Smitty
Mason, Marge in the background. May 24, 2004
Recently I traveled with a group of old car buddies to a rural area near Drumheller to look at some Model T parts. The fellow selling the parts had greasy, stringy hair and was sporting a failed attempt at growing a beard. I unconsciously thought, “nothing to see here”, and avoiding him I went straight to the pile of parts. My parts search proved unproductive, but while I was looking at junk, several of my friends were engaged in conversation with the seller. When we got back into the truck to return home my companions were quick to recount the interesting visit they had with him.
Occasionally my everexpanding midriff causes the buttons on my shirt to pop open. I wonder how ofen people avoid me because of how I look.
Maurice Mascarenhas was a business consultant I knew in the late 1980’s during my time at New York Life in Toronto. He was from India and grew tired of westerners mispronouncing his last name so he encouraged us to just call him Smitty.
I remember him as a man of integrity, meek but confident and direct, and very observant.
This was in the days before email and the “world wide web” so he communicated by postal mail. Given the nature of his business, he spent a lot of time in hotels. Letters from Smitty were not on fancy business letterhead but handwritten on notepaper available to him in his hotel room. We paid him several thousand dollars a day and covered all his expenses.
I have forgotten almost everything he taught, though I am sure the precepts I learned from him have influenced my life. I recall him saying, “If everyone swept their own doorstep the whole world would be clean.” I thought, “Yes, but the street in front of your house would sure be dirty.”
This is a world-changing concept.
Sweep your own doorstep, clean your room, do the dishes, shovel your sidewalk and on occasion shovel your neighbour’s walk too. Clean up your own faults before finding fault in others.
Matthew, Mason, Grace November 7, 2004
I recall after a seminar in New York City the attendees scrambled to get on with their day. Smitty hung back so that he could visit with an older coloured gentleman who came in to clean the room. I occupied myself with paperwork at the table where I had been sitting so that I could listen in. Smitty looked upon the conversation as a rare encounter with a man of great wisdom, and that is exactly what happened. The older man opened up with stories about his father and his life that were full of insight and wisdom. Smitty reverently captured the stories on the free notepad using the free pen provided to the seminar participants. I am sure the truths he learned from the janitor became part of the wisdom he shared in future consulting gigs.
Challenge
Choose to always have a respectful attitude toward others. Virtually everyone you encounter will know something of value that can be of benefit to you.
Ask insightful questions and learn to listen very carefully to the answers. Remember it is difficult to listen to the other person’s answers if you are doing all the talking.
Before finding fault with others check the buttons on your own shirt. “Sweep your own doorstep.”
Offer enough value in your relationships that others will want to pay your expenses. I’m not just talking about money.