That's exactly what I'm doing now, and where I am. This week, it has brought me to Orlando, Florida. I awoke at roughly five a.m. to catch a flight out of Nashville which connected in Atlanta and finally touched down here. Total flight time was about 2 hours, including sitting on the planes waiting to actually take off. And it didn't cost me a dime.
I was picked up at the airport in a gold Cadillac Escalade (and for those that know me...gold is totally my color!) by Carrie. I claim shotgun and we proceed to the hotel. Unbeknownst to me, I am now at the Hilton, typing this for all of you to read so you know what kind of class this company has.
We get here, I check in, call the family and let them know I've arrived safely. Then the day starts. People from all over the place start showing up and there were a couple that I have been anxious to meet in person. My good friend, Lynn, who is just as charismatic in person as she is on the phone. My friend, mentor and master, Peter, who is just a phenomenal person altogether that I've learned a vast amount in such a short time from. I will probably write at least one book on his teachings or maybe help him write one or both.
And the old cowboy himself shows up. The legend, Earl Shaw. Now, for those of you that have never met the man, he's shorter than my five foot seven (barely), but has a commanding voice. Hearing him on the phone on conference calls and business calls is one thing, but seeing someone face to face gives that voice behind it all, a real life and persona of its own as the actual presentation emerges. I see now, why he has been so successful.
I was coming here one way or another. The force has made it so. I attracted it from the universe. It was written in the stars. 'Twas God's edict and decree that I learn from the best in the business. I must say, today has been invaluable. I wish more people could have come, and I'm sure I'll invite others as it seems I have been given a leadership role I wasn't anticipating. I told you before, they see something in me, I'm not sure exactly what, but I'm putting money on the notion that I'll find out this weekend.
"Coincidence rests only in the minds of the ignorant and foolish."
-Justin LaFountain