About ten years ago (!!!) my mom gave me the ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective Folks‘ books on tape. It was shortly after I’d finished college; I was in the midst of embarking upon my professional career. At the time, I was a peon in commercial radio. I’d tried my hand at promotions, dipped my toe in on-air broadcasting, and landed in the sales pit. After a brief 6-month stint as a sales assistant (that’s a fancy title for a secretary), I was granted 1) a tiny raise and 2) a job as an account manager (fancy title for salesperson). At the ripe old age of 24, I was to set out on an endless series of cold-calls, and try to convince 50-something Regional Managers and General Managers to spend their precious ad budgets with me, on awesome radio ad campaigns.
It was a tough gig, although it had it’s fair share of perks. One of the perks was that I spent up to several hours a day driving my Honda Accord around the Bay Area highways and byways, often listening to sports talk radio or, alternatively, my collection of the 7 Habits. Over the two years I spent at that job, I listened to the whole series of five tapes probably 10 times. After a while, the principals and teachings of Stephen R. Covey became pretty ingrained in my brain. For someone as hungry and ambitious but maddeningly disorganized and procrastinating as I was, those tapes were about the best damn influence I could have had: a set of tools to manage my own thoughts, goals, and behaviors – a set of tools that I had pretty much completely lacked up until that point.
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Another huge influence on my being are the Buddhist teachings of Nichiren Daishonin. The core principals of Cause and Effect, the power of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, and the realization that I am connected to all other things in the universe – these concepts and tools have shaped the way I view the world, how I think about things, and how I behave, since I was very young. Buddhism has given me a moral compass, forms a core pillar of my self identity. Guess who introduced me to Buddhism? My mom, who has been practicing since I was just 2 years old.
Riding the bus to work the other day, it occurred to me what a profound impact these two things have had on my life, and just how much my Mom has influenced me vis-Ã -vis these two things. Along with my involvement in sports and my higher education, these teachings form the intellectual and philosophical cornerstones of my being. And without my mom, it’s highly likely that I’d lack them completely.
How bout that. Thanks, Mom.
Wow! This is more than I ever hoped for!
Not only do you apply your learning, but you remember the source. You are a gift!
Thank you!! Thank you and the Universe!
Thank you Nichiren!