#Ask April 17

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Dick Taylor is a Lumberton businessman who arrived in the community in 1952. He is a friend who I wrote about in 2015. He has many interesting aspects about his life including running and collecting vintage automobiles. Dick along with his wife Lenore have done much to support others in Lumberton NC.

He also gave me a piece of leadership advice that I never have forgotten. Dick told me the secret to raising money, selling, recruiting, or achieving a goal required one word. You have to ASK.

I came across a book Jose Mourinho: Special Leadership: Creating and Managing Successful Teams.  The book is quite collectible and the asking price for a used copy exceeds $100.

For those that don’t know Jose Mourinho is considered one of the world’s greatest professional soccer coaches (managers) and currently leads the Tottenham Hotspurs in the Premier League.

What interested me is in this book was a life lesson about Giacomo Girolamo Casanova. He was an Italian adventurer and author from the Republic of Venice who died in the late 1700’s. He has become so famous for his often complicated and elaborate affairs with women that his name is now synonymous with “womanizer”.

The story is as follows. Casanova was apparently on his deathbed when someone knocked on his door, repeatedly asking to speak with him. His family and doctor would not let this insistent stranger into his home.  When Giacomo heard the knocking he inquired who was here? His doctor informed him about the stranger and Casanova gave orders to let such a demanding and persistent character in.  He believed such a person would have something important to tell him before he died. 

The man finally came to his bedside he asked: “Mr Casanova, you have made love to over twelve-hundred of the most beautiful Italian women…” Casanova interrupted him.  “Fifteen-hundred.” “Okay, okay.  Fifteen hundred of the most beautiful women of our country. But how did you do it? You must tell me your secret.”  Casanova signalled at him to come closer, winked conspiratorial, and whispered in his ear: “I ASKED them.”

The lessons learned are:

1. That getting what you want in life even if it a goal with questionable moral implications starts by ASKING.

2. We can learn from anyone and at any stage of their of life.

I am no Casanova but I am glad I ASKED my wife to marry me.