The Most Valuable Player In My Business & My Life
“Marriage, in its truest sense, is a partnership of equals, with neither exercising dominion over the other, but, rather, with each encouraging and assisting the other in whatever responsibilities and aspirations he or she might have.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley
The Best, Most Important Decision I Ever Made
Thirty-two years ago today I made the most important and best decision of my life. I married a beautiful young woman who has stood by me through thick and thin. Through flush times and times of great lack. Throughout it all she has stood by me and supported me even when she didn’t understand me. She has become and always been the Most Valuable Player in all aspects of my life.
When you are in business, sales or any other venture that requires risk, there are many people who are vital to success but one stands above all the rest. It’s not your attorney, although they are an important and valuable resource. It’s not your accountant, although they can be worth their weight in gold. It’s not your financial planner, your mentor or even your employees. The Most Valuable Player and resource an entrepreneur can have is a supportive spouse.
My wife doesn’t have a single cell of entrepreneurship in her. Her personality type is the polar opposite of mine. She is quiet and shy. She doesn’t like conflict, doesn’t want to be the center of attention, and prefers safety and security over the unknown and risk. I on the other hand, am outgoing, I don’t mind, and sometimes enjoy conflict, I’m happy to stand on a stage and speak and I love the thrill of risk and the unknown. She can’t imagine how I can get such a rush speaking to groups of strangers.
But the one thing she does get, is that she’s ALL IN. She made a commitment to me for which I am eternally grateful. She is a kinder, much better person than I will ever be. Why she married me I don’t understand (I’m glad she did though). I’ve often said she is either an angel or completely insane for staying with me for all these years. But without her, I would not be the person, the speaker, sales professional, or the entrepreneur I am today.
Make sure you let your spouse know how valuable and vital they are to you. It’s easy to take them for granted. It’s easy to shut them out because they don’t understand fully what we are or what we do. Cherish and acknowledge them because it is not easy to be married to a “hair on fire” person who’s greatest joy outside their marriage is the thrill of the game, the rush we get by going out, killing something and dragging it home. Not many do for we are a rare bread. Not better or worse, just rare.
Though our hours are long, our stress can be high, and our patients short, living with us is equally if not more challenging and no doubt more stressful. So, through it all remember the old saying, “Love your wife/husband, or someone else will” and you can hardly afford to throw away your “Most Valuable Player.”
About the Author
James G Springer is the owner and founder of “ALL IN” Communication. James is a 30+ year veteran in sales management and sales training. He has owned or managed numerous sales organizations. Additionally he is a highly skilled and trained in a variety of verbal and non-verbal modalities including:
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Body Language
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Micro Expressions
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Deception Analysis
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Personality Profiling
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Advanced Handwriting Analysis
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Sales Training
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Master Life Coach
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Hypnosis
– Traditional, Covert & Conversational -
NLP Master Practitioner