Now you can laugh. The real me is coming out in the next few days. I’m revealing my deep dark secrets – however, anyone who knows me knows that this is NO big secret. Ever since I was a child, Mickey Mantle was my absolute hero! I even had a letter from him – written BY HIM. But my parents threw it out when I went to college and they were mad at me. Do you have any idea how much that would be worth today? Of course I would never get rid of it because it meant so much to me. You’re probably thinking that this was just written by his secretary. But remember the time period I’m talking about – back in the 50s (that’s NINETEEN-50s, not Eighteen-50s for you smarty pants out there) – they did NOT have press secretaries then. And let me tell you, if this letter had been written by a press secretary, he or she should have been fired. There were more typos in the letter than there are in most of my emails (I believe that if you really want to hear from me you won’t care that I don’t take the time to capitalize perfectly or have perfect grammar – if you did care, you’d never get an email from me for sure). I cherished this letter but sigh, it’s gone as is Mickey Mantle.

One year when I did the NYC Marathon I ran for a charity that had us meet on Sunday morning (marathon Sunday) at Mickey Mantle’s restaurant. How wonderful that was. I didn’t want to leave but had to so that I could run the marathon.

I know I’m blabbering on but I idolized Mickey. Everyone who was a Yankee fan in my youth did (of course that was no one else in my family which is probably why I WAS a Yankee fan).

I don’t remember if we had a TV back then, but I know listened to the radio every single day during the summer. I kept score and drew pictures of him all day long (can you spell “crush”?).

What was it about him that everyone, including me, loved? His charisma and winning smile was part of it but, for me it was his amazing courage to overcome serious medical issues with his knees in order to become and continue as one of the greatest Yankees ever. The year 1961 would have been even more remarkable if he had not had an infection that landed him in the hospital – he would have competed with Roger Maris right up to the very end. And all without performance enhancing drugs too. Simply amazaing.

I admired his determination and dedication to a game that didn’t pay very much then and sure didn’t come with any creature comforts – he was out there every day with his very painful knees (osteomyelitis at one point) playing his heart out and loving it. It gave kids some place to “go” (virtually) and enjoy life. Listening to Mickey play with the Yankees allowed me to leave the real world for a couple of hours and be somewhere where the miserable things in my life didn’t matter or even exist anymore.  I was captivated by this man more than any other I’d ever been exposed to (well maybe Ben Casey – so maybe we did have TVs or maybe Ben was later in life). All I know is that I started loving Mickey Mantle and the Yankees about the same time I “decided” (knew) I was going to be a doctor – age 4. And I’ve never waivered from that love.

Mickey Mantle has been the hero of so many kids and although his life didn’t turn out terrifically after he retired, he remained in all our minds as something to aim for. He was just a country kid who worked hard and wanted to succeed and wanted to be there for people (especially kids) who hadn’t “made it” like he had. That’s a very important type of philanthropy.

I know I’ve blabbed on and on about Mickey and I apologize (be thankful I have to go to work or I’d go on even more) for that but he’s one of the best memories of my childhood. I still remember being able to go to Mickey Mantle day when he retired.  A tiny little girl at Yankee Stadium participating in such a wonderful tribute to a great man. How could that not stay indelibly printed in your mind.

Have the courage to continue on in spite of pain, be there for others when they need you, stay happy and positive and act like a country boy, smile all the time, and be there for others. That about sums up my childhood hero!

Terrie

P.S. In case you hadn’t figured it out yet – the number 7 is my lucky number!

 No I don’t know Robin Roberts – but I sure wish I did. Her return to Good Morning America last week (or was it the week before) was a major miracle and captured the attention of viewers the world round. Why is that? She is a very popular person. But there are alot of popular celebrities – however, how many of them have been positive no matter what the circumstances. We always see them with makeup and when they are “on camera”, not when they are having a bad day or some sort of tragic problem. But Robin Roberts shared her tragedies and the experience of them with us. She forsook her privacy in order to make people aware of the issues and problems that so many go through. It’s great when a news figure brings attention to some cause. But usually they do it after they’ve recovered or been through the experience. Robin brought people into the heart of her experience and periodically let people know what was happening and what she was going through. But have you ever seen her without a smile – and a genuine smile? I haven’t. I am certain there have been times that smiling was probably the last thing she wanted to do but that’s such a prominent part of her being that it was just natural.

Her positive outlook and determination is what inspires me. It helps me get through the dinky little troubles that I have day to day. She has alot of stuff to endure and yet she’s so caring and loving to those all around her. Her gratitude toward her team was amazing and the real center of her attention on her first day back. That’s truly amazing to me.

It was/is her determination and dedication that is keeping her going through the hard times she’s been going through. Can you do the same and behave the same as she? I don’t think I have the courage and the fortitude to endure all that. I am constantly amazed at all she’s been through and how she’s come out of it.

That’s why she’s an inspiration to me – her endurance, her dedication, determination and devotion are all above reproach.

Welcome back Robin Roberts!

Terrie

 How’s this for coincidence – I picked Jims two days in a row. Must have something to do with San Antonio and our fettish for Jim’s restaurants. Well, maybe not, maybe just coincidence.

Anyway, today’s inspirational figure is Mr. Jim Edwards, one of the most well known Internet Marketing gurus there is. I first went to an Internet Marketing Bootcamp in 2006 when I was just starting Getting Unstuck, LLC (back when I had alot of time at work to actually experience life – certainly not like now – but that’s another story – see “out of the office” section of this site).

At this workshop not only did I meet Dr. Jeanette Cates (an inspiration featured earlier this month), but I learned so much about how to get my business going and what I needed to do.  From that time on I have belonged to Jim’s membership site “The Net Reporter” which has given me every piece of information that I’ve ever needed. Between Jim and Jeanette I have not needed anyone else to keep me going and keep me up to date.

I have taken almost every one of Jim’s courses and purchased almost all of his products (some such as those involving off-line business are not up my alley but everything else he produces has helped me at least 10 fold). The primary thing I’ve missed out on is his annual Jim Boat cruise – my seasickness and vertigo keeps me from venturing out onto the high seas – yes, I was in the Navy but remember that back then they didn’t allow women on ships so I was “safe” and therefore never got my sea legs). I would love to go on one of his cruises because I know they are jam packed with information.

Why is Jim such an inspiration? Well, he bills himself as the Webinar King but he really is the “Overdeliver King” which is something we all should be. You ALWAYS get so much more than your money’s worth that you can’t even accurately quantitate it. He has taught me the immense value of overdelivering for you folks.  That, by itself, is worth more than anything I’ve ever learned in my short business career (only 7 years).

Jim is also a very warm and loving man. He doesn’t want you to see that hidden under his sometimes gruff exterior but there is a heart bigger than most inside that wonderful guy. He do almost anything for anyone who asked him. He’s been taken advantage of I’m sure because of his generosity. He personifies giving, though and anyone who watches him for any length of time will see that in his every word and every action. But you have to look closely or you’ll miss it.

Jim has been one of the two anchors I’ve had in the 7 years I’ve been cultivating Getting Unstuck, LLC. He has provided support and guidance to a greater degree than anyone else I know (other than Dr. Cates). Without those two I would not be writing these daily posts at all – and I’d be miserable because I wouldn’t have a method to convey what I want to give to the world.  Jim has helped me define my goal and then know how to pursue it. And in that, he has been kind, gentle and supportive – all the while knowing when he can kick you in the butt to make you get something done!

What a wonderful man and how lucky we are to have him in the Internet Marketing world. Thank you Jim!

Terrie

In a few hours I’ll be out trying to do something  I haven’t done before – run a second marathon in 48 hours. That’s not much by my crazy friends’ standards but it’s another first for me if I do it. And people like today’s inspiration are what got me here after 64 years. Mr. Jim London passed away a little over a year ago and I don’t know why but it’s affected me more dramatically than most other passings – especially since I didn’t personally know Jim (I’d only met him twice at St Jude Radiothons and I know he didn’t know who the heck I was).

But even though I didn’t know him personally, he was with me every single day for so many years as I commuted to work in the Washington, DC area. He and Mary Ball and then he alone sat right there in my car every day as I drove the 60 miles in I-95 traffic. He heard everything I called other drivers and responded back with wonderful Country Music – although I might have first heard him when he was doing Oldies – I can’t remember that far back – I know he gave me both Oldies and Country music and I think I got to hear  him (amazing actually ) on the first day of a new DC radio station – Oldies 100! What a great find that was -not only because of the music but because of the people. He and Mary were something I looked forward to every single day of my life and I almost (not quite but almost) missed commuting on the weekends because I couldn’t hear them.

Jim’s voice was so deep and powerful that you just felt safe and warm when he was on the air. It was as if nothing bad could possibly happen to you. That voice and gentle nature simply resonated with you all day long.

So why is Jim an inspiration to me. Because he was so gentle and kind and cared about his listeners. Here is San Antonio I’ve been fortunate enough to find a morning show that has two wonderful people that also care about the listeners but in DC there were not alot of them. And whether the DJs (radio personalities…lol) know it or not, the audience can tell if they really care – because the DJ will talk to them, not around or at them. And Jim (and Mary) definitely talked TO you. No matter what, Jim was always there – you know he had bad days, didn’t feel great, was not in a terrific mood or whatever, but as they say – the show must go on – and he never, ever let on. He was  a rock.  The closest I’ve come to seeing him not be a rock was when Mary left radio and they had a going away party for her. I got to stop in for a few seconds and was just one of the many but I remember the emotion was palpable and it wasn’t just Mary – it was Jim and Mary – for they were truly a Team – Jim was never the same on the air after that. Although he was still wonderful, it was as if there was a piece of him missing. I think you just sync with some people some times in your life if you’re lucky and Jim and Mary were two of those people.

Jim knew everything there was to know about Country music (and I think all genres of music) and you could learn so much just by listening for the title or artist of the song – it was an education you didn’t even know you were getting. And Jim truly cared about Country music – that is what makes something live on forever. When people have that passion and Jim London certainly had that passion.

One of the most indelible pieces of his life that is forever embedded in my life is the song he co-wrote with Maura Sullivan called Christmas Eve in Washington – and probably because I loved it when it was cold and snowy in DC, that song is probably my most favorite song ever. Listen to it if you get the chance.

Mr. Jim London will live on in our hearts forever and I thank him for all those years he commuted to work with me and I thank him for keeping my sanity on those long drives. And I thank him for his tremendous support of St Jude Children’s Research Hospital , which as many of you know is my primary passion. If it hadn’t been for Jim and Mary I would never have heard of St Judes! That is something I’m forever grateful for.

Rest in peace Jim – you are still loved!

Terrie