06/24/2024
This is borderline personal AND business content:
Today as I worked in my store in Fort Worth, Texas, in came an employee from a few years in the past. We shook hands and we talked for a bit and then he and I, along with his girlfriend went to eat at a Chinese restaurant that was near. This was only after he demanded to top of the aquariums in the store for old time sake. The employee's name was Martin and it had been quite some time that I had seen him. Martin had left to attend college in Corpus Christi and he was just back in town for a week or so. In our conversation, Martin told me how I inspired him while he worked for me. He mentioned a few times when he didn't show up that I allowed him to continue employment with me because it made him grow! I was happy to hear that. Growth in him was all I expected! And it sure as heck paid off in the man I was sitting to in the restaurant with his girlfriend, Megan.
Over the years, many ex employees have come back to thank me....sometimes for things that I felt they owed no thanks for. But I was always delighted. I have filled my days in the presence of people that I have met over the years in my store. Those are the people who are so close to me today. Martin is one of them and I am thankful.
Customers who have moved away and others who left the aquarium hobby perhaps due to the economy still come to see me. anytime they are near. They have no aquarium. They have come to see me!
I am thankful to have been so positive in the lives of so many people that I have met! Some great things have happened to me and I often wonder why people have such a strong love for me! They all tell me that it's because of the love I put out! That's some great Karma! I do nothing for glory. Everything that I do, I do because I want to. I do it because it's as easy to love as it is dangerous to hate. There are no expectations! So let me again thank Martin and Megan who are in this picture with me after eating today. Let me thank Brian Cinnamon and Van Stenzler. Let me thank Lucious and Callie Pitts. Let me thank Jason Wilson. Let me thank Joseph and Brittany Clark and Misty and eff Martin. Let me thank Misty and Ron Cook, Tristan Gilbert, Alex Blanco and Tyler Mills. Thank you Marc Levenson and Phillip Levenson. Thank you Chris Cryer. Thank you Mike and Sherrie Rota. Thank you Heath Roye and Dr. Runyon. Thank you Dr. Byrd and your brother David and your entire family who helped me to get water to the needy in New Orleans at a most desperate time in that city! Thank you Zannetta Maria and Jon Ervin! Thank you Michael Stark and David Frear. Thank you Autumn Winslett and Rick Carter!
No way I can name every name. There are many to thank! My visit with Martin and Megan today touched my heart into making this post. To so many........Thank you for helping to shape me into a person who I am so proud to be! Love to all of you!