Ancient Greeks and Turning Fifty

Socrates was right, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”Most of us have moments when we ask, “Am I happy? Is this what I want to do? Am I making a difference? Would I be missed if I were gone?”Introspection is like medicine. It’s beneficial in small doses but an overdose will leave you self-absorbed and depressed.My policy to write about you, not me.My goal is to give you interesting things to think about.My hope is that your life will be made better because of me.People who perceive these things through my writings assume I’m a sensitive person who will look deep into their eyes and say profound things. They’re always disappointed when they meet me. In truth, I am introverted, vain, vulgar, and socially awkward.But God likes me anyway.Strangely, I’m a powerful public speaker. This is due to what psychologists call my auxiliary personality, a hidden part of me that walks on stage when it’s show time. The bigger the crowd, the taller my auxiliary. The real me always watches from offstage. “Gosh, he seems to be doing pretty well. Let’s hope he doesn’t say something I’ll regret.”Obviously, I’ve set my policy aside today.I risk not achieving my goal.But I haven’t given up my hope,I want your life to be better.That’s why I write books.That’s why I founded a *business school.That’s why I’m teaching a free, 2-day class for small business owners.If your dreams are bigger than you areand you have the courage of a lion,the ferocity of a tiger,and the determination of a turtle,send an email to [email protected] her your city, your business category, and your current, annual sales volume. Tell her what you believe to be holding you back. We can seat no more than 99 business owners in Tuscan Hall and I want to give these seats to the men and women I believe will benefit the most.If you dominate your business category and you’re struggling to stay on top, my experience tells me you probably don’t have the courage to make the necessary changes that would allow you to move to the next level. So you might be wasting a plane ticket to Austin.But if you’re currently doing less than 10 percent of the business in your product or service category, I have a long and happy track record of helping people just like you.I’m going to see 99 people enjoy blazing growth in this soggy, wet economy because I gave them a day and a half of my life. The workshop is called, How to Make Business Good When Times are Bad.I’m charging nothing for it. Lunch will be provided but you’ll have to be in Austin, Texas, April 14 and 15. And you’ll have to be invited. The first step toward getting invited is to email Tamara.Remember what Socrates said about the unexamined life? He could just as easily have said, “The unexamined business isn’t worth owning.”Come to Austin and examine your business.Socrates also said, “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”I don’t plan to fill your head in Austin. I plan to set you on fire.I think Socrates would be proud.Roy H. Williams