An unexpected, joyful and profound moment from last week….
***
“Is George still around?”
I asked the woman outside the store.
“Yep, he’s inside right now.”
I couldn’t believe it.
During my freshman year at Stanford University,
George Cattermole
had been my philosophy professor,
but I hadn’t seen him in decades.
In addition to teaching at Stanford,
George also ran the beloved
San Gregorio General Store,
a groovy hangout just off Highway 1,
right near the coast of California.
As a student, I was often there,
perusing poetry books in the back, or
buying small gifts like speciality soap and baseball caps.
Over the years since graduating,
I’d stopped by a number of times,
but had never seen George.
On Memorial Day/May 26, however,
I stepped into a time capsule.
Entering the bustling store,
I spotted George’s familiar silhouette,
made my way over and tapped him
on the shoulder from behind.
“George?”
He spun around.
“It’s Victoria Labalme,” I said.
“Victoria Labalme!! Oh my god!”
He immediately cited a specific memory:
helping me retrieve a pickup truck
I’d borrowed from a friend
and had inadvertently gotten stuck
at a public beach down the road.
I was astounded he remembered.
George’s influence on my growth
as a young adult had been significant.
Unlike other professors who were
more formal, reserved and removed,
George was free-wheeling
wearing his heart on his sleeve,
not just teaching Old World philosophy
but always making it relevant,
tying points to the present day’s
social landscape and politics.
Talking with George was
like immersing yourself in
the beatnik scene.
He opened our eyes in limitless ways, and
his legacy lives on in so much of what I do.
One of my core statements in both my keynotes
and in my Rock The Room® programs is this:
“Every time you communicate you have an opportunity to influence people’s lives for the better.”
George does this every day
not only in what he says
but also in how he lives.
The power we each have as individuals
to influence those around us is profound.
What opportunities do you have
today, this week, this month,
to express your off-beat ideas,
make unexpected connections
and share them with a pure, positive intent?
Whether it’s a key client or customer interaction,
live presentation, video call,
a meeting or even a meal,
what if you communicated with a pure Throughline,
(keeping in mind your Noble Intent™)
and expressed your ideas
in the ways only you can?
Risk Forward & Rock On,
P.S. If you’re not familiar with my work around the Throughline and Noble Intent™, here are some links to previous posts:
