Picture Their Face

Think back to a time.

A time when someone did something special for you that changed your life.

They set you on a path. Perhaps straightened you up, showed the courage to have the conversation you needed to have, even if you didn’t quite understand or appreciate it at the time.

Take yourself back to that time and place.

Picture their face.

Remember the conversation, deed or effort, and wonder, just for a moment, what may have become of you had they not made that effort.

Now, write them a letter.

Seems like the perfect time to do it.

Idea:

Your letter is not just any letter.

It will tell a story, written in your hand, pen and paper.

What they did, how it affected you, what it meant, and why you have never forgotten.

If it is a long story, make it a long letter. If you make a mistake writing it, so be it. You are human, trying to convey one of the deepest and most powerful human emotions, your heartfelt gratitude.

As I write this, I cannot help but think of those who would never receive such a letter from me.

I see my late father’s face. Alan Schwab, forever young, who always and unfailingly trusted me more than I trusted myself, but also without knowing it, taught me the most powerful of lessons as a young man – heroes are human, and that’s ok.

I see the wise face of the old coach Allan Jeans, who taught me “It is not how you got knocked down, it is how you get up”, but also put out his hand to help me find my feet.

I see Neville Crowe’s (in the picture above) wonderful moustachioed smile, the President of the Richmond Football Club, who appointed me CEO of Richmond when I was only 24, and took it upon himself to coach and mentor, but never made me feel young. A beautiful man.

Think of your letter, handwritten envelope amongst the bills and junk in the letterbox, carefully opened and unfolded.

Your hero will probably sit down to read it, smiling, then read it for a second and third time, perhaps even show it to a loved one such is their pride.

Kept forever in a safe place.

Who will receive your letter?

Quote:

“People who want to make a difference, usually do.”

Lisa O’Neill

Lisa also has a great line to get you started in the day with flourish:

“Get up, dress up, show up”

Recommendation:

An app called Ecamm Live for Mac users.

It has enabled me to deliver keynotes, workshops and leadership meetings on Zoom, Teams etc, in a fully seamless way. It is a subscription, but worth it if you are going to have to communicate in this way.

At the end of every presentation, someone will ask “How are you doing that?”

The answer…Ecamm Live.

Easy to install, and learn, with very good instructional videos.

…and a timeless song lyric:

Kashmir – Led Zeppelin

A song I can listen to any time, but at its best in the seconds before a major sporting event.

“Oh, let the sun beat down upon my face
And stars fill my dream
I’m a traveller of both time and space
To be where I have been
To sit with elders of the gentle race
This world has seldom seen
They talk of days for which they sit and wait
All will be revealed”

The old boys rocking it out in 2012, losing none of its power:

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