(Hal--I went ahead and posted these for you so that your colleagues could leave you comments about them-GT)
Ten subjects I wanted to write about: I don't have that list, but let me think about subjects in which I may have interest: 1. Intimacy and commitment. 2. The importance of truth. 3. What you can and cannot take for granted. 4. Leadership. 5. U.S. presidential commonality. 6. Raising well behaved children. 7. Keeping commitments. 8. The common denominator of my friends. 9. How I make people laugh. 10. The second greatest man of the 20th century.
Ten meals I made w/love for someone. This exercise leaves me depressed as I cannot think of anytime I attempted to make a meal of such significance for anyone. Thus this, my response, may be a subject deserving great thought and analysis.
Ten life-changing moments.
1. When I found out I could sell hearing aids with such success that those consequently affected suddenly perceived me with an entirely different attitude. 2. Graduate work at Columbia University - not a moment, but surely momentous. 3. Surviving life-threatening cancer times two. 4. My solo flying experience. 5. When a police officer drew his pistol and pointed it at my nose. 6. Giving my first all day seminar on selling. And, of course 7, 8, and 9 which should have been numbers 1, 2, and 3, getting married and the birth of my two sons.
Ten most significant conversations: 1. The time I was unjustly accused of stealing by my employer and my response. 2. My interview with the Columbia University dean of admissions. 3. My response to the request of a college department head, when an undergraduate senior, to evaluate an instructor. 4. Termination of one of my most valuable business associates. 5. Termination of one of my least valuable business associates. 6. Recommendation of instituting a profit sharing plan. 7. My wife's advise to not accept an unjust accusation by a significant financial source. 8. Advise from my wife in dealing with an automobile transaction. 9. Advise on negotiating. 10. Advise on buying.
Ten things I love most in this world and why.
No, I just cannot attempt to deal with this most profound subject with this limited format, but will be happy to do a serious piece on this at some future time.
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4 comments:
Hi Hal
The top three items that I would be interested in reading more about (but of course, you decide what you want to write about):
1. I'm interested in the moments leading up to as well as the turning point in your career selling hearing aids. It sounds like you've been quite successful at that business and I'd be fascinated to learn more about this process from your perspective. It sounds like a moment of triumph for you as well as a moment that continued to influence the way others saw you (and you saw yourself) for years to come. And now that you've sold your business, you must have thoughts about that too.
2. I'm also very intrigued by the police pointing the pistol at your nose. That sounds very dramatic! I think a piece that starts in that moment and then flashes back to the moments that led up to finding a pistol pointed at your nose would be really great.
3. I'm also interested in your solo flying experience.
Any of the specific moments you list would be great to hear more about. Hope you have fun doing the writing exercise. Really try to imagine being back in that moment again! Gives us the details so we can really feel we are there with you.
You can do it!
Hal: Nice lists, full of great things to write about. I'd like to write on a few from your list that I didn't include on mine - like "the importance of truth" and "leadership." And I'd certainly like to hear what you have to say about these, but I'll pick three others that I think seem to draw heavily on your emotions:
1.From subjects to write about, item 8, the common denominator of your friends, because friendships have always appeared complex to me, and the more friends you have, the harder it is to align yourself to any individual.
2. From life-changing moments - well, of course, your personal triumph over cancer is a very ripe topic, and congratulations.
3. In conversations, the two terminating pieces (sounds like you were firing people) would make a very interesting read, particularly if you combine them into one theme. What was common about them?
Good writing, Frank
Hi Hal-
I'd be interested in hearing more on your thoughts about how to raise kids well. Not really a guide or how to, but more along the lines of how you felt, what you tried, and how it worked.
The story about the police officer and the pistol sounds dramatic and intriguing.
Also, what happened when you were accused of stealing?
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.
This writing course just brings me alive. Thanks to you all.
Hal Fishbein
October 2007
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