“No kidding. Harry had no children and was hoping to retire but couldn’t face the prospect of selling the business he’d started from scratch. Once I got the job at the coffeehouse, I worked more than full time for Harry. I liked him—we had a bond. That winter was a bad one, and we needed to put up scaffolding to repair damage to windows. It was a tough job, but I came through and got it done. This made Harry a very happy man, although there were times when I was worried for my safety. I figured I would treat him like my own father. He supported my work ethic, and really, he’s one of those souls who made it possible for me to be here today talking with you and searching for ancient possessions that my people left behind.”
My conversation continues with Thomas Seekins, a lone traveler, while we are on an archaeological dig in 2011.
“So, if you were like Harry’s son, did he leave the hotel to you in his will?”
“Oh no, that would be luck, and I never count on that!”
“Sounds like the story is about to get better,” I said, wishing for a sweater to keep out the cool night air.
“What came next was my first challenge to see what it takes to be a leader. My new role came with higher accountability and effort than I’d ever known. It required even harder work and further adaptation of my values. It put me in a no-place-to-hide spotlight. It forced me to strengthen my belief in truth and competitive fair play and to continue my desire to be the very best at everything I undertook to do. Three and a half years later, I was asked to buy the hotel.”
Read the complete success story in the book, The Quiet Rich: Ordinary People Reawakening an American Dream.
Kevin J. Palmer, Author
The Quiet Rich
