Here is a somewhat humorous experience I had back in the late 1960s when I was selling printing and office supplies in downtown Little Rock. You will appreciate this and there is a lesson to be learned here, too.

The man who hired me was the late Bert Parke, President of Democrat Printing and Lithograph Company, and he was Co-Chairman of the Goodwill Tours taken annually by the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. I went on three of these tours — first, to San Antonio, then to Houston and the last one was to Denver. I loved the Denver tour the best. One night we were there and staying in the Brown Palace Hotel, when a member of the chamber staff asked me to go down to the bar on the bottom floor and have a drink with him. 

I am not a drinker, and never have been, but I went along just to spend some time with this chamber staff member. No sooner than we got there a lady came up to me — I found out later they were called “bar flies” — and asked me to buy her a drink. I was caught off guard, so I said, “I can’t do that because I am a preacher,” which of course, was not the truth. Well, the next morning at breakfast, with more than 400 people in the room, who do you think they called on for the blessing? It served me right. I have learned some things since those days. To be sure, I have stayed out of bars from that time on. 

Here is another wonderful learning experience that I had back in those early days. At the time I was only 30 years of age, which was more than 50 years ago. One of my printing accounts was Wright, Lindsey, and Jennings law firm. The office manager, Millie, and I became good friends and by then I had learned the value of having some good mentors or people from whom I could learn. Ed Wright, the principal in this law firm, just happened to be the President of the American Bar Association. I told Millie that I would like to meet Mr. Wright and learn from him.

She not only made this possible but arranged for us to have lunch together at the Capitol Club, which was on the top floor of the Worthen Bank Building, at the time the second tallest building in our state. I might add, this was my best printing account. When I arrived for our luncheon appointment, Mr. Wright greeted me, and while he did not eat a bite, he carried my plate for me as we went through the food line. We had a wonderful visit, and the experience was priceless. This man, who had reached the pinnacle of his profession, was humble and gracious. These are qualities that will help any of us to be happier, more successful as a person.

I have found, in most cases, people who are successful and have “arrived” will welcome the opportunity to help younger people on their way up. Many of them remember people who helped them in their own careers and want to pass it on. So, if you are in the same position as I was, seek out potential mentors and ask them to help you. Of all the answers they can give, only one is “no.” All of this to say very simply, be careful from whom you learn. People with a good heart will always be willing to help us. And we should also be willing to help others.

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(Jim Davidson is an author, public speaker, syndicated columnist, and Founder of the Bookcase for Every Child project. Since its inception in the Log Cabin Democrat in 1995, Jim’s column has been self-syndicated in over 375 newspapers in 35 states. For a personalized copy of “Your Future Begins Today” send $20, which includes postage and handling, to Jim Davidson, 2 Bentley Drive, Conway, AR 72034.)