The Sanford Berenberg Experience: Message of the Day

Good Morning,

This week was a sad week for bookstores. 2 of the 4 Borders stores in Louisville is closing. The one by my office is one of them. So I went a few last times to pick up some final gifts and such. I found an audio tape by Jerry Doyle, Conservative Commentator and Radio Host for what ended up being $1.00. I remember Jerry Doyle for his role on Babylon 5, and I had seen him at conventions and met him before so for $1 what could I lose. So far, I am really enjoying listening to his book on take “Have you seen my country lately?”.

In listening to the second CD, he talked about letting his stardom from Babylon 5 get to his head. That he would vent about some scene or lines he had problems with to his manager, his PR agent and everyone who he effectively paid for his being an actor. Everyone agreed with his rants and what he felt were wrongs. He then called a friend of his, a retired military no-nonsense kinda guy who while Jerry was ranting, was silent. When Jerry paused, his friend asked ‘are you done?’. Jerry said no, and his friend told him to put on his space suit, speak his lines, get his paycheck and then hung up on him. To Jerry it was an alarm going off, and he changed gears.

Jerry also shared a conversation he had with one of his mentors. He asked how Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson could they have earned millions if not more, and to lose it all. His friend said that they didn’t have smoke alarms.

Jerry explained smoke alarms are people who tell you how it is. Not like his manager or PR agent who were simply ‘yes-men’. Like his friend who hung up on him after Jerry saw that he was getting a big head about his acting.

I am blessed to have several smoke alarms in my life. My wife, my best-friend Howard, several other friends and even my boss.

Think about it. I work in a professional office and share a blog of some five hundred messages over 5 years, published a book on self improvement. Put me on a team with some first time supervisors and a few with some more experience, and it may appear to be a mismatch. If I do not watch myself, I could think that I was all that, that I was something special and lord it over my peers.

My peers and friends cheered my accomplishment, but also treated me the same as the day before my book was published.

I am an average guy, who happens to be good as some things, great a few and terrible at others (painting for one, don’t EVER ask me to paint ANYTHING).

When I forget this and see myself as more than I am , I prepare myself for a fall back to reality.

It is because I have smoke alarms who I listen to. I don’t pull out their batteries and ignore them.

Do you have any smoke alarms in your life who help keep your feet on the ground when your head is in the clouds?

If you do, thank them.

If you don’t….put new batteries in, or get some.

Enjoy!

Sanford Berenberg

Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
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