Play #27 The Janitor & The Jedi Master

Many years ago I watched a great Jedi Master wow his customers, go to bat for them and provide a wonderful living for his family. He knew the names of all his customer’s secretaries (this was before the birth of admins) and he took a personal interest in each of their lives. He knew kids names, birthdays, anniversaries, hobbies and genuinely cared. He had fun in the process and had a smile that could light up a room.

He taught me my first lesson in sales way back in the 80’s which was simply “All sales is problem solving” He also taught me that if we can't laugh during our day (especially at ourselves) we needed to find a more suitable livelihood.

I watched him practice diligently for his reading at Sunday mass and help countless unemployed people in the parishes throughout Long Island. A big part of the reason for doing this was because that was just who he was. There was another reason .. . He never forgot what it was like when he was unemployed and felt honored to give back.

I believe that every human being comes to the cross roads in their life at least once. For me it came in the form of self doubt, shyness and a feeling that I wasn’t deserving of success. I hadn’t a clue what I would do with my life. Neither did he; but pushed me nonetheless. There were times where I pushed back, said some disrespectful things among them . . . “Are you suggesting I become a salesman like you?

He was relentless and won.

And one day I decided to become a salesman like my Father.

It was on this day in 1988, that our time together was cut way too short but what happened next summarizes who my Father really was.

At my Dad’s wake, there was a man waiting patiently to talk with us. I didn’t recognize him but extended my hand to introduce myself. He almost seemed apologetic for stopping by and maybe he thought he didn’t belong with us. He told me he was the janitor in my Dad’s office building for over 20 years. With tears in his eyes he told me that my Dad would always stop to talk with him, knew his kid’s names, always asked about his family and made him feel like somebody.

That, ladies and gentlemen was how Des Castain rolled when he wasn’t conquering the world!

Newsday gave him a third of a page obituary. I believe the headline summed up who he really was for it didn't say star salesman, conqueror of his chunk of the world it read . . . "Champion Of The Unemployed".

That was Dad's final lesson to me. Give something back!

Today’s blog is about encouraging others, showing genuine interest in the things that are important to those around you, remembering to thank those who encourage you, giving something back and quite selfishly it was about my Father!

For you Dad!

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