thependulumswings

One of the many gifts that Boom Boom gave us was the torrent of quips about how one leads one’s life.   He could say so much by saying so little.   A statement at just the right moment always resonated.  How I interpreted or applied it was up to me.

When my senior year in high school was drawing to a close I visited our guidance councilor for, well, guidance.  “What should I study in college?” I queried.  “Your testing and your grades show that science and math are your interests and long suits,” came the immediate reply.   “You would make a great engineer.”  “Sounds good,” I simply said.

At dinner that evening I proudly announced to my parents that I was going to be an engineer (though I had no idea what that meant).  Boom Boom barely slowed his fork down and said “just find one thing that you enjoy and be great at it.”  Hmm.

Off to college I went and two semesters later I came home and proudly announced that I was switching to the business college, major TBD.  Boom Boom barely raised an eyebrow and said, “just find one thing that you enjoy and be great at it.”  Hmm.

By my senior year in college I was also working part time at a bank’s headquarters splitting time between market analysis and marketing. It was interesting.  “I’m majoring in marketing,” I said.  “You’re getting closer,” he said.  Hmm.

An interview fell into my lap with a major consumer products company.  The position was described as “account executive.”  It sure sounded like selling to me.  Three interview steps later I accepted.  I proudly announced that I was going to work right after graduation.  Sales training, suit, tie, briefcase, Mont Blanc pen, and a company car awaited me.  Boom Boom said, “it sounds like you found that one thing.”   “Go be great at it.”  Hmm.

No more words were spoken because no more words were needed.