“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. ~Mark Twain.
I don’t have to wait 20 years to wonder what might have been. Last week, I spent an awe-inspiring week at the International Maxwell Conference. Great speakers, tools, insight, and new friends as I officially joined The Maxwell Leadership Team.
It’s incredible the people you meet when you take the time. Some of the best magic didn’t happen in the conference halls, seminars, and late-night workshops. They occurred at lunch and breakfast.
But I wonder about the ones I missed. There were instances I hurriedly ate and scurried out to catch an optional session or hurried out to take care of work-related matters.
Along the way, though, I met intriguing people.
I sat down next to Bruce at my first breakfast. Bruce wore a baby blue shirt with a conspicuous NASA logo. You know I had to ask. Bruce is a communication trainer and uses the Maxwell DISC as his tool. I had to know, “who do you train”?
Bruce trains some astronauts and the people in Mission Control, among others, at NASA facilities. Most of these people have high IQs, but communication doesn’t generally fall high on their natural skill sets. But, as you can imagine, during crises or critical situations, they need to be able to communicate effectively and quickly with each other. Thus, Bruce works closely with them to improve their communication. Fascinating conversation and insight.
Then, one morning, I sat with two retired FBI agents. It wasn’t hard to find a conversation starter with these guys, but they were impressive with their depth, intellectual conversation, and perspective. You can call it a behind-the-scenes peek behind the veil, but it was a conversation of opportunity. I left that meal with a better understanding and respect for the FBI and more understanding of the changes in the past decade or so that have been instrumental in the change of view about the agency.
Another instance: The table was full, but one by one, everyone scurried off. As I prepared to leave, a lady asked what I did. I told her I worked with Dave Ramsey’s team, and she stopped eating. She had gathered her money to come to this conference, hoping it would help her become successful. But she was having trouble prioritizing her finances. Bam, let’s talk more. And we will.
There was the lady I ran into in the checkout line while getting a bottle of water and a cookie. She works for a major denomination and was considering helping people with their finances, so we had a great conversation about the possibilities. The next day, she messaged me that she had taken the plunge and started her training journey to become a financial coach. Yes!
And there was one final meeting. I came down early to meet my shuttle to the airport to go home. While waiting, I met Paul from Uganda. Wow, what a connection. Paul is concerned about his people’s “poverty mindset” at home and thinks I can help. Paul has a two-week stopover in Houston before heading home, so we’ll meet post-conference. Yes!
There were other meetings, but these were some of the highlights. But I wonder: Who did I miss? What gem or other so-called chance conversation may have happened if I had paid better attention and not been so busy? That’s the question of the day for all of us. Who did we miss yesterday because we were in a hurry? Because other things seemed to be more critical. Because life interrupted. Because we “didn’t have the time.”
What I learned last week is that you can make a choice. You don’t find the time, and you’ll never have the time. You must take the time. What do you think I’ll remember more? The optional session or the time I got to spend with Bruce? The rush to get that picture or the conversation with the FBI agents or Paul?
These are people — real people. The kind of people we miss every day because we have trained ourselves to be busy and frantic in a world of text messaging and emails. Watch for them. Ask yourself what’s really important. You’ll see them today — if you’ll only take the time.
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