Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

As I reflect back upon my life at 62 years young—I realized recently that with every career change, I found men and women who had what I wanted and had been where I wanted to go. I simply proactively reached out to them for advice.  

In James L. Brooks delightful Rom-Com “How Do You Know?” Reece Witherspoon (a retired professional softball player) asks Tony Shaloub (a psychiatrist) “What advice can you offer that would apply to every person, with any problem, that would work every time?” Pausing for effect, he posits: “Figure out what you want in life and learn how to ask for it!”

Genius.

Any success in life and business I have had was due to that simple bit of wisdom.

In 8th grade, after having been cut from the my junior high school basketball team, I asked a classmate, the best player at our school “Just how did you get so good at basketball?” He smiled and replied, “I shoot two hours a day and go to basketball camp in the summer.” So I did. I made the team the next year.

As an ambitious young technician in HVACR, I asked a gentleman with 40 years of experience and was considered the best tech in town, “What advice would you offer someone who is new to this industry?” He laughed and said “No one has ever asked me that—I would say, become a sponge. Become a student. Borrow the best from each guy you work with.” I did.

It was the best advice I ever received.

When I began my career in Sales, my second year, after reading “Think and Grow Rich”, I interviewed the top 20 sales people in my industry with a formal survey. 17/20 replied. I asked 20 questions. I typed up the summary and mailed to each participant. I began doing the the things THEY did. I got the results they got! That information became the first article I wrote for Contracting Business. I have written hundreds of articles for magazines, blogs, LinkedIn since.

When I launched my Speaking career, I found mentors, men and women who were doing what I wanted to do. I called them up. I attended their seminars and keynotes. I purchased their books, audio programs and videos. I hired them to coach me. One of them hired me to work for him. It was a four year apprenticeship into this amazing industry. I have made a fine living speaking for over 24 years. 

When I began writing books, I called a gentleman after listening to his audio program. Two years later, he published my first book. It became a best seller and he changed my life.

Why not stand on the shoulders of giants? Books and People. People and Books. They are waiting patiently for you to ASK! “Unassertive people have skinny kids.”  

Tonight, go onto Netflix and watch “How Do You Know” (starring Jack Nicholson, Reece Witherspoon, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson). You will be glad you did. And remember, “Figure out what you want and learn how to ask for it!”  

Before you know it, you will be “Standing On the Shoulders of Giants!”  

Mark Matteson - Best Selling Author, International Speaker

To order one of my books, go to: www.sparkingsuccess.net/store

206.697.0454 - [email protected] 

To watch a few short videos, simply click the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Jt8ckNfTLjxDxIHiJFmLQ

To Listen to my Podcasts, click on the links below:

Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/m/Igt7mg2ocg5uznucgczjyfbqs3m?t=On_Books_and_People_with_Mark_Matteson

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-books-and-people-with-mark-matteson/id1485933233

“Make it a great day…unless you have other plans!”