THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED!

Yesterday as I was out with my family and friends in the North Georgia Mountain’s I received some very sad news. The band director that both my girls learned from passed away. His name was Bill Pharris. Mr. P as he was known as was the most decorated and honored High School Band Directors in the country. The Sudler Flag of Honor is an award bestowed to identify, recognize and honor high school band programs internationally that have demonstrated particularly significant high standards of excellence in concert activities over a period of several years. The flag is awarded by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. Mr. P won it twice!

Not only did he teach my daughters, but I have to admit that I also learned from this man. He taught the students PRIDE. He instilled CONFIDANCE in them. He gave them a great WORK ETHIC. He taught them what it was to be a SUCCESS. He made sure they also had HUMILITY to accept the success and not flaunt it. He taught the students RESPECT for teachers, and adults. He taught the students to LOVE MUSIC and love making music beautiful. He gave the students LOVE, something many of them didn’t see a lot of at home. He was a FATHER FIGURE, a MENTOR, a TEACHER, a COUNCELOR and a FRIEND to the students and Band Parents. I learned a lot from him.

In sales we sometimes forget what we learned in High School. We forget the teachers that helped shape us into what we are today. We sometimes lose sight of the goals that we set as young enthusiastic adults starting out in business.

This is a time for all of us to get back to the basics, and remind ourselves what it was that got us started, Who it was that set our path. Why it was we wanted it so badly.

I hope everyone reading this takes a little of their past and lets it help them on their roads of the future.

Mr. P loved sales reps. Mr. P was the best sales rep I have ever seen. He sold all of his traits to all of his students and has left a legacy of success and beautiful music.

Good bye Bill. You will be missed by all who knew you.

Lorin