All posts by Keith Thompson

Doing what is right

Career, Life

There are somethings in life you just need to say no to.

I sell hotels and over the years, I have had buyers and sellers offer me everything from money under the table to free cars if I would help them get a deal. I am proud to say that I have not only never taken the bait, but that I have never even been tempted to.

Even in my darkest financial (restaurants back in the 90’s) time, I never even considered it. Doing these type things cost you your credibility, your opportunity and in some situations, your freedom. There is a person that I knew well years ago who chose to take side deals, kick backs and money under the table. Today that same person is serving a prison sentence and has lost everything he had and once believed in.

Why am I telling you this? I was on a call today with some investors that offered me this exact thing. I shut it down so quick they couldn’t believe a broker didn’t want to earn some extra money. Ha. Here is the thing. In life, whatever you compromise to keep, you always seem to lose. I believe that once you step over certain lines you never really get it back. When I retire, which is probably sooner than later, I want to know that I did it right and that I did it honestly.

There are certain things in your life that you just must do before you can truly enjoy the rest of your life. I believe knowing in your heart that you were honest, is one of those things. Oh, sure there are some scoundrels that never get caught and live to an old age but the real question no one will ever know is, did they really have peace and joy.

My friend and mentor Harmon Born passed away a couple of weeks ago and he always told me that the key to restful sleep, peace and joy is to do what is right even if no one is watching. I think those are pretty good words to life by. KT

Saying goodbye

Life

We said goodbye today to my mentor. His name was Harmon Born. He was 93 years old and his funeral was earlier today. For decades, Harmon owned and operated the highest volume Ford automobile dealership in the US. He was also a dear friend to me and my family.

Additionally, he owned a Lincoln/ Mercury dealership and I remember 30 years ago asking him why he drove a Ford instead of a Lincoln. He told me that “he just never felt comfortable in a 25-thousand-dollar automobile.” Of course, 30 years ago you could buy a new Lincoln for 25 thousand dollars.

Several quotes and statements he told me (some serious, some funny) that have always stayed with me. The following are only a few:

If you ever need a heart transplant, try to get the one from your banker because it has hardly been used

I want to live to be 100 years old because hardly anyone dies over a 100

If something needs doing, don’t look around to see if someone else will do it. Step up

Don’t ever forget that God gave you everything you have

Listen twice as much as you talk

Always stay humble and you will enjoy God’s favor

Never get too big for your pants or think of yourself as special and deserving

Always do what is right,  try your best and love other people

In the old church we attended for many years, as with many churches, they would have donations drives for this or that. Some churches would name pews after people who gave money. I remember Harmon said one day, “never put someone’s name on a pew or a plaque for giving one time. If there is any recognition, it should go to the weekly giver who gives consistently.”

He was simply the finest man I have ever known and has been my personal example since I left home halfway through my senior year of high school. He took a 17-year-old kid who was on his own and taught him about life. The bible speaks about running the race completely and standing through the test of time. Harmon ran the good race all the way to the day he was called home. He never wavered in his belief of God and living life in the right way. All the way to the end. KT

Less Fortunate

Family, Life

This morning I was heading into work all jacked up on what is going on in the hotel economy and the civil unrest America seems to be experiencing now. I was thinking about all the hotels that will be owned by lenders over the next few months and what this economic market cycle will look by the end of 2020.

On the way to work, I looked over to my right and saw a person, let’s just say, less fortunate than me. It immediately humbled me and made me ashamed for being worked up over issues relative to work and the economy. My first thoughts were, I am ok, my family is ok, and the rest really doesn’t matter.

Sometimes it is the simplest realities that impact our lives the most and how we feel. Appreciation and thankfulness are very powerful antidotes to anxiety and worry. If you haven’t tried this lately, just write down the top three biggest blessings in your life and it is my guess, none of the three things will involve money.

Happy July Wednesday. KT

Wall Street explained. The wolf is at the door

Career, Life

The financial world is not as complicated as the news would lead you believe. There are some intricacies that are terribly complicated but on a macro level, not so much. Wall Street refers to the market as bull, bear or wolf market. Very few people have ever heard of a wolf market, but it is a real thing and that is where (my humble opinion) we are today.

Think about the three animals and what they look like, act like and attack and you can see correlations to real life in the financial markets.

The bull has his head up looking forward and ready to charge, the bear has his head looking down like he is sad. The bull and bear charge or attack alone and they are so big, you can hear them running at you before they get there. The bear has almost a snort and a dog like bark and once he gets there, he can outrun you and out climb you. Wilderness guides will tell you that the best protection against a bear is to stand still and not show fear. Sounds easy right?

Then you have what we are seeing today, a wolf market. Let’s say you are tent camping. You hear wolfs howling from far away, but you know they are not close. When the wolf decides to attack, he comes with his friends and they are stealth quiet. No barking, no growling, just a quiet approach to where you are.

The first indication that there is a problem is you hear a nearby growl and when you look up, you see not one, not two, but a pack of wolves. They attack from all sides and there is no getting away unless you jump in your truck if it is nearby and lock the door.

Financially speaking, the wolves have been howling for 120 days now. The bulls on wall street have been trying everything they know to prop up the market even in the face of COVID-19 and the civil unrest. The issue with a prop, is it is not designed for long term stability. Its is designed for holding something up for a short period of time until the real stabilizers are in place. Good strategy, right?

The problem is that the wolves are no longer howling from a distance. They are in a pack and are surrounding your campsite now. Regardless of the efforts to reopen the economy and act like everything is back to normal, we all know it is not. The second and third quarter earnings reports will have devastating financial results in most all sectors from hotel, airlines, travel, retail, restaurants, office, manufacturing and even multifamily (apartments.)

The advice is to hold your head up, be aware, don’t extend yourself financially, hold on to cash and you will get through this. The good news is that wolf attacks are rare, and you have a greater chance of being killed by lightning or a car collision. Being careful (financially) is the best protection against a wolf market. Oh yea, one more thing. If you go tent camping, sleep in your truck. KT

His eye is on the Sparrow

Life

There is a great old gospel hymn titled “His eye is on the Sparrow” written in 1905. It is a song that depicts the innocence of a little Sparrow bird in a big world and if God has his eye on the sparrow. you better believe he has his eye on you.

There are eight passages of scripture in the bible that reference a Sparrow. It is used as a metaphor because a little sparrow was considered insignificant and of little value. Have you ever felt that way? Insignificant, unnoticed and of little value? The bible says that not one of the little birds could fall to the ground without Jehovah (almighty God) knowing it. What a powerful mental example of the way God looks at you and me.

Are you in a place where you doubt God can see you? Trust me when I tell you this, he knows how many hairs you have on your head now and how many you had yesterday. Do you really think you could be in a place mentally, emotionally or physically that God does not know where you are and what is going on? He knows everything about you. Everything. He knows how many times your heart has beaten since you were conceived, and he also knows how many more times before he calls you home.

When you feel that you are someplace that God cannot find you or that you are separated from him please know that you are only a breath away from his presence. Some of the most meaningful prayers I have ever spoken were prayed quietly in my spirit. God hears every one of them and he hears every one of yours. If you are a parent, you know what I mean when I say, the love of a child is unconditional and a love that you would die for. God looks at you the same way you look at your child and he hears with the same passion and focus that you hear your child.

Wherever you think you are, God is right there with his eye on you just like he has his eye on a little Sparrow. It is a big world, but he knows exactly where you are and exactly what is going on. KT

The below link is Lynda Randle, Mom Winans and Vestal Goodman singing “His eye is in the Sparrow” and then one of my favorite pastors, TD Jakes says a few words before the congregation takes over and starts singing the song again. It is 9 minutes of the best of who we are.

His eye is in the Sparrow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUMULR_J6nA