The Social Butterflies are at it again! My wife Marie and I often go to a state park on Eastern Long Island, NY. While at a popular Park, my wife decided that she wanted to walk down to the Beach. On our way down to the water we happened to meet a gentleman who was also on his way to the Beach. A casual conversation soon evolved into a wonderful inspiring experience; a story of discrimination, that was overpowered by a positive attitude, and sheer will power!
The three of us talked about travel and discovered that we had traveled to many of the same places. We did indeed have many things in common, and soon felt unusually comfortable in our willingness to share information about ourselves. After exchanging many of our viewpoints, my wife and I just stood still and listened to this gentleman's story. This gentleman spoke with a very heavy foreign accent! I did not have a problem with his accent because my grandparents also spoke with the same foreign accent. We were mesmerized by his story of success through sheer determination and an unsinkable positive attitude. To protect this gentleman's privacy, let's call him Paul P Smith III. (Names and locations have been changed to protect his identity.)
As with many older people such as myself; interaction with other people arrives at a different level. I can hear what people are saying, but I can also feel strong emotions that are directly linked to the words that are spoken.
Paul has the uncanny ability to master skills and professions almost at will! While living in Boston he decided to become a Jeweler, and opened his own store. His formula for success was simple; he walked into a jewelry store and observed what they did wrong. When Paul opened his own store he made sure that he did not do what they did! As Paul told his story I could feel the power in his resolve to accomplish each of his new stated goals.
Paul later did the exact same thing some years later; he became a successful Carpenter by observing what other Carpenters did wrong. Paul changed professions when he got bored with his current profession, because he knew that he could master any profession at will!
Paul Smith changed professions two more times. First he became a very successful Electrician; but the story behind his last profession change, caused me to be choked up with emotion!
In 1970, Paul decided that he wanted to get away from the "Rat Race" of the great metropolis, and enjoy the quiet clean environment of Eastern Long Island. He sold everything and took his money to Long Island. He had made a fortune, and intended to buy his house "cash!"
Mr. Smith walked into the office of an Eastern long Island Realtor, to buy a very expensive house. Paul was dressed in wrinkled pants and an old worn out shirt. The realtor picked up on Paul's heavy foreign accent, and decided to do everything in his power to keep Paul Smith out of his territory; he simply refused to sell him a house. Every time Paul Smith asked the Realtor about a house, he said it was either sold or at Contract! The Realtor had made a fatal mistake.
Paul was devastated because of the Blatant discrimination. While standing on the hot sidewalk outside of the Real Estate Office, Paul quietly walked over to his wife Rebecca and said, "Rebecca, I'm going into the Real Estate Business."
Paul located his new Real Estate business across the street from the Realtor that refused to sell a house to him, because he spoke with a foreign accent. The outcome is as inspiring as being on top of Mount Everest; through his new Real Estate business, Paul Smith added untold millions of dollars to his existing fortune. Paul's new business flourished because he treated his customers like human beings and family.
The rogue realtor eventually went out of business! Paul did what he did best; he opened a business, and did not do any of the undesirable things that his competition did. Discrimination was indeed overpowered by sheer will power and determination! Mr. Smith is truly an amazing man! Paul P Smith III should be a role model and an inspiration to us all!
