I know a lot of people. I have always been a people person. Everywhere I go I meet someone new. I really like it. And during the first few minutes I can be anyone I want to be. I can become this completely made up person if I want to be. Just for kicks, I could in real time completely fabricate me convincingly.
One time in 2012, I sat next to Les Brown on an airplane. I was upgraded, he looked like he belonged there. Much to my delight we were on a 5 hour flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta. I would be sitting next to the premier public speaker / life coach of the past century and less than a foot separated us. Game on! First things I noticed were how tall he was, how white and big his teeth were, how white and starched his business shirt was on him and he wore gorgeous cuff-links. Not that I was studying him too close, chuckle.
I was leaned in listening, actually clinging to his every word. One thing I noticed is he was both a great listener and a great talker. I took note, literally. I was typing in my NOTES on my phone so many Les Brownisms I could not keep up. I quickly lost count and the insights just kept flying and getting better by the moment. Then for a few minutes he stopped talking. He had brought his own snacks and took a few minutes to enjoy them in silence. Good thing because I was just then wrestling with whether or not to bring up his marriage and divorce to Gladys Knight. I thought better but just barely. I am shameless, tacky or both, I know. I was channeling my inner Oprah.
Les looked like he might be about to nod off in the middle of one of the biggest conversational encounters of my lifetime and I was near panicked at the eventuality of it. But he did not. When I least expected it he leaned over into my personal space and he asked, "Now what is your story?" And he sat frozen staring into my eyes expectantly. I asked, “My whole story?” He responded, “Tell me your story.” And so I tried.
I talked for at least 30 minutes. Only occasionally did Les interject, rarely did he ask for clarification or even a follow up question. He sat and he listened. When he did chime in it was only because he may not have heard me and so asked me to repeat myself. He also told me during “my story” that he has a daughter I should meet Ona Brown. He said he will connect us and he did. She called me the very next day and invited me to a private event she and her dad were hosting. I went too, but I digress.
So I had started at my beginning, going all the way back to childhood including where I grew up, where I went to school, my education, my travels, my marriage, children, job, church affiliation and so on. And after I had talked what I knew was my head off and I assumed Les’ head off, he looked me square in the eyes and he said, “I still don't have your story, but I will.”
I had no idea what he was talking about so I said nothing and I know I looked embarrassed. He looked at me again and repeated, “I still don't have your story, but I will.” And with that, Les Brown dozed off to sleep.
I sat there like really? For half a second I was tempted to nudge him back to consciousness. We had some unfinished business Mr. Talker. Wake up! What do you mean? I just talked about me for the past 45 minutes. What are you trying to say here? What is really your point? I have a story and I just told it to you. Now tell me what you mean!
But I did not wake Mr. Les Brown. I let him sleep. Instead I used the silence between us and I went back over the notes I had been taking. And in those notes I came closer to understanding what Les had meant all along. Here are just a few of my notes.
Let go or be dragged
If you are not sure of the connections you are making give them a trial period. OQP- Only Quality People in your space
You can run faster with one hundred people who want to go with you than just one who is tied around your neck
We all have an energy signature. (THIS IS THE ONE THAT PROVOKED ME MOST)
Our story is about our willingness to embrace the truth and meaning behind it. Not the events themselves but the reasons behind them. I get that now. I do tell my story in an upcoming book written along with several friends. It is entitled, "This is my story but it is not my life.” I think I will send Mr. Les Brown a signed copy. A bit of a nudge showing him, I was listening to him that day and I am finally telling my story.
Thank you Mr. Brown. Thanks for waking me up to recognize my energy signature going forward.
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