It was November the 5th 2008. The day after President Obama was first elected. “I killed it all!” my uncle said. His expression was odd, but then I thought; what might one learn from a killer? There are so many reasons why one should never kill; but in my uncle’s line of work it was a hit after-hit after –hit! He believed he was invincible.
“Jay, this is not right! How can I ever do something so carelessly? I wish I could turn back the hands of time. I don’t even sleep anymore. I killed it all!” my uncle said with a grievous tone. He was not referring to taking another person’s life but my uncle spoke as if he was directly responsible for a homicide.
“How did you kill it all, uncle?” I asked. I knew he was an extremely successful music executive through 1980’s and early 2000’s. He instructed me to look at President Obama and to think of what brought him to the White House. “That’s someone who has ‘It’!” he stated. “What does he have?” I replied? He responded in a ministerial tone; “it’s clear he has a whole lot of things but he most definitely has a plan!”
“I killed millions of dollars and murdered countless hours!” he said tiresomely!” Then he stated, “I killed it all because I had never had a plan. I was winging it the whole time. Obama won because he has a plan! You need to get a plan and everyday work smarter at accomplishing your goals!”
This was a tremendous turning point in my life. I discovered what having a plans means. I analyzed my uncle’s success, along with his current position, including the accomplishments of President Obama as he won the White House. That exercise enabled me to understand the importance of developing clear aims for my future. Furthermore, in an extreme sense, my take-away from my uncle’s conversation: not having a plan is almost like living without a life.
