I have a problem.
I love bringing people I know together so that they make connections to each other and hopefully become friends.
A few years back I had the bright idea of inviting my financial advisor, Rick, who I’ve been friends with for over 30 years, to have lunch with me and my new accountant, a super young guy named Kevin.
Both are terrific people; I know they like me and have my best interests at heart.
So, we meet at a nearby Seasons 52. We get a booth (I hate tables in the middle of a crowded restaurant) and order a meal. I’m looking forward to a pleasant conversation.
With all the charm I can muster, I start the conversation and given that they are both professionals about money issues, the talk soon focuses there.
And it goes downhill fast. Kevin has one opinion about how I should invest, Rick a completely opposite.
Both of them quickly become on edge and I can tell that this isn’t going end well and our appetizers haven’t even been served. Disagreement and tension is the unwanted guest at our table.
Yikes.
All I wanted was to have a nice lunch with two colleague/friends. What to do?
Desperate, I began to share some stories about my “first mid-life crisis” – how a few years back I had insanely bought a 33-acre horse farm (I’m not handy, don’t ride horse, etc. Get it?)
I shared how I almost started a forest fire, dealt with snakes in the bedroom, got my riding mower stuck in the mud many times and more.
This was all deliberate on my part, by the way. I knew that stories do what stories do – bring us together. And, especially stories where you look a bit ludicrous, where you can laugh at yourself – these are some of the best!
The lunch ended with laughter and warm feelings all around.
So, how come I still had to pick up the check?