Money is Merely a Means

Do you remember that song bye the Beatles, "I read the news today oh - boy"? We all have our routines that we all enjoy the best way in starting the day for me is just delving into it and really there is not that much good news - as well I am not a big television fan. But that is just me. As I had other things to attend too - aside of my addiction to writing. Kidding aside, so often I don't think we really do appreciate how well we have it. Regardless of the global recession we are not living in places that are without water or people are literally dying in number every day.

I don't feel young nor do I feel old, but recently I was asked if I really felt that I had cancer. To be very honest it was a concern, coupled with other things at hand but one comes to realize what the meaning of life is.

At a very young age I was privy to being brought into a consortium of business people, four of them they were. For me I was going to university and then in my last year I saw an ad in the paper advertising for a part time marketing director of a mall. This was my first university that I had attended and it was funny how I was merely taking a BA. Most all of my other friends were within commerce and wanting to climb that ladder where I was more of a creative one. Yet we did have our fun!

As soon as I applied for this part time job - which merely paid $500.00/month - I knew that it was taking me places. Within a year I was called by a lawyer to obtain my home phone number and he told me who was going to be calling - I didn't know it was the senior vice president of the largest commercial shopping center company within the world. And I went home and just waited. I got the call and I heard this voice of a man by the name of Ted. Little did I know that the manager and director of the mall was possibly on his way out. And it was so bizarre at the time to receive a call from someone that you never knew. I remember vividly the comment with a strong yet gent like voice saying over the telephone, "Jack I will be arriving at the airport at 7pm would you mind meeting picking me up". Well, at this point I knew what was going on and I had this flimsy old Toyota Corolla.

So got got dressed formally suit and all and stood there with a card held so we would notice each other.

Here was a man of 5'7" that was around 72 - white hair and white beard. Dapper as it comes. The man was of wealth but he was not arrogant. We got to the hotel he was staying at. A most kind man for his position - he was at that stage where he had much money but you would never know. We had supper together and he was a silent type while I was there shaking but not showing it as I knew what was or may come about.

He went on to talk about this particular mall and as well what he and four others represented. It was a company back then called Trizec. And he was hiring me for the position of executive director of what the public company which was the largest in all the Americas and as well to some extent overseas.  The manager was being relieved of duties but there was a catch to it. I would handle and attend to all that they personally owned. Secondly, he had not made his decision as of yet which place me in a very precarious position.

Now at that age I had never been trained within that area. I knew within a year how to market a shopping center and I had a hoot of a time with all the people I was able to meet.

As far as management I had no idea of what was all entailed. We left off after he explained in a small manner all that was involved and after he said not to expect a call. Now that night I never slept. At that time I was living with a girl friend and I was up all night just pacing and the finally I got to sleep.

The next morning the phone range and the rather older administrative assistant called and said, "Jack, Mr. Elford would like for you to come to the office". Well I knew she was close with the manager and I went in and I have to tell you Ted was a brilliant man but his social skills in some areas were not that great. But that was Ted, he was so smart yet like many everyone has there areas in which they are great at.

George the manager obviously had a long talk with Ted and when I got there I was asked to come into the office. It was a very strange situation to say the least as I worked for George. But George got used to the luxuries and I guess coming into work three days a week caught up. Ted asked for George to hand over  his keys to me and you could see this man was upset despite his payout. However, I have no clue as to why I was the one this group of 4 men hired me as I was not trained in this area. But I took the keys and shook Georges hand and well again it was strange.

Now going from working for $500.00/month to writing my own cheques as well as having signing right to the company for half a million was something that required the ultimate of trust.

I worked day and night for them. I had a small town house at the time and it was near enough that at the middle of the night if I had some things I wished to do I would literally go to my office and learn all of this. I literally learned on the job.

I kid you not when at the age of 24, when you are flown by way of a private plane to meet with four gentleman the first time blows you away. However, what I found within it all was that all my friends that were in commerce came to at first ask me why I was doing what I am doing - as they thought I didn't qualify. I never listened to what others think or what others thought I should do. There is that thing that you have that do your own thing and you come to find whom really are your friends.

So many called me for references, I lectured commerce students that were really my own age as a seasonal speaker and things just grew. I groomed into it if you will. But unlike many of my colleagues at that time - there was that aristocratic mentality that you only associate yourself with a certain type of people.

Not me! I held on to friends that were from all walks of life. As I remember one of the consortium of business men mentioned to me, "the higher you climb - there will always be those that want to watch you fall. I never fell. In fact, without bragging I went on to speak across Canada with regards to a variety of subjects within the business. And I maintained who I was. I did not change and be someone else.

Thereafter, there was a time that I was given several malls to handle and hire people and there at a certain time a person makes a transition and I moved on to New York. I loved it and I worked as a consultant. But here too I had calls from associates in Canada that thought I was living in Trump tower - but I was living a very normal easy lifestyle and the one thing after work was to enjoy life.

I guess there merit of this write is that life is not about money. Money is a means, but it's not the be all and end all. Still to this day I have called Ted a few times, out of all four including the CEO of the company were chasing the millions, while Ted he was more easy going with things. As well, when it came to any arguments within quarterly meetings - in which Harold (the CEO) would hit on Ted as he was a bit high strung, Ted would just pack up his bags confidentially and depart with a confidence that I have yet to ever see the likes of.

And when he did. Everyone was lost as Ted was the accountant and financial officer and without Ted they were all lost.

I thought I would share this - why not.