Doom and Gloomer

DOOM AND GLOOMER, maybe you should not read this!

I look forward to Sunday with the TV news shows. The one show that I really liked, which is no longer on TV, was the McLaughlin Group. There were 4 political pundants and John McLaughlin debating the issues of the day. What I liked most about the show were the commercials. GE (General Electric) would show a professor expounding "This is the greatest time to be alive!" and I love their little jingle: "GE, we bring good things to life."

They hit the nail on the head! Life, life and more life. What is happening around the world today with uprisings, marching in the streets, people demanding freedom, quality food and water? Basic necessities to have liberty and enjoy life. Believing in what their government is telling and offering them is no longer acceptable to those in dictator led countries.

Those of us whom have comfortable consistency already in our lives want more and better everything. We want a better living environment or job that pays a little more. We want to enjoy our jobs and have less stress. We want the better car, computer, cell phone, iPad, etc.

There is a big difference between what we want and what we need. Much will be written about the Japanese earthquake and the tsunami's effects. Watching the Japanese and their response and reactions to their tragedy is heartwarming. Actually caring for one another in a time of crisis is so foreign to us. If that type of calamity hit Los Angeles, there would be looting, rioting and outright panic with no regards for others, their property or right to life. This city would turn into total chaos! I hope I’m wrong, but what do you think? What would happen here if Malibu and Marina Del Ray were gone overnight by a tsunami?

James Clavell wrote two books I would recommend, King Rat and Shogun. Both give amazing insight as to the unique treasure of the Japanese culture and unique prospective into their world. Both are stories about survival, greed and loneliness. They touch on the basic components of our own emotional character. They also share triumph, success and survival.

I recently saw the documentary I Am by Tom Shadyac (the director of the Nutty Professor, Ace Ventura, Bruce Almighty, etc.) Tom had a terrible accident while out on a dirt bike. He fell, broke his arm and hit his head. He was in a coma and awoke to a new world of trauma where he could not return to normal life for quite some time. During this tragedy, he found that he needed to discover the meaning of his life. He asked the question “What is wrong with the world? Am I helping or hurting the world with what I do?" The movie is his journey to find the answers for himself and to share his discoveries. His web site is http://www.iamthedoc.com/. Highly recommended.

I work with all kinds of people. My clients are some of the wealthiest people in Los Angeles. Some are very charitable and others are far from it. Some give millions anonymously and others are in the newspaper glorifying their name. What I find is that you do not have to be rich to make a difference. A kind word, a note of recognition or an email of sympathy to someone who is going through a loss and hard times is more valuable than money. A sandwich to the homeless guy, or a pair of old jeans can be more valuable to someone in need. Helping someone get a job that you don't really know or putting your reputation on the line for someone else to help them move forward with their aspirations. Using your assets to help others.

I try to do this daily. I just do it out of habit now. I don't really think about the effort, it just flows. I see a need and try to help. I can tell you that without question, this effort has given me returns that are not accountable on any balance sheet. The pleasure and reward from the act come first and later from the changes that were made to benefit the lives of others. Some recipients may take advantage of the opportunity and not take the time to say thank you. While others may not understand the gesture at all as it is foreign to their character. I learned to give without the concept of expecting anything in return. It is amazing what happens from that.

I have been the recipient of amazing success and opportunities because of my attitude about business and life. By sharing, I think my business has done much much more in dollar volume than if I was a different person.

I just opened escrow on a 10,000 sq.ft. industrial property. I represent the seller and the buyer has his own broker. After a long negotiation, the contract went out to the buyer and it was signed and came back right away. Prior to having the seller sign it, I noticed that we made a typo. The price was $1,212,500 but the contract read $1,122,500. I made the change and we resent the contract to the buyer, who of course signed it. Now my question is, did the buyer see the mistake and try to let it get by the seller? Was it his responsibility to recognize the mistake and correct it? Is it all fair in business? What do you think and if you’re the buyer what would you do?

This is an amazing time to be alive. We can sit by the TV and listen to experts tell us how bad we have it, or we can go outside and sing about how wonderful life really is. We can make a difference and still make a deal. We can have both, and we can share and help others enjoy the fruits of our labor.