Have You Ever Been Out Of Work?

Well, I have. It was one of the scariest times of my life. I had a wife, a brand new daughter, 57 cents in my pocket and, suddenly, my baby in her stroller looked very vulnerable. So, what did I do? Well, I drove down the street to a hot dog place, ordered one for my wife and one for myself, and with ten cents bought a coke that the two of us would share...it all came to 54 cents including taxes (that was back in the 'good old' days when money did go a whole lot further.) and we went on home...a third story walk up in West Rogers Park that was really three flights up! I tell you this not for sympathy, but rather to let you know I didn't always have money, and did learn how to navigate successfully through life.

 

At any rate, as so often in my life, the fear quickly dissolved, and was replaced with the ultimate optimism I usually felt. This was an opportunity, not a disaster. My wife held up a package that had been waiting in the vestibule, and I quickly opened it. Inside was a great vase, a wedding gift that had arrived 5 months late! First thing the next morning I took it down to Marshal Fields, a high end store where the vase had been purchased. I got $70.00 dollars (a fortune in those days) and the ability to take a deep breath...

From there I had a host of 'job.' The one thing they all had in common was the afforded me independent employment. An opportunity to make significant money, and I worked my own hours. Those hours became very long, but that's another part of the story...

 

The simple truth was that at 20 years old I knew that I needed freedom, I knew I was willing to work harder than anyone else, and I chose the people to work for that understood my drive and abilities. It would be many years before I discovered Ifa, many more until it became my life, but each and every career I had gave me the opportunities. Make a note of that. I said "Opportunities", not money. I never took an employment because it would pay the rent...I took it with gratitude for the opportunity it gave me and my family...

 

Once that opportunity had purpose , such as Ifa, I was absolutely "all in."

 

More later...

 

Love & Blessings

 

Philip Neimark