I choose to write about one of the most memorable conversations I had, but must premise with the following true anecdote: Clark Clifford, Secretary of Defense during the presidency of Harry Truman and adviser to many of the presidents of the twentieth century, while practicing corporate law, received a letter from the attorney of a major corporation requesting his advise. Clifford wrote the attorney a short letter in which he said, "Do nothing" and enclosed a bill for fifty thousand dollars. The attorney wrote back asking, "For fifty thousand dollars, would you tell me why I should do nothing?" Clifford’s response was another short letter saying: "Because I said so." and enclosed a bill for an additional five thousand dollars.
My work as an undergraduate at the University of Vermont was such that I barley graduated and with that modest performance, had the audacity to apply to the august Columbia University for enrollment in a masters' program in clinical audiology. I was so sure my application would be rejected, I wrote the Dean of Admissions for an interview prior to completion of the application process. It was my intention to 'sell' my application as I was already fitting hearing aids and it would be in the best interest of my patients if I had the benefit of professional training.
At the appointed hour I was ushered into the office of the Dean who opened my file and apologetically told me that if their secretarial services were current, I would already have received notice of acceptance. I immediately adopted the advise of Clark Clifford, told the Dean that there was nothing further to discuss and left.
During the last forty-three years in business, I owned several companies involved in the retail dispensing, manufacturing and wholesaling of hearing aids, and would have been more successful if I had, on several occasions, taken the advise of that sage presidential adviser and done nothing.
My conversation with the Dean may have been brief, but I remember it as clearly as the birth of my first-born and have offered that experience as a prelude to reiterating the advice of Clark Clifford, "Do nothing."
Hal Fishbein
October 2007
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6 comments:
(cross posted at the class blog, but I posted it here as well)
To Grace, Frank, CconynO
Thank you all for your interest in my top ten list. Everyone with and without a big ego (you can guess where I fit) loves a willing audience and thus I will respond to all your requests 'with all deliberate speed,' if you'll permit me to borrow from the Supreme Court decision, Brown vs. Board of Education dealing with school segregation.
Grace, because of your interest in Grub Street Writers I looked it up and sent my application and check for membership. It's right down the street from my residence and must be a real winner.
Grace, regarding my thoughts on future writing training, I'm sure I'll proceed per your suggestion when I return from Florida in March. I'll be staying in Deerfield Beech, not far from Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton and would love to hear from any and all during December, January February. My cell: 617.840.8223. I tend to answer it 24/7. Of course I'm also happy to hear from all during the other nine months as well.
This writing course just brings me alive. Thanks to you all.
Hal Fishbein
October 2007
Hal--I really enjoyed this piece. So funny and well told. You could give this essay as a speech and make your audience laugh as well as think.
You have characters in your piece, you reveal a lot about yourself, and you offer some advice.
Besides some editing for conciseness (seeing where you might cut phrases or words here and there without changing the meaning of the essay and therefore sharpening what prose you leave), I would say you can "do nothing" more in the way of revising this piece.
Good work!
Hi Hal,
I loved your piece. It really leaves me with more questions, though (which I guess is the point!) What happened after the interview? What did the Dean say to you?
I think it's the start to a great story!
Response to CconynO
Hi there, Not much of a story. The Dean let me leave and I was in. Although my undergraduate work was modest, I managed all As & Bs at Columbia, probably because Columbia was occupational and serious business. Thanks for your interest and good luck with those horrific Buffalo winters.
Hal Fishbein
October 17, 2007
Greetings to all
Lesson 4
The Time I Knew I Knew God
There was a time my business was doing well. It was growing up a storm. The Sr. Vice President, and I, with unrealistic visions of grandeur, decided to take flying lessons to better serve our locations thru-ought New England.
The Norwood, Massachusetts’s airport did not have commercial airline service. It specialized in private planes, the flying school and little else. With only one runway and no tower, planes were permitted to take off and land at will. Safety was the responsibility of the pilot, his eyes, ears, intelligence and will to live. For that matter, I’m not sure ears were of much help.
Flying instruction was a heavenly (no pun intended) experience. When flying above the clouds a bright sun would create a circular rainbow around the plane’s shadow, visible on the clouds below, a celestial sight viewed by few.
Once, while flying straight and level, I noticed a small plane well off to the right, heading our way. I didn’t think much about it as the instructor, a seasoned experienced professional, was sitting to my left and, of course, knew what he was doing. It appeared the plane was continuing on course with potential for collision at which time I deigned to bring it to the instructor’s attention. “By the way, did you happen to notice the plane…” With that he grabbed the controls, pointed the plane skyward, gunned the engine, and shouted, “Where did that son-of-a-bitch come from?” It then occurred to me, this flying stuff was serious.
Finally, It was solo time. The instructor, sitting as close as conjoined twins, saw me take off and land scores of times and had confidence in me. I knew I was ready. And then, there I was, all alone at the foot of the runway. I pushed the throttle all the way using full engine power. The little single engine trainer sounded like the roar of a mighty jet and just before the runway disappeared I was airborne. Yippee! What a thrill! I was Superman, more powerful than a locomotive.
I took the prescribed three turns around the airport and prepared to land. Only then did it occur to me: Nobody, but nobody on this planet, but me, was going to put the plane back on the ground. I verbalized the briefest prayer and then I knew I knew God.
Right after that came my first gout attack and, coincidentally, a softening of the business climate and I never flew again. But ever after I was in that select fraternity of those who soloed. It was worth every dime.
Hal Fishbein
October 2007
Raising Well Behaved Children
We raised two, of whom I am totally proud. They are fine, considerate, caring adults, for which I give my spouse full credit. But that’s not the subject of this piece. The subject deals with the method, technique, and skill of raising well-behaved children.
Two boys, I’m told, are the worst combination. I agree. It’s axiomatic. For us it was a daily struggle. Why? We didn’t know the method, the technique nor did we have the skill. So what qualifies me now to address the subject with expertise?
For the past twenty-two years my residence has included a full spa with common whirlpool and swimming pool and for over two decades I’ve observed hundreds of families with various aged children, many of who were poorly behaved as well as the majority who were well behaved and discovered the common thread inherent in each group. The method, technique, and skill are no secret. It should be obvious, although it wasn’t to us. It’s just a matter of manner, courtesy and respect, not from the children; to the children. Those struggling with the poorly behaved attempted to control with intimidation, shouts, and threats with the result the children responded in kind.
Those with the well behaved needed not intimidation, shouts or threats. They addressed their children respectfully, quietly, knowing compliance was a given and it was. It was almost as if the parents were addressing other adults. It’s as simple as that.
I don’t know how my eldest son (my younger is just recently married) and his wife discovered the skill, but they have it. Their six children are just a joy to be with. The two eldest help care lovingly for the others. That’s their job, their responsibility, their joy.
Do I oversimplify? Perhaps, but that’s the way I see it.
Hal Fishbein
October 2007
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