensitive nose of that goat to smell the tobacco aroma from dad’s little unfiltered cigarette.

Quickly, the goat weaseled his way through the crowd of lambs and snatched the cigarette from between dad’s fingers. He ate that thing so fast that in a split second it was gone. The goat stayed there, looking at dad as if to say, “Can I have another one?”

My dad pulled another cigarette from the pack, carefully keeping some distance from the goat. I imagine he was fearful that if he were to get too close the hungry goat eyeing him with anticipation of another treat would snatch the whole pack from unsuspecting hands.

Dad and the goat entertained us with a few more cigarettes for the next few minutes. Then the real purpose of the visit began to unfold before my eyes.
I don’t know what the signal was that caused the next activity to commence, but suddenly the goat began to prance around the corral. The bell around its neck announced that something was happening and it attracted the attention of every lamb in the corral. They all began to move about; increasing their speed, the activity became more and more agitated.

That is when my dad began to tell us what was about to happen.

He explained that the goat was a Judas goat. For some reason, the lambs instinctively followed the goat. The goat was trained to lead the sheep and in this case, lead them to slaughter.

I watched as the Judas goat made his way through the throng of lambs. Soon he had all of them following and he made his way to the edge of the corral. He passed by where we were standing and I saw a gate open a short distance from us. The goat led the lambs through the gate and into a narrow chute. Suddenly, another gate opened and the goat returned to the corral, but none of the lambs returned.

Dad explained that as soon as the goat got the lambs into the chute, the goat was diverted and the lambs went into the slaughterhouse.

We watched as the last of the lambs entered the chute. Dad summoned us to return to the car. Dad of course didn’t want us to witness the actual slaughtering process. That was not part of this lesson. He was very wise that way. What we witnessed, however, was a lesson that evolved over years to come, providing understanding that proved to be a blessing in many circumstances of life.

TURNING POINT

This turning point was one that developed over many years. One crucial lesson it taught me was not to be sucked in by what everyone around me was doing. Peer pressure was a powerful force, especially in one’s youth. The desire and need to fit into the “in crowd” was very deceptive in so many instances. This lesson gave me courage to be different and not follow blindly the course taken by those around me. It caused me to seriously and deliberately consider the potential consequences of actions, and equipped me with the wherewithal to make wise decisions in life.

The Power of Three

When Sunday mornings dawned, I awoke and made my way to the kitchen to brew some coffee and prepare an English muffin for breakfast. Once all was in the works I made my way to the driveway to retrieve the morning newspaper.

I returned to the kitchen to a fresh brewed pot of coffee and a golden brown toasted muffin. Coffee cup of steaming coffee and a buttered English muffin in hand I made my way to our kitchen table with the Sunday paper. After a prayer of thanks, I sipped my coffee and opened the bundled newspaper and searched for the Parade magazine.

I made it a habit every Sunday to read a particular column in the PARADE magazine, one written by Marilyn vos Savant. She was known for having attained the highest IQ score ever recorded. Most of the questions posed to her that she answered in her weekly column had to do with solving puzzles, riddles or other mathematically oriented challenging queries.

Marilyn vos Savant

I was not looking for those when I read her column even though some were quite entertaining. What I looked for was her views on life issues.

One of her most fascinating columns was a turning point for me because it was a perfect illustration of the power of three as applied to the process of learning. The question posed to Marilyn was this: If you were on your death bed and had but a few moments to speak your last words to your child, what would you say?

Marilyn’s answer was something I wish I had known when I was a student in school. She said she would tell her child the rule of three in the learning process.

Marilyn explained that the first step was to read the lesson the day prior, in advance of the next class. While reading, the student needed to record any questions that arose and prepare to get the answers during the next day’s class lecture. The key element in this step was reading or seeing the lesson.

The second step was the class lecture itself. Listening during the class lecture the student needed to find the answers to their questions. Any questions not answered, the student needed to get answered either by asking in class or speaking to the teacher afterward. The key element in this step was listening or hearing the lesson.

The third step was to do the homework assignment that applied the lessons presented in the class fortified by the answered questions. The key element in this third step was writing or doing the lesson.

These three steps provided exposure to the essence of the lesson in a threefold manner. First was reading, the second listening and the third doing. The result was not a memorizing exercise but rather a learning one.

I came to realize that this “rule of three” had very interesting effects on getting information into our subconscious mind.

While taking a series of seminars for training budding entrepreneurs, I witnessed a demonstration that I have since performed hundreds of times to the astonishment of those who were willing to engage my little test.

It went something like this:
First I explained a situation that my subject was willing to embrace. I asked them what they saw as their profession and then posed this scenario. If for example they said that they saw themselves as an accountant, I told them that their role in the test was as follows: You have just lost your job; your spouse is in the hospital with a severe illness that has sapped your insurance and life savings. Your children are in great fear; you have no way to pay your bills and you are desperate. I meet you and explain that I am a billionaire and in need of an accountant with your specific background. I am willing to hire you with a $250,000 up front signing bonus. All you need do is pass a simple two part test. My subject normally quickly agrees to the test.

Before I would begin the test I ask them to identify their strongest hand. Part one of the test was using that hand they held their thumb and ring finger tips together. I tell them that at some unknown time during their recitation I will attempt to pull those two fingers apart. If I succeed, they fail the test.

I instruct them to recite the phrase, “I am the best accountant in the world!” five times, using enthusiasm and inflection to convince me of their sincerity. While they are speaking the phrase, I wait till they have recited it at least three times. I attempt to pull their fingers apart, usually as they are saying it the fourth time. When I perform this part of the test, regardless of the gender, age or physical attributes, no matter how hard I try, I fail to pull their fingers apart. Then I move to the second part of the test.

I tell them that they now need to repeat the fivefold pronouncement except that they now add the phrase “I will try to be . . . ” the best accountant in the world. After they say it three times, I easily pull their fingers apart to their great astonishment.

They will usually be thinking, “Wow, what just happened?”

I explained, “When you state the first time that ‘you are’, your conscious mind registers it. When you say it the second time, your conscious mind says ‘Okay, I heard that.’ The third time you said that ‘you are . . . ‘, your conscious mind disregards it and it registers in your subconscious. After three times, I attempt to pull your fingers apart. You use 100% of you strength, and no matter my strength or yours I will never be able to pull your fingers apart.”

I continue, “In the second part of the test, when you insert the phrase ‘I will try . . . ‘ into your pronouncement something interesting happens. In your childhood, when you came running to a parent or teacher facing a failure, they would ask, ‘Did you try?’ and you said, ‘Yes! I tried!’ They said, ‘Well as long as you tried, it’s okay.’ In other words, this childhood programming taught you (and your subconscious) that trying is an acceptable excuse for failure. In the second part of the test, because your subconscious allows it, you subsequently do not give 100% but rather something less, thus allowing me to easily pull your fingers apart.”

Here the rule of three works together with a person’s experience growing up and illustrates the power of three and how negative experiences can influence our subconscious minds.

I applied this lesson often when I was engaged in learning an important subject. I also had opportunity to share this bit of wisdom with others.

One such experience confirmed the truth of the power of three applied to learning. It came when a business colleague asked me to talk to one of his daughters. She was attending college and had serious trouble with her classes. At her mid-term break she had three D’s and two F’s on her mid-term exams. Her dad hoped that I could help her with her grades.

I spoke with the young lady and asked how she was dealing with the process of learning. She had no understanding of how to approach the art of learning in a college environment. She was frustrated with her inability to gain a sufficient understanding to effectively take an exam. Her poor grades threatened to cause her to leave school.

I explained to her the rule of three as described by Marilyn vos Savant. I encouraged the young lady to take this seriously and told her it would make a big difference. I asked her to share with me the results at the end of the semester and the final exams were completed.

When the result of her finals came in a few months later, she very excitedly called me to report the results. She had diligently followed the principles I outlined in the rule of three. The final exam scores resulted in her grades for two of the mid-term D’s becoming B’s, the other D became a C and the two F’s became C’s.

The rule of three when applied to any learning experience proves to be very effective. What is important is not memorization of facts, but rather an understanding of the essence of the material. That is true learning.

Sometime in my deliberations over the power of three, I considered the importance of understanding as opposed to memorization in the learning process. I delved into the meaning of three words: Know and Comprehend and Understand.

To “know” something implies that we perceive the fact of something. For example I considered a spoon, a fork and a knife. When I looked at these utensils I “know” that they are distinct items that differ from each other.

When I “comprehend” them, I appreciate that they have different functions as eating utensils. For instance, I would not use a fork to eat soup or a fork to cut meat.

When I “understand” these utensils, I see beyond the obvious name of them and their differences but I see their implications for other diverse uses and applications. These implications could be, for instance, using the knife as a screwdriver, the handle as a hammer, the spoon as a shovel and the fork as a weapon.

Understanding value and importance then is the more complete appreciation of something and the fullness of its potential scope of utility.

Turning Point

Appreciating and understanding the rule and power of three creates a change in how one approaches the learning experiences that life brings. After all, I am convinced that when we are through learning, we are through! The knowledge and experience with the power of the rule of three make the learning process thrilling and exciting. The younger one is when understanding the rule of three, the more profitable it is for them.

The wisdom in the rule of three is quite compelling. I have witnessed and experienced repeated success when the rule of three is diligently followed and exercised. The truth of this rule can be applied to many learning venues with success.