If you haven’t done so already, search your world for a true living legend. They are closer and more real than you think.
Here is the story of how I met mine:
I used to think I was clever when I unleashed my conversation starter on unsuspecting friends, colleagues and acquaintances. “Can you name me a living legend,” I would say – hoping to gain a little insight into the questioned – hoping to categorize these fine folks into those who ‘got it’ and those who didn’t – hoping to, maybe, even learn a thing or two.
What I invariably learned was that the term itself, the criteria for which someone could be considered a living legend, was not universally agreed upon. OK, no problem. I could put a quick Webster’s spin on this.
To be a living legend you had to be well known. So well known, in fact, that if my mother hadn’t heard of you – you couldn’t possibly be a living legend. Two – you had to transcend your area of expertise or influence … like Muhammad Ali. He transcended boxing to become one of the most widely recognized people in the world. Third, you could not be evil – you had to stand for all that were good and right in the world.
Gosh, I’m clever.
Not exactly.
Not only am I not clever, but apparently I didn’t “get it” either.
After enough responses to my question, it is clear that my definition is flawed – and that’s primarily why I didn’t get it. Now I do.
A number of people named living legends who I had never heard of, let alone my mother. How stupid was I to think I could have possibly heard about all the truly wonderful men and women in this world who are doing great and amazing things because they are great and amazing people?!?
One person named his parents as living legends. OK, here I had to draw the line. But within seconds he had me convinced that these people, who have given everything they have in this world to helping others, are truly are living legends - not only in his mind but in the minds of others as well.
Now I was starting to get it.
Then I had the pleasure of meeting my own living legend. A man who you surely do not know – and probably will never know of. And that is a shame, because I feel truly blessed to have met this man – and become part of his family. Let me explain.
More than a few months ago my company acquired another smaller company to bolster our position in an emerging market. This man ran that company. He founded it. And if you played by his rules, you became part of the family. And as with all family members, you’ll be greeted with a hug, be sent off with a hug – and will have the highest of expectations put upon you.
My first few meetings with this man were rather mundane, as our paths crossed quickly.
But in subsequent meetings I was able to spend more time with him – and slowly was able to see his greatness. He shared with me his three rules for success: 1) Be 100% committed to winning the game. 2) Operate with the highest level of integrity 3) Surround yourself with like-minded people. And when he tells you these things it’s like Sir Edmund Hillary telling you the secrets to climbing Everest – and with these three very simply rules – you too can make the climb. And you believe it. And are ready to climb!
Sometimes it’s not so much what is said, but how it is said. And whenever this man speaks to me, it is with a genuineness that shoots straight through to your soul. He is a sage not so much for the words themselves, but for the honesty and passion behind them.
In more meetings and conversations I begin to learn the history of this man: he dove with Jacques Cousteau, made millions (or more – I do not know) on various business ventures, went through law school (it just might come in handy, he reasoned), and lives his life with a passion and honesty and genuineness that makes me feel terribly small – yet large at the same time.
I told key people at my company that I needed somehow be on his team. That he had inspired in me a new willingness to commit or recommit to being the very best – and to just imagine what a group of like-minded people could achieve! I wanted and needed to be one of those like-minded people.
Well, somehow the stars lined up, and I am now working with this man and his team.
So this past week I flew to California to engage with him and his team on various marketing projects.
On the second day, he invited me to visit his ranch in the hills of Southern California.
Over the next 5 hours we toured his ranch - 19 acres of paradise. You see, over the past 11 years he has turned nothing but rock and desert into a wildlife preserve that is now the home to 100’s of species of flowers, 100’s of species of plants, shrubs and trees – and an amazing flurry of animal life that are all fed and admired as rightful brothers and sisters of our fine pale blue dot.
Absolutely nothing is wasted. Rain water is collected. Food waste is composted. Everything is recycled. He even goes so far as to shred every single used piece of paper from his company in order to produce mulch material for worm farms on the ranch (they are, after all, great for the soil).
The horticulturalist who maintains the property spent the 5 hours with us as well, and completely blew me away with his shared vision for the ranch – and commitment to making it happen. He too, was part of the family.
You see, there is a purpose to this little slice of heaven. Not only will it continue to grow and be protected wildlife habitat – eventually it will be a place for children to visit (city kids most likely, through school programs) who have never had the opportunity to appreciate mother earth is this way.
Nature is amazing. How it learns to get along through good times and bad is remarkable – like how coyotes eat the ripe plums each night when they fall from the trees – how honey will taste different depending on what flowers the bees flock to – how certain trees prosper when planted on inclines because they prefer water flow as opposed to pooling.
When I offered to help in the cause (I could design the placards that will be placed on the various plants, trees, etc – as well as a brochure the kids could take home with them) they were genuinely touched by my kindness – you could see it in their faces and how they thanked me - like I was offering them a cure of some sorts. It was a simple, genuine moment I won’t soon forget.
At the end of the evening, I thanked them both for taking time out of their very busy schedules to give me this most amazing tour. In my hug goodbye, he reiterated that I was part of the family now – and you just knew that this is what family does. They genuinely care for one another and share the important things with each other, both big and small.
As I look back on this little essay, I feel I have failed to capture why this man is someone who I consider a living legend. I feel many of you will read it and not get it – through no fault of your own – the fault is all mine.
Yes, he has had a remarkably successful life - both business and personal. That is not what makes him a living legend. Yes, he has a lot to teach – and that is part of it. The thing that really makes him a living legend is that he has lived his entire life with an integrity, an honesty and a genuineness that inspires me to be a better man.
I have never met another man who that whenever we speak I sense that I am having a pure experience. When you talk with anyone else, it’s like walking on the beach with sneakers on. But when you talk with him, the sneakers come off and you’re walking in your bare feet.
In this man, I have met my first living legend.
His name is Ken.
