Previous Life

When I made the decision to start Rum Runner, I totally divorced myself from my previous business life. Some would say, "checked out." I donated all my business clothes to the thrift shops, deleted virtual all my business contacts, deleted my LinkedIn account (heaven forbid), stopped all subscriptions to my business publications, and politely (I think) informed everyone that I was no longer in the merger and acquisition business. But it truly is a small small world and the coincidences of that small world continue to astound me every day. Just this week, Drake and I were stopping at boat that had been frantically waving us over. As I finished tying up, Drew came running out the cabin. He was holding in his hands a copy of the business book that I had written 20 years ago. Drew was down last year about the same time and we had chatted a bit. I guess he was curious enough to head back to his home in Tampa and do a bit of a google search to find out if I was legitimate or in the islands only until the statute of limitations ran out on some crime I had committed. He came across the info that I written a book titled, "Let's Get Results, not Excuses." Now let's understand that book actually was on several best seller lists despite the fact that the book is really pretty bad. However, the title appealed to large audience and like most business books, ended up on shelves and never read. Well, Drew started looking for this book that has been out of print for many years and found a copy on eBay. (I hope he didn't pay more than nickel for it.) He politely asked me if I would autograph for him. I stared at him and the book and had flashbacks of my previous business life. I broke out in a cold sweat remembering the stresses of that grind. Fortunately, he broke the spell and ordered his favorite Mango Colada. Thanks Drew for the reminder of how great it is living here in the islands..