The song and album “Summer Breeze”
was recorded by Jim Seals and Dash
Crofts in the summer of 1972. Just hearing the music might make you lie down
in your hammock and swing slowly with
the trees that dance like ballerinas arrayed
in flowing silk. Ah yes, summer time is
for rejuvenation. Do you need some refueling today?
This summer, MDRT acted like a summer breeze to 5,500 attendees from over
60 nations. MDRT’s annual meeting in
Atlanta blew like jasmine through my
mind, and I hope it does through yours.
My favorite two 2011 MDRT presentations:
Coach Don Meyer, Ph.D.
“Don Meyer, Ph.D., former head basketball coach for South Dakota’s Northern State University, currently holds the
record for most NCAA wins with 923
victories. His perseverance isn’t limited
to the court. In 2008 Meyer was involved
in a near-fatal car accident resulting in the
Brent Welch, CFP, ChFC, CLU, is founder and managing member of Welshire Capital LLC. Reach him at www.welshirecapital.com.
“Summer breeze, makes me feel fine
Blowing through the jasmine in my
mind
Summer breeze, makes me feel fine
Blowing through the jasmine in my
mind…”¹
— Seals and Crofts
amputation of a leg and was diagnosed
with cancer. His determination to return
to coaching earned him the 2009 ESPN
Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. (Jim-
my Valvano, a Main Platform speaker at
the 1987 MDRT Annual Meeting, is re-
membered as one of the annual meeting’s
most inspiring speakers.) Meyer retired
from coaching in 2010 but continues at
NSU as Regents’ Distinguished Profes-
sor and assistant to the president.”²
Coach Meyer said the discovery of his
limited number of days creates deep re-
flection in his life. His faith and family
and the prayers of others see him through.
He reminds us that no one died during his
accident, and he is indeed among men
very fortunate.
Coach Meyer told us to take five vitamin “Cs” every day:
Summer Breeze
knows what not to say. If you want to
stop gossip in its tracks, ask the gossiper,
“May I quote you on that?”
Concentration. This is the ability to
keep the main thing the main thing. His
challenge to you during the lazy days of
summer is to make every client feel like he
or she is the only client you have. Coach
Meyer might look you straight in the eye
and say, “Genius is 90% concentration.”
Compete. People, who don’t compete,
complain. Don’t whine and don’t complain. Instead, ask “What is my next best
option?” Great competitors are always
looking for ways to win. They are looking
for the best process that leads to winning.
Like a golfer, you can only hit the shot
that’s in front of you. Do the next right
thing right and you’ll be as close to perfect as you can be. Have fun!
If you want to stop
gossip in its tracks,
ask the gossiper,
“May I quote you
on that?”
Courtesy. Being discourteous does
not pay, but being courteous pays! Feel
for others and understand where they
have come from and what problems
they are facing. Write personal thank-you notes to others.
Communication. Communicate verbally and non-verbally to others in an
open and honest way that is all about
them. Coach John Wooden said that people who don’t communicate are scared.
Help others in your life feel comfortable
through clear communications. Knowledge knows what to say, but wisdom
Consistency. “Warren Buffett was rejected by Harvard but did quite well at
Columbia.” Success becomes the biggest obstacle. James 3: 13 says humility comes from wisdom. Wise people
are humble people. Have that winning
edge by never being complacent and
making the right decisions, even if they
are the hardest. Warren Buffett looks
for three things in his managers: work
ethic, competitiveness and character.
The first two don’t matter without character. Coach Meyer reminds you that,
“You can’t tell an eagle from a buzzard
when they fly together.” Discover more
at www.coachmeyer.com.
