Some 25 years ago, I left the firm where we had worked together to start my own business. It was very scary, because I owned a house and had two kids in college at the time. When I left, you sent me a card that had the following quote on its cover:
“My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon.”
— Mizuta Masahide (17th century Japanese poet and samurai)
I saved the card, and in fact, it has been an inspiration to me ever since. My first attempt at my own business failed, and I had to take on another corporate job to support my family. But 19 years ago, as I was cleaning drawers in my office, I found your card again. A few months later, in 2000, I started my own business again, and I’ve never once been less than 100% billable since. I have never looked back, and I have succeeded at more than I’d ever thought I was capable of accomplishing.
I found your card again this week, and just had to reach out to tell you that you were an inspiration to me 25 years ago, and have been ever since. Your encouragement and guidance has been such a gift to me, as I am sure it has been to many others over the past years!