Pals
“Be careful who you call your friends. I’d rather have four quarters than one hundred pennies.”
– Al Capone
Have you ever heard the quote attributed to Al Capone? The one where he suggests that it is better to have four quarters than a hundred pennies. You’re right, in the monetary sense, they spend the same. But how would you like to carry the weight, or 100 pennies, around with you every day? This quote is not about the money, the coins were just an analogy, the quote is about surrounding yourself with those you trust.
I write a whole chapter in my book Move or Die about the power and value of trust (Chapter 3: The Deep End). To me, it is the single most important part of a relationship. Personal or professional. When I was coaching, my team knew I had their back in any situation that may come up. On the field, my staff knew that I trusted them, which freed them from worrying about being watched over. If they were not a good fit in my system, I would move on from them. If they were a solid fit, they had the freedom to coach to their highest potential.
When it came time to make decisions, I would include my staff so that we all had an opinion about where and how the program was evolving. Not that every one of their ideas made the workout, heck, not all of mine made the program. But when we finished writing the program, it was one that we all could understand, and accomplish.
I am proud to say that those who worked with me are still my friends. We didn’t hang out after work, but we knew we were family and that we could lean on each other.
Outside of work I had my quarters, there are actually 3 individuals and 2 couples. These are my closest friends. I touch base with them weekly, if not daily. If I have a question, I will ask each one individually. I do this so I can get an honest opinion. They know they can’t hurt my feelings because my quarters, as yours should, will only tell you the truth that improves you. Some of my quarters know each other, some have never met. None are in coaching or are motivational speakers. But we have been tied together by life and will always be together. Because we tell each other the hard truth.
History has several examples of this type of relationship. A relationship that allows you to live your life and when you get stuck you can ask your quarters for information. In his book, “Think and Grow Rich”, Napoleon Hill gives examples of Henry Ford (Ford Motors) and Andrew Carnegie (US Steel) who give credit to their “quarters” in filling their gaps of knowledge or in understanding the industry, which contributed to their success.
It isn’t wrong to not know everything, but it is a problem why you haven’t surrounded yourself with people who know more in certain areas that you will be working in. Hill calls these groups of people your “Master Mind”. Today, we have the internet which can give us quick answers to questions that we have. The trouble with the internet is that a lot of people who are not equipped to speak on a subject bring their inaccurate knowledge to society without any checks or balances.
