Follow @TomVMorris
New Book on Steve Jobs
About Tom
Books
Novels
Blog
Talks
Client Testimonials
Retreats
Contact
ScrapBook
The 7 Cs of Success
The Four Foundations
Plato's Lemonade Stand

Tom Morris

Great Ideas. With Power. And Fun.
New Book on Steve Jobs
About Tom
Books
Novels
Blog
Talks
Client Testimonials
Retreats
Contact
ScrapBook
The 7 Cs of Success
The Four Foundations
Plato's Lemonade Stand

Breakfast with the founder of Whole Foods

One more in my accounts of memorable philosophical meals. So. It had been a long time since I had spent the night at anyone's house but mine. Yeah, dozens of hotels a year, sometimes scores, but no sleepovers at private homes. Before or after a big talk on a stage in front of however many hundreds or thousands of people, I like the quiet isolation of a hotel room. We don't have to go all the way back to bunny pajamas for my last sleepover at somebody's house, but still, it had been long ago. Yet, when John Mackie, the founder of Whole Foods, invited me to come down to Austin a day before I was due there for a talk, and stay at his house, I couldn't pass up the chance—just to see what was in his refrigerator. While he was cooking us dinner, we drank champagne and talked about life. And with the meal we had a nice red wine. He's a strict no oil vegan, so it was with some trepidation that I took my first bite of the baked potato piled with water-sautéed veggies that he had prepared. But it was surprisingly good. His wife had just returned from one of her frequent spiritual trips to India, and the three of us stayed up late talking about the top gurus there and the legendary feats they reportedly accomplish, through a mastery of the mind and its impact on the body.

But I was going to talk about breakfast. So, I got up the next morning in the beautiful book-lined home and padded down to the kitchen, where I think I remember various granolas, great breads and jams and juice and coffee. But I could be wrong, because it was early, I was still half asleep, and it was the conversation during that entire visit that stuck, including that morning. Here's an example.

John told me about his first little health food store in Austin. It was his dream. He and his girlfriend ran it, and lived upstairs, without a bathroom or anything. They were barely surviving. But they had a great idea for providing a place for healthy fresh foods, and they loved their early customers, and those people felt their care and responded with a special affection for the little shop. Then an unexpected flood nearly destroyed it all. Everything was ruined. They were devastated. It looked like the business couldn’t possibly recover. There was little or no insurance. But customers, neighbors, and friends spontaneously showed up the next day and voluntarily got to work, cleaning up the monumental mess, rebuilding the store, and giving us the foundation of what would soon become the national chain, Whole Foods. What had looked truly terrible was the prelude to something great.

In 1971, the night before the rock band Deep Purple was going to record an album in Montreaux, Switzerland, their venue burned to the ground. The musicians watched all their plans go up in flames as thick smoke spread over Lake Geneva. And yet, they didn’t get discouraged, give up, and go home, but instead wrote and recorded the classic hit song, “Smoke on the Water.” 

Scientist Percy Spencer was visiting the Raytheon Company and stood too close to a magnetron, a tube that released energy as a part of radar equipment at the time. A forgotten candy bar in his pants pocket melted, made a mess and ruined the pants, and yet got him curious and thinking, which quickly led to the modern indispensible marvel, the microwave oven.

Swiss engineer George de Mestral was on a walk in the woods with his dog. At some point, he realized that they were both getting covered with annoying burrs, sticking to the pants of one and the fur of the other. After painstakingly plucking the burrs off, he examined a few closely and, with what he learned, invented velcro.

Floods. Fires. Melted candy. Sharp, irritating burrs. The world is full of problems that come our way, large and small. But you don't have to be a guru in the mountains of India in order to use your mind and spirit to transform the situation, often with the help of likeminded people, friends, and colleagues. What may initially seem bad can be the doorway to something very good indeed. Even when it's vegan cooking.

Newer:My Favorite Book. Ever.Older:What I Don't Know Could Fill a Library
PostedApril 24, 2017
AuthorTom Morris
CategoriesAdvice, Life, Philosophy
TagsDifficulty, Challenge, Disaster, Friends, Love, Appearance and Reality, John Mackie, Tom Morris, Philosophy, Wisdom

Some things that may be of interest. Click the images below for access, or for more! Tom

 On stage in front of a room full of leaders and high achievers from across the globe.

On stage in front of a room full of leaders and high achievers from across the globe.

 Maybe, my favorite book of all time. Published in 1905, it's a charming and compelling tale about the power of the imagination and simple kindness in dealing with great difficulties. You'll love it. Click the cover to find it on Amazon!

Maybe, my favorite book of all time. Published in 1905, it's a charming and compelling tale about the power of the imagination and simple kindness in dealing with great difficulties. You'll love it. Click the cover to find it on Amazon!

My favorite photo and quote from the first week of my new blog:

 My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon.   -      Mizuta Masahide

My barn having burned down, I can now see the moon. - Mizuta Masahide

I'll Rise Up and Fly.

 When I was young I thought I could fly. If I ran just right I'd rise into the sky and go over the yard and the house and the trees until, floating a bit, I'd catch a good breeze and neighbors would see and squint into the sun and say "Come here and look at what this kid has done!" I'd continue to rise, and with such a big smile, my grin could be viewed at least for a mile. And, even today I think, if I try, the time may yet come when I'll rise up and fly. (TM)

When I was young
I thought I could fly.
If I ran just right
I'd rise into the sky
and go over the yard and the house and the trees
until, floating a bit,
I'd catch a good breeze
and neighbors would see
and squint into the sun
and say "Come here and look
at what this kid has done!"
I'd continue to rise,
and with such a big smile,
my grin could be viewed
at least for a mile.
And, even today
I think, if I try,
the time may yet come
when I'll rise up and fly. (TM)

 My Favorite Recent Photo: A young lady named Jubilee gets off to a head start in life by diving into some philosophy!

My Favorite Recent Photo: A young lady named Jubilee gets off to a head start in life by diving into some philosophy!

 Great new Elizabeth Gilbert book on creative living and the creative experience.

Great new Elizabeth Gilbert book on creative living and the creative experience.

 The back flap author photo on the new book  The Oasis Within .

The back flap author photo on the new book The Oasis Within.

 A great little adventure novel about risk and loss and love and friendship. And books! And food! And France, from Paris to Provence!  Click here!

A great little adventure novel about risk and loss and love and friendship. And books! And food! And France, from Paris to Provence! Click here!

 My favorite book in years. You'll be surprised at how much philosophy you get from this page-turner of a story.  Click it!

My favorite book in years. You'll be surprised at how much philosophy you get from this page-turner of a story. Click it!

Something different. Paola Requena. Classical guitar. Sonata Heróica.

Two minutes on a perspective that can change a business or a life.

 On the beach where we do retreats, February 16, 2018, 77 degrees. Philosophy in shorts and a T shirt done right.

On the beach where we do retreats, February 16, 2018, 77 degrees. Philosophy in shorts and a T shirt done right.

So many people have asked to see one of my old Winnie the Pooh TV commercials and I just found one! Here it is:

Long ago and far away, on a Hollywood sound stage, I appeared in two network ads for the wise Pooh, to promote his adventures on Disney Home Videos. For two years, I was The National Spokesman for that most philosophical bear. This is one of the ads. I had a bad case of the flu but I hope you can't tell. A-Choo!

Now, for something truly unexpected:

 Five Years ago, a friend surprised me by creating an online shop of stuff based on my Twitter Feed. I had forgotten all about it, but stumbled across it today. I should get this shirt for when I'm an old man, and have my home address printed on the back, along with, "Return if Found." Click to see the other stuff! I do love the dog sweaters.

Five Years ago, a friend surprised me by creating an online shop of stuff based on my Twitter Feed. I had forgotten all about it, but stumbled across it today. I should get this shirt for when I'm an old man, and have my home address printed on the back, along with, "Return if Found." Click to see the other stuff! I do love the dog sweaters.

 Cat videos go philosophical. The now famous Henri Le Chat Noir, existential hero. Click image for the first video I saw and loved.

Cat videos go philosophical. The now famous Henri Le Chat Noir, existential hero. Click image for the first video I saw and loved.

 The next business book I'm buying. It's about how ideals power business growth. For a great short video, click  here . For the book,  here .

The next business book I'm buying. It's about how ideals power business growth. For a great short video, click here. For the book, here.

Another Musical Interlude. Two guys with guitars, one an unusual classical seven string, one a bass, but playing chords.

 After hearing my talk "True Success," people often ask me how I discovered what I call "The 7 Cs of Success." This new ebook, exclusively available on zolabooks.com, is the answer. In it, I carry on a dialogue with a sample of great thinkers who've understood the keys to life and business success. I go to  The Tao Te Ching, The Analects of Confucius , the letters of Cicero, and through the centuries. Click the cover to go see this book! And thanks for coming to visit! 

After hearing my talk "True Success," people often ask me how I discovered what I call "The 7 Cs of Success." This new ebook, exclusively available on zolabooks.com, is the answer. In it, I carry on a dialogue with a sample of great thinkers who've understood the keys to life and business success. I go to The Tao Te Ching, The Analects of Confucius, the letters of Cicero, and through the centuries. Click the cover to go see this book! And thanks for coming to visit! 

 I memorized the "To be or not to be" soliloquy from Hamlet months ago, and recite it nearly daily. It's longer than you think, and is a powerful meditation on life and motivation, fear, and the unknown.  To find some good 3 minute videos of actors performing these lines, click  here . Watch Branaugh and Gibson for very different takes.

I memorized the "To be or not to be" soliloquy from Hamlet months ago, and recite it nearly daily. It's longer than you think, and is a powerful meditation on life and motivation, fear, and the unknown.  To find some good 3 minute videos of actors performing these lines, click here. Watch Branaugh and Gibson for very different takes.

 This is a book I read recently, and it's one of the best I've read in years on happiness and success. Shawn helped teach the famous Harvard course on happiness, and brings the best of that research and more into this great book. Click on it. I think you'll like it!

This is a book I read recently, and it's one of the best I've read in years on happiness and success. Shawn helped teach the famous Harvard course on happiness, and brings the best of that research and more into this great book. Click on it. I think you'll like it!

A favorite performance of the great Brazilian bossa nova song Wave, by Tom Jobim. Notice Marjorie Estiano's fun, the older guitarist's passion, the flutist's zen. Marjorie's little laugh at the end says it all. That should be how we all feel about our work. Gladness. Joy.

 I happened across this great book on death and life after death. Because of some uncanny experiences surrounding the death of her father and sister, this journalist began to research issues involving death. Her conclusions are careful and well documented. If you're interested in this topic, you'll find this book clear, fascinating, and helpful. A Must Read! For my recent conversation with the author on HuffPo, click  here .

I happened across this great book on death and life after death. Because of some uncanny experiences surrounding the death of her father and sister, this journalist began to research issues involving death. Her conclusions are careful and well documented. If you're interested in this topic, you'll find this book clear, fascinating, and helpful. A Must Read! For my recent conversation with the author on HuffPo, click here.

 Henri discovers the first book about his unique philosophical ponderings. Click image for the short video.

Henri discovers the first book about his unique philosophical ponderings. Click image for the short video.

 Just read this book, which was recommended by a friend. It's a great step by step account of how to build a public and social media platform for any service or product you have.

Just read this book, which was recommended by a friend. It's a great step by step account of how to build a public and social media platform for any service or product you have.

 This is the only ebook version of my first presentation of the 7 Cs of Success, and is another ZolaBooks exclusive. It's now available in ebook form for the first time since its initial publication in 1994. See how all my practical philosophy got started! I still consult this book! 

This is the only ebook version of my first presentation of the 7 Cs of Success, and is another ZolaBooks exclusive. It's now available in ebook form for the first time since its initial publication in 1994. See how all my practical philosophy got started! I still consult this book! 

 My favorite website to visit nearly every day. Maria Popova may read more and write more than any other human being on earth, and her reports are always amazingly interesting. This is really brain candy, but with serious nutritional benefits as well. Visit her often! 

My favorite website to visit nearly every day. Maria Popova may read more and write more than any other human being on earth, and her reports are always amazingly interesting. This is really brain candy, but with serious nutritional benefits as well. Visit her often! 

 One of my newest talk topics is "Plato's Lemonade Stand: Stirring Change into Something Great." Based on the old adage, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade," this talk is about how to do exactly that. Inquire for my availability through the contact page above! Let's stir something up! 

One of my newest talk topics is "Plato's Lemonade Stand: Stirring Change into Something Great." Based on the old adage, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade," this talk is about how to do exactly that. Inquire for my availability through the contact page above! Let's stir something up! 

A frequent inspiration. Monday, 30, April 2012. Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli perform "Time to Say Goodbye." Notice how they indwell the lyrics, and still manage to relate to each other so demonstratively.

 My friend Bill Powers writes on how to handle the technology in your life and stay sane. A beautiful meditation on how we've always struggled with the new new thing, and sometimes win. Recommended! 

My friend Bill Powers writes on how to handle the technology in your life and stay sane. A beautiful meditation on how we've always struggled with the new new thing, and sometimes win. Recommended! 

Above is a short video on finding fulfillment in anything you do, that was taped a few years ago. I hope you enjoy it!

 This is a beautiful and difficult book on the odd relationship between repeated failure and eventual success. It's full of great stories and moments of meditation. You will find yourself teasing out the insights, but they're powerful and worth the work.

This is a beautiful and difficult book on the odd relationship between repeated failure and eventual success. It's full of great stories and moments of meditation. You will find yourself teasing out the insights, but they're powerful and worth the work.

 One of the best books in the past year or more, G&T is a wonderful look at how givers can rise high. Grant is the youngest tenured professor at Wharton and its most popular teacher. Here, he shows why! A really good book.

One of the best books in the past year or more, G&T is a wonderful look at how givers can rise high. Grant is the youngest tenured professor at Wharton and its most popular teacher. Here, he shows why! A really good book.

The Core of Wisdom. Always. Seek This.