Monday, August 20, 2007

Guys That Think They Are Retiring



This is a picture of a friend of mine who is retiring at the end of the month. Jack teaches people how to sell. He specializes in small businesses, so his clients are photographers, home remodelers, the person who sells you a sign for your business, the local lawyer or accountant. He was the President of the local Chamber of Commerce the year after my wife, so we have known him quite a while now. What has always amazed me is how far away people came from to learn from Jack. Folks would drive an hour and a half to come to his classes. Wednesday evening, there was a special 'class' for those who had subscribed for a lifetime membership to continuing education.

Jack was in rare form, and he was running the largest class I had ever seen. Jack had found a way to make 'everyone' his friend, and to internalize it. I put 'everyone' in a single quote because he's like CMHL in that there will always be someone that doesn't fall under the spell. Personally, I'd love to have half his hit rate. I'm also not accusing Jack of anything, he's a genuinely likable guy. just like CMHL, you just WANT TO LIKE THEM. I think it's genetic, or it was in the water they drank as kids. Anyway, my mother didn't give me the same water, and my mother-in-law didn't stock it either, although I am keeping my wife, and she, apparently, is keeping me.

But I digress. Jack is retiring at the end of the month of August. Jack is a planner. He has made a lot of money as a Sales Trainer, and a lot of friends. He has sold his business to another man, whom he has brought in over the the last few years and introduced to everyone. Still, Jack performed other functions for people, such as acting as some people's HR Department. He got paid handsomely for doing this function for his client, and he didn't have to do it full time.

About ten years ago, Jack bought a house in West Virginia, about a three hour drive from here. He would pack up his wife and go to West Virginia for the weekend whenever he could. Slowly, he started having some work done to the house, and making things the way he wanted them. Last year, he had a major overhaul done, to the tune of over $200,000, and he and his wife are preparing the house for their occupancy next month. Jack's a planner.

It seems that every couple of weeks, he'll be back in the area, doing those side jobs with old friends that paid so much to him. He'll still be a part-time HR Manager for one person, and help with the hiring here, and do this and that there. Jack will probably make more in his retirement than 99% of the population makes and he'll work less than 25% of the time we do. Did I mention that Jack's also smarter than me?

12 comments:

notfearingchange said...

congratulations jack!

The CEO said...

NFC, I wanted something positive given the last couple of weeks. Me and another guy were here before Jack bought his franchise in 1991, and he inherited us. We're taking him to lunch Wednesday.

Anonymous said...

Some people just have it all together from the start. It makes it easy to be a planner. Congrats Jack!

Echomouse said...

I wish I knew that guy. Seriously.

M@ said...

Jack doesn't know Jack, Monty.

The CEO said...

Pool, one of the most amazing things about Jack is that he told me that it took him from '91 to '94 to learn enough about the system he was using to become effective. After that, he started making headway. He credits EVERYTHING to a guy named David Sandler, whose system he learned and uses. Before that, he claims to have been average.

Carrie, he's right here, right now. I'll see him at least three different times this week. C'mon down!

M@, Jack has a lot of Jack, and dats a fact, because he's so good at knowing Jack, M@

Wicked H said...

Very nice tribute. Send my congrats also, please.

Glamourpuss said...

He sounds an eminently smart fellow. I have taken note.

Puss

Anonymous said...

wow, good for him. that is fantastic. I just think that must be an amazing feeling to actually retire.

wow.

too bad that most of us actually "have" to work!!!

The CEO said...

Wicked, Jack said "Thank You".

Puss, I suspect you're smarter than both of us put together.

CMHL, he claims that he 'caught on' around 1994, and settled down and started enjoying himself, and things started happening.

notfearingchange said...

do you think he knows "the secret"?

The CEO said...

NFC, it's certain that I don't know "the secret", because I'm still working. Care to share it?