Tag Archives: success

01/12/23

Success? You Want Success? — THERE WILL BE A PRICE

I have two conversations wrestling in my head.

Convo #1 – a young man, an impressive, guileful young man full of potential who said something close to: “I am looking for something to do for six months or so that I can immerse myself in and make a lot of money.”

Convo #2 – a salty, seasoned, scarred, wise septuagenarian who said: “It takes about ten years to become an overnight success and there is always a price.”

This got me thinking about some things which in no particular order I share with you, dear readers.

The Nature of Success Continue reading →

02/4/21

The Bananas Foster Theory of Embellishment of Success

Other day I read a statement that said, “You can’t really learn from your success.”

The thrust of the blog post was that a good kick in the teeth is often the packaging for a well taught lesson — fair play to that. Agree completely.

But when reading the “You can’t really learn from your success” sentence, I said, “Hmmm, really?”

This is because I have learned a lot of great things from success. In fact, it is — particularly given the busted teeth, bloody split lip alternative — my favorite way to learn.

Allow me to elaborate on what I call “The Bananas Foster Theory of Embellishment of Success.”

The Banana Trade

Far away and long ago, New Orleans was a center of the banana trade in which South and Central American countries exported their bananas to the United States thereby funding banana republics.

Workers unload bananas in New Orleans. Bananas Foster, one of New Orleans’ favorite desserts, is a lasting legacy of an oft-forgotten chapter in the city’s history: the banana trade, which spawned banana republics.

Continue reading →

03/12/16

The Value of Failure

Big Red Car here waiting for The Boss who is arriving back today from skiing. The wild running late with the housesitter good life is ………………………….. over.

So, I was talking with a couple of CEO cars and we got on the subject of the value of failure in long term success. One of them recited the famous Rudyard Kipling poem IF and was singing its praises as a frame of reference for entrepreneurs and, of all things, politicians. She, hot little 1984 Mercedes convertible with great headlights, said this is the money passage:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;

    If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

    And treat those two impostors just the same;

10/19/15

Beware Success!

Big Red Car here. Ahhh, a crisp, cool, sunny morning with the sun just peeking over the trees over toward the University of Texas. [I am parked west of the campus on the other side of Shoal Creek.]

Today, the subject is the issue of success.

There is nothing that threatens success like success. <<< Read that again. Say it again. Hmmm.

Listen, dear reader, while the Big Red Car tells you about what can go wrong with success. It is a subtle but very dangerous thing, y’all. Continue reading →

03/3/14

Planning Your Path To The Pay Window, Are You?

Big Red Car here.  The Boss is still in the Boat skiing.  Nothing like Spring skiing — 40F at the base and colder up top but warm and pleasant for the schussing.  And, we all love a bit of schussing.

So The Boss runs into one of his pals — uber successful guy — who has retired to Steamboat Springs and they get to talking about the lovely cocktail called “success”.  The recipe for success.

Continue reading →