Don't Tell Me.....Show Me

One of the smartest guys I know (yeah he is also my dad) used to spout this little one-liner of wisdom anytime he had the opportunity. Usually when I was on some diatribe of how I was going to change the world, start a business, build a better "widget" and the like.

It was one of those sayings (and he has plenty) that stays with you, one that takes on different meanings as you get a little older. Yet, in an instant I'm reminded of that smell in the air when he would be giving me some of the advice like this that I still live by today. Most of the time it would be early afternoon and in context that was set up perfect, how he did that still astounds me.

I remember my dad giving up so many Saturdays to help me run a lawn care business (I still think I made more money at 12 years old that I did at 25). I used to think I got a great education early in life running that business (we had 35 or so properties), but I get the fact now that what I learned most was from spending the day with my old man. Stories are great educators, he could relate a story, and his one-liners were some of the best education I have received to date!

It hit me this morning over (an early) coffee with a good friend and mentor that a lot of us may be in the "tell me" part of this equation. I keep hearing things like: "I am going to volunteer more of my time", "I'm scared to leave", "I'm going to work on my resume", "If I could I would start my own business", "I should call that person", "I need to...." you fill in the blank and its all about what we "tell" ourselves we are going to do and not what our hands are busy about actually doing.

So as I take the medicine one more time (like I have many, many times before) I offer it to you. Not quite in the context I first received it, but I can only hope it seeps into your way of doing life as much or more than it has my own.

"Don't tell me, SHOW ME!"