Scott Maichel – SelectHCM Payroll Processing inspires The Executive Association of San Diego!
Scott Maichel shared an incredible true story from Tony Robbins at the December 9 meeting with the Executives. Thank you Scott for inspiring us!
I grew up with four different fathers and a mother who, while I loved her dearly, could be very volatile and angry. We had no money for food and would frequently skip meals. This particular Thanksgiving was no different. I was still young the day the doorbell rang at our house all those years ago. I ran to open the door and, to my absolute shock and awe, saw a man standing outside, arms overflowing with bags of groceries. Delighted, I sprinted back inside, yelling, “Dad, Dad! Someone’s at the door, and they’ve got FOOD!”
My dad immediately looked angry. You see, my father, who lived with us at the time, struggled to put food on the table. This Thanksgiving was looking to be one of canned vegetables and a little more.
My father got up and stomped to the door. Looking at the man holding the groceries, he muttered roughly, “We don’t take charity from strangers,” and went to slam the door shut… But the man stuck his foot out to stop the door from slamming shut in his face and said, “Please, don’t let your family starve because of your pride.” Begrudgingly, my father grabbed the groceries and slammed the door.
The meaning we give to our experiences makes us who we are… I’m no different.
That fateful Thanksgiving, I was focused on there being food at our door—how amazing! My father’s focus was—I’m accepting charity because I can’t provide for my family.
But I was forever changed. While my dad nursed his wounded ego, I created the meaning from that experience that strangers care. And if strangers cared, I would, too.
It ignited something inside me: gratitude for others and the power of giving. This spirit of giving was the origin of my life’s goal to end hunger. And that’s when I decided what I was going to do.
At 17, I fed 2 families, then 4, then 8, and over the years, that grew to 4 million meals annually. 10 years ago, after reaching 42 million people, I set a new goal: 100 million meals per year for a decade—totaling 1 billion meals. I’m happy to tell you that we did it in only 8 years.
Gratitude is the antidote. What we do controls everything.
Looking back at my childhood, I could have refused to find gratitude. Maybe you’re struggling to find it in your current life. My father did. He was angry and fearful. I easily could have taken that path. But you know what? Gratitude is the antidote to anger and fear. You can’t be angry and grateful at the same time. And while what’s wrong is always available to us, so is what’s right.
So, this holiday season, let’s put gratitude into practice. You can begin by asking yourself these three powerful questions:
- Where in my life can I find gratitude right now?
- Who can I be grateful for today?
- What small act of kindness can I show to a stranger or loved one this week?
Gratitude and giving is transformative. This holiday season, choose gratitude.
Sincerely, Tony Robbins