Most of you know where I've worked for the last almost 13 years, and most of you have heard about the "Fountain Ceremony" that our Sales Force members covet. It involves them coming to the headquarters from all over the world and participating in a ceremony surrounding a somewhat famous fountain that stands in front of the main building, our Friendship Fountain, while the employees stand around cheering.
I've watched many a fountain ceremony through the years. Now don't get me wrong—I'm sure that standing at that fountain was a big deal for each and every one of those people—but I didn't believe for one minute that their wishes would come true magically simply because they tossed a coin into that fountain. I may be a romantic, but come on, wishes in fountains is kids' stuff.
So then yesterday to thank us for a stellar 4 quarters in a row, we employees were treated to a ceremony of our own around a new fountain that was erected in the back of the property for our Directors. As I stood around the fountain in the Director Honor Garden while coins were being passed out I was more than just miserable from the Florida July heat...I was hesitant. But only for a moment. The coin that the company's president gave me was not a nice, shiny, new coin, although we did receive just that later in the day. No. A quick look told me that this particular coin had made many trips in and out the Friendship Fountain. Countless others from all over the world had held this very coin. So many wishes—many of which have come true—had been made on this coin and the others my colleagues were holding. As I held that coin and reflected on what my wish might be, something magical did happen. The desire that had until now been only a whisper in my mind became somehow tangible. I could feel the weight of it in my hand and the texture of it between my fingers. I could turn it over and see all three dimensions of it. Just as if this were magic, my hope, my wish, my dream was suddenly...real.
Now that it's real—swimming around with the wishes of my peers—I can't just dismiss it any longer. Now that it's real, I'll just have to go after it.