What Is Wealth? Wooden Leadership
Andy Hill with Ms Morrison
I was delighted to hear Andy Hill speak at the NAPFA—National Association of Personal Financial Advisors—National Conference in Chicago yesterday. He played guard for John Wooden’s UCLA Basketball team. Andy had the courage to call Coach Wooden decades later, to reconnect, and Coach Wooden warmly invited him to visit. Andy would grow close to Coach Wooden, listening to hours of conversation, and accompanying Coach Wooden on several dozen speaking engagements, such that he regaled us with an hour of Coach Wooden’s principles.
Curious to me, that despite the magnificent winning record during those glory years, Andy said that Coach Wooden didn’t talk about winning. He focused on EFFORT, not winning; focused on process, not outcomes.
Coach Wooden apparently had an 8 principle mantra:
- demonstration,
- imitation,
- correction and
- repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition.
(I think the parallels to creating an effective investment portfolio are similar: I demonstrate that index-like investments have performed admirably over history, we imitate the various “indexes”, we re-balance the proportions as necessary, and effectively continue that process until we achieve our financial and personal goals.)
Coach Wooden admonished athletes, “Be quick, but don’t hurry”. Again, we women investors can learn from that saying; we need to be in the investing game–save quickly, yet not be in a hurry to reap medium-to-long-term rewards in the short term. It’s common sense, yet worthy of stating, for sure. That concept–be quick, but don’t hurry–so intrigued Andy, that he decided to write a book with that title. He called Coach Wooden asking him if he’d agree to have his name associated with him and the book, and Coach Wooden denied his request twice, before Andy persistently called yet a third time, and was finally granted the request. Fast forward, Andy wrote the book, and the rest is history.
I, too, think that if we focus on the “right” things, we can win, without being obsessed with winning. We can then lose and instead of evoking a tirade, we can think hard about what we might have done differently, so the next time we face a similar situation, we can produce a better result.
Wealth Is Springing Ahead!
For those of us who do change our clocks twice a year, today begins Daylight Savings Time. Yet, what are we “springing” ahead for? Yes, we set our clocks one hour in advance; thus the axiom “spring ahead” followed by “fall behind”—for the one hour backwards adjustment which occurs each fall.
Might I suggest that we all take just 3 minutes each morning to reflect on our upcoming day…musing about what COULD happen today, and begin to amass a list of possibilities—ones which would enhance our mood, enhance our friends and family’s moods, enhance our bodies and general health, enhance our financial balance sheet, or simply enhance a stranger’s life. I find some of the greatest pleasure in performing what some call a simple act of kindness to complete strangers. Flashing a smile at just the right moment, connecting glances to convey you are not alone, high fiving someone to celebrate a “small” achievement, or something “gone right”. As a matter of fact, when I am feeling down, the quickest way to pull me back into myself–which is Love, as everyone’s self is–is to extend love to someone else, which always seems infinitely easier than expressing love to myself, dah! It is up to each of us, however, to bring Love home, within our Selves.
Being raised Christian fundamentalist, I heard over and over again, “love your neighbor as thyself” and it stymied me, cause I didn’t have a very good opinion of myself. Well I’ve grown to understand that it is perhaps our utmost responsibility to God and the Universe to enhance our opinion of ourselves…we ARE created by God, after all, and “God didn’t make junk!”
So I suggest that we “spring past” each and every incident, word or phrase that appears, or feels, like it is self-denigrating, in order to reclaim Love, reclaim our BEST being(s)—today and each new day. You know there is NO guarantee that you will finish today, let alone be granted a tomorrow. 98% of the people in each day’s obituaries didn’t expect to be THERE!
Let no more time be wasted on negative thoughts, especially those directed towards ourselves. Let’s SPRING into positive, SPRING into deep breathing to cleanse our souls, clearing out our lungs, enabling them to work at full tilt to energize us to reach new heights. Let’s SPRING into ideas, some of them, Big, Hairy, Audacious ones…why not? What have we to lose? Let’s rediscover the curiosity of a 2 year old, contemplating a flight of stairs, with the human urge to crawl up those stairs; absent the “what if the other kids at my play day see me slip? Will they make fun of me?” notions, that we adults often are limited by. Let’s dance like no one is watching, sing like no one is hearing, and act like we’ve only the stars to catch (or perhaps the moon), cause guess what, that’s all that matters. Surely, that’s living in wealth?
Women, join me in SPRINGING AHEAD– into our own POSSIBILITIES—those in our heads and those not yet dreamed of, and ultimately AHEAD into our own GREATNESS, in which God is already WELL pleased.
Gabby’s Triumphant House Entry
I burst into tears when I saw the miracle of Gabrielle Giffords, walking, talking and recognizing fellow elected officials in the House of Representatives yesterday. Her joyous wave and infectious smile lit up what had become a coarsely divided and bitterly bicker-some group, even for 10 minutes.
She was quoted as saying, “I could not take the chance that my absence could crash our economy” so she surprised and delighted the chamber with her visit and her vote. Both in December 2009 and February 2010, she had objected to raising the debt limit, yet more recently was convinced to vote in favor as she followed the debate swirling around the circumstances of the US economy hanging so tenuously in the balance. She realized, particular that women and money are involved in this current debate insomuch as women struggle through lower wages and increased family and work balance issues, more so than men.
Additionally, should the credit rating of the United States of America drop, that translates immediately into higher costs of borrowing, which again adversely affects women and money through much higher car payments and mortgage payments to name two.
Nancy Pelosi deemed Gabby “the personification of courage”. Would that our Representatives and Congress people personify courage in continuing the tough conversations; not quitting, as we can’t afford the luxury of a negative thought, or negative words, for that matter.
We need ideas, we need strategies, and we need courageous leaders, leaders like Gabrielle Giffords!
Wealth Is Health & Jamming LIFE Into Your Years, However Short!
I am still reeling, as many of my friends are at the tragic loss of Kate Cudlipp, minister at Seekers Church in Washington, DC, who died peacefully yesterday following a terrible bicycle accident last weekend. She is survived by Carole Grunberg, her loving partner of twenty-nine years whom she married last year.
I am grateful that Kate didn’t die with much music still in her, ala Wayne Dyer, “Don’t die with your music still inside you. Listen to your intuitive inner voice and find what passion stirs your soul” as Kate had written it, sung it, and performed it over and over and over again, to society’s most vulnerable folks, particularly children. She served as Kirkridge Retreat Center’s Board Chair with aplomb as well as Seeker’s Church in a host of leadership positions.
I’ll miss her gorgeous smile as well as that most discerning look….a wonderful alchemy of balance, fun and grace. May she rest in peace and may the rest of us remember her grace, and her influence allowing both to empower us to serve ourselves and others with Kate-like enthusiasm and integrity.
What is wealth? Wealth is health, for one. Wealth is integrity, for another. Kate & Carole’s wedding vows, as rich in love as they are romantic, also connote wealth.
May we not postpone happiness, women.
Age 100, Blind And Still Flashin’ (Smiles, That Is!)
Well, just in the case anyone was thinking, “it’s too late for me to make a difference. My life isn’t meaningful anymore,” take a page out of Felma Schrimshire’s book; IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!
Today, Felma beat out nine other finalists from a field of 76 women, all competing for the coveted Ms. Alabama Nursing Home beauty queen title! How’d she do it, you ask? A World War II veteran, she saluted all three sections of the audience, and chatted up the judges to bring home the crown! She was crowned by the gorgeous Miss Alabama, Courtney Porter, who I believe was secretly hoping she’ll look that good when she reaches age 100.
Ms. Schrimshire is now legally blind, yet she still greets her fellow nursing home residents each day with a smile. I’m sorry she can’t see the return smiles, as she so richly deserves, yet she doesn’t let that stop her from being the socialite she is. Stay tuned as I will endeavor to book Ms. Schrimshire on my Blog Talk Radio show to interview her for her words of wisdom for today’s woman. I’m eager to hear how she managed to invest her money so that she’d have sufficient Income in Retirement, all the way to age 100. She’s a great example of Women and Money being perfect together, isn’t she?
Felma taught Sunday School for 78 years, and served in a Surgeon’s office for a year during World War II. My suspicion is that her answer to the question, What is Wealth? is to invest for the long term, maintain your health, and always wear a smile!
Congratulations Felma Schrimshire, Ms. Alabama Nursing Home Beauty Queen!
