Two
mentors of mine are Tony and Gordo. I talk to them when I’m in a bind.
Sometimes I have an issue in my personal life. Other times it’s a
corporate crisis, and I can’t determine the right course of action.
Tony’s an old guy with a bony finger he sticks in my chest to make his point.
“Duffy (my middle name), you’ve got to get tougher. Quit feeling sorry for
yourself. You need to act on the facts in front of you and make a
decision. As a leader, a wrong decision is better than no decision at
all.”
Gordo is a bit softer on me. “Don, you are a bright guy. Your feelings
count. You have all the right answers within you. Go for a walk and
appreciate all the birds and flowers you meet along the way. The right answers
will come to you before you return to your front door.”
Both Tony and Gordo vacated the earth decades ago, but their love and wisdom
stay with me. Some of the best conversations I have are with friends and
mentors I can call up in my brain whenever I need help. They’re always available
– and they never owned a cell phone.
One of my wishes during this older, magical time of my life is that I can
answer questions for wonderful companions long after I’ve moved on to a
beautiful place.