Last Tuesday, I was excited to make the 4-hour drive to Portland so I could take part in a mastermind group I’d been invited to be a part of.
But this wasn’t just any ole’ mastermind group.
This was a group made up of some serious movers and shakers in the business world.
If I mentioned some of the other members names, you might even know them.
And the fact that I’d been invited into this group was a HUGE deal for me.
As you can imagine, I was humbled, yet excited at the same time, for the opportunity to spend time interacting with such an impressive group of people.
The meeting was scheduled for 9am Wednesday morning at a restaurant called Isabel’s in Portland’s Pearl District (or so I thought).
In order to make sure I was at my best, I drove down on Tuesday and got a hotel room for the evening.
Brendon, the guy who organized this group, and invited me to be a part of it, told me that I could also invite someone else to join me if I thought would be a right fit.
My friend Ron lives near Portland, and because I think so highly of him, I invited him to attend the mastermind group as well.
Ron and I got together for dinner that Tuesday evening, and then made arrangements to meet in front of Isabel’s at 8:45 the following morning.
The two of us arrived at almost the same time.
We both go into the restaurant, sit down at a table, order a breakfast drink and wait for everyone else to arrive.
At a couple minutes to nine, Ron looks at his watch and says, “I wonder where everyone else is”.
I was starting to wonder myself.
So I call Brendon (the group organizer) on his cell phone and leave him a voicemail telling him that Ron and I are at the restaurant.
A couple minutes later, I get a text back from him informing me that the meeting was on Thursday – not Wednesday.
Now… I don’t know who’s wires got crossed. And the truth is, it doesn’t really matter.
After discovering that Ron and I had arrived for a meeting that wasn’t going to take place, we decided to make the best of it.
We sat at the table and had an incredible 2-hour mastermind meeting of our own.
In the process, I thought about the possibility of rearranging my schedule for Thursday, so I could stay in Portland and attend the mastermind group the following morning.
I even went so far as to call my wife at home so she could open my calendar and look at my appointments.
But then I thought to myself, “You have an obligation to these people, and you need to honor it”.
So in the end, I decided to head back home so I could keep the appointments I’d scheduled for Thursday.
Ron was sitting at the table watching this scenario unfold, and when it was finished, he made a comment that I’ll never forget.
He said, “You could have easily put your own wants and desires over the commitments you’d made for tomorrow, but the fact that you didn’t speaks volumes about your character, and the kind of person you are”.
And until he commented on it, I’d never really given it much thought.
Maybe that’s because my parents always taught me the importance of living by The Golden Rule – Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.
I’ve always lived my life that way, and it’s served me pretty well.
Sure, I missed a great opportunity, but I’ll head back to Portland for the next mastermind meeting that Brendon hosts, and when I do, I’ll double-check the dates.
I’ll close by letting you know… one of the appointments I had scheduled for last Thursday opened a HUGE door for me.
That doesn’t surprise me though.
Because great things happen when you do the right thing.
Dedicated to your success,
Kevin Thompson
“The Automatic Income Coach”
Kevin, I would like to become a member of your team. However, things have become rough in this economy, however, I won’t give up, iI want to be just like you. YOU seem to run a great business.
“The golden Rule”
“What goes around, comes around”
“cream rises to the top”
All aphorisms to live by!
Hi Kevin!
Thanks for your dedication to helping others … we certainly need more people like you in the world. I recently chose to leave a 24 year career in IT management to pursue my dream of living the life I chose. I took money from my 401K to sustain us for a little while and formed a company called Inspired Living and Wellness, Inc., my desire is to share what I’ve learned over the years in hopes to help improve the lives and happiness of others. I wrote and published a small book called, I Finally Understand! A Personal Weight Loss Story. My story was also selected to be part of the book, Living the Law of Attraction, Real Stories of People Manifesting Health, Wealth and Happiness, author Rich German and Robin Hoch. I made a commitment after the 1st of the year, I would step out of my box, take a big risk, throw myself into life and challenge myself to do things I wouldn’t normally do. I’m scheduled to do my first workshop on August 17 (nervous). However, advertising so far has not paid off in getting people to sign up. Website is getting some attention but no one has signed up. Money is running low and I’m feeling a bit deflated. If something doesn’t give soon, I may have to return to the IT field so I can fulfill my obligations to my family and finances. Don’t mean to burden you with my problems but wondered if you couldn’t offer some advise. Thank you
Absolutely, Kevin.
I’ve always found in my own experience that by doing the right thing, treating people in a compassionate way, and following the golden rule, you can never go wrong.
Take care of those basics, and the success and opportunities will always continue to come your way.
-Jason Waldron
(a.k.a. Wally the Web Guy)
I would have done the same thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this.
I think I would have done exactly the same thing with your circumstances. Maybe maybe, if I only had a few appointments for Thu, and I thought they could be easily rescheduled (like if I was taking the dog for grooming and had a dental checkup for myself), I might have started calling them and working out a way to stay another day.
But if there were clients who had taken time to schedule an appointment for Thu, I would have done what was necessary to keep my word to those people. Your friend put it well: “You could have easily put your own wants and desires over the commitments you’d made for tomorrow, but the fact that you didn’t speaks volumes about your character, and the kind of person you are.”
I agree! Thanks Kevin, Victor B
Hi Kevin, I would have done the same thing.
HI, Kevin,
I’ll never forget the day I learned this lesson. I had committed to march with the Girl Scouts in a July 4 parade and carry the sign in front of the group (this was 5th grade, approximately). I received an invitation to an outing with “the cool girls” which would have involved leaving early in the morning for a day at the lake. Both could not be done. I really wanted to change plans, but my mother talked me through the impact I would have by failing to show up as promised, both by disappointing the organizers and others in the parade in the short term and on my credibility for the long term. She asked me to think through the relative importance of the two competing events, and setting aside what I wanted, to think about what was right. With great reluctance, I concluded I had to meet the parade commitment. I don’t remember much about the parade now, but every time a similar question comes up, I remember the decision, and how ultimately I felt very pleased I had chosen to meet my commitment.
That experience has guided me throughout my adult life, and that story has been told hundreds of times to young officer and enlisted folks (I’m a retired senior office from the Air Force).
kevin you are a nice person so i know you would do the right thing because you had good training from your mother i mean home training that will carry you a long way in life
Way to go Kevin!
Ahh Integrity. It’s almost non-existent these days but so refreshing when experienced!
yes treating people, in a respectfull way, is an essential key to lead to success,the golden rule
This set me to thinking –
I have enjoyed that series on the “Deadliest Catch” but when you think of your life then and compare it with your life now and the opportunities you have to influence and benefit so many more people it must make you rather humble. You have been truly blessed and we are also blessed through you. Thank you for letting the “Universe” use you in such a magnificant way.
Kevin
I am glad for you in doing the right thing and the fact that something good came out of it was very inspiring to me and others who will read this. I send Love and Happiness in whatever endeavor you do in Life and your financial matters.
Ronald
KEVIN,
It’s good to see you were true to your word. It would have been so easy for you to call and reschedule your appointments, but you didn’t. Thanks you are truly someone to look up to.
GOD BLESS YOU!
Shannon
A man of intregeity you are. Obedience to your father also brings you much blessings in life. Congratulations on the opportunity which came your way. Nothing beats doing the right thing, and I know you will be passing this great breathing to you loved kids. Say hello to Lisa for me.