It’s dated June 4, 1991.

It’s a little bigger than a credit card. I’ve carried it in my wallet for so many years that the laminate has separated and curled up at the corners. Co-mingled with paper money, restaurant receipts, dry cleaning stubs, grocery rewards cards and prescriptions for so long that I don’t even notice that it’s in there.

But for a long time, it supported and sustained and encouraged me through my weakest, bleakest, scariest moments as a business owner.

It is a testimonial letter. An unsolicited, personalized and embarrassingly complimentary testimonial letter from Tom Theriault, a long-time client.

I wanted to believe what he said:  “Once again, our faith in your company has been rewarded with an outstanding weekend for our very special customer. It is rare, in this world of mediocrity, that a company can turn over the care of its largest customers to an outside group – and feel comfortable! Your group’s professionalism and expertise has earned that high regard with our organization over the years. Whether it be the complicated logistics of our trip to New York City, or a pleasant, but important, weekend at La Costa Resort, Creative Travel Planners has always made the care and interest of our customers as their #1 priority . . .”

Oh, how I wanted to believe! Perhaps if I reduced his letter to one-fourth the size, laminated it and carried it in my wallet – through the magic of osmosis – I would begin to own the accolades.

The year I received that letter, I had been with Creative Travel Planners for a decade. The first four years were a blast. I was working for the greatest boss at a well-respected travel company. On weekends, when I wasn’t in London or Tahiti or Brazil, I enjoyed the antics of the Chainsaw Juggler on Venice Beach, or camped in the San Gabriel Mountains or explored southern California’s freeway system in my chestnut brown Plymouth Sapporo with the windows rolled down, singing along to REO Speedwagon playing on KISS-FM: “I can’t fight this feeling any longer, and yet I’m still afraid to let it flow . . .” I was happily decorating my one-bedroom apartment on Sherman Way in Reseda with its fireplace and views overlooking the swimming pool and tall Mexican palm trees.

I was having more fun than I thought possible. Much as I loved my carefree weekends, I couldn’t wait till Monday when I could go back to my job – dreaming up creative and compelling events and itineraries for our corporate customers who wanted to take their employees or customers on fabulous trips to wondrous places.

Then, in the spring of 1985, my beloved boss called me into his office to tell me he was retiring and selling the company. He wanted to sell it to me.

Me? . . . ME??

Herb was a good salesman. He convinced me. He promised to help me learn what I needed to know. He told me I was competent and honest and had “that Midwest work ethic” that would make me successful. I wanted to believe him.

I said yes. Reluctantly.

And for the next six years (and many more thereafter), the doubts, fears, anxiety, dread, insecurity and negative self-talk: “I’m not good enough, I don’t know enough and I didn’t ask for this” had free reign in my head. I hated Mondays. I hated the financial part, the management part, the sales part of the job. I subscribed to Fortune, Forbes and Business Week. Every article focused on making money. Getting big. Going public. Mergers & acquisitions. Business women were coached about how to manage like a man. How much shoulder padding can a woman wear?

I was miserable.

Regardless of the fact that clients did business with us year after year or that those clients referred other clients. Or the fact that I had paid off my boss in full after five years, was making payroll and paying bonuses every December. Regardless of the testimonials I received and saved in manila folders in my bottom left desk drawer. Regardless of the laminated evidence tucked between the fives and tens in my wallet.

Which brings me back full circle, to that little laminated letter from Tom Theriault.

In those days, he was with a regional bottling company that did wonderful weekend retreats for a local grocery chain. Those were the days when clients dictated letters to secretaries who typed them up on company stationery that got folded and mailed with a 29-cent stamp. Those were the days when business people enjoyed carefree two-day weekends without laptops, email or cell phones.

Now Tom is a senior executive with Coca Cola. Although he’s no longer a CTP client, we’ve stayed connected through the magic of technology. I’m thrilled that Tom and his wife, Dawn, will be coming with me on a WOW! Travel Club journey to Cuba this fall! Full circle, indeed.

That little laminated letter, with its powerful words . . . exemplifies the journey of my thinking – from dread and doubt to success and certainty.

Be mindful what you carry in your wallet … it just might lead you where you want to go.

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Check Out this AWESOME Cruise Opportunity: Special Savings expire on May 12!

or … Don’t Miss the Boat!

As I wrote in last week’s post, I don’t often recommend cruises. Because most ships are just SO BLOODY BIG! The thought of being onboard ship with thousands of other passengers, all of whom disembark at some supposedly charming port of call – along with thousands of passengers from all the other ships that are in port at the same time . . . for some reason, doesn’t have much appeal for me!

But an opportunity to sail on one of the World’s Best ships – one that’s not too big, not too small – departing from one of the world’s most beautiful cities (Quebec City) – during the peak of  lovely fall foliage – to tiny little places that are, indeed, charming – well, NOW you’re talking my language!

• Crystal Cruises is an EXCELLENT cruise line. Consistently rated World’s Best.
• The timing is fantastic – last week of September.
• The itinerary includes ports that are largely undiscovered and unspoiled. (You’ve probably never heard of these places!)
• The dining options are beyond compare.
• The value is almost too good to be true. A great rate, PLUS additional discounts AND you aren’t nickel-and-dimed for drinks, for a la carte restaurants or for gratuities once you’re onboard. All that really adds up quickly!
• And the waffles at breakfast – beyond fabulous!

So – how great is this deal, you ask? Including the $400 per person Mother’s Day discount, and a minimum $200 shipboard credit, the cruise fare starts at $2,230 per person. For a Crystal Cruise? That’s a VERY great value! (By the way, that’s for an outside stateroom with a large picture window …. Crystal doesn’t have inside staterooms on their ships!)

But – just like ships don’t wait for tardy passengers (as I learned the hard way . . . another of my most embarrassing moments – which I must write about one day!) – this discount won’t last. It expires the Monday after Mother’s Day (May 12, 2014).  So – call me or email me . . . we’ll get you registered!