With Regards: Archives ~

With regard to... Joseph Turner   "When you reread a classic you do not see more in the book than you did before; you see more in you than there was before." - Clifton Fadiman - Historically New Years has offered up images such as giant firework displays, champagne toasts, and lovers kissing as the clock strikes midnight. For the purposes of this week's article the image of Father Time and the New Born Baby seemed appropriate. These images speak of the old and the new and that's what led me to the subject at hand. The story began when ... I remembered an old book. This book was fondly recalled as one of the best (if not the best) book I had ever had the pleasure of reading. It was such a good book that I often encouraged others to read it and sometimes even let them borrow my copy. On one such occasion (and I can’t recall when) someone borrowed the book and forgot to return it. The problem was that this particular book has been out of publication for many years so, with my copy gone, I did not have the option of going back and rereading it again. Or so I thought! Then I remembered that sitting on my desk was a new resource, a new technology and a new way to solve an old problem. Of course some of you already know of what I write. It was my trusty computer, the Internet and amazon.com. It seems that if one is looking for a certain book which is no longer being published, all one has to do is give them the book title, the name of the author and they will turn loose the power contained within the little box on my desk and find that book for me. Now, it took some time for this new technology to fine me a copy of this old book. I had first submitted my request to amazon.com on March 26, 2000 and I received my copy, via Priority Mail, on December 20, 2000. Alas, having finally gained the opportunity to reread this classic I ripped open the package and found the following statement attached to the plastic wrapping which covered the book. "We are pleased to have located this out-of-print book for your personal library. You may note some remnants of your book’s past life - an autograph, a dog-eared corner, some yellowed pages. We guarantee that it will be, at the very least, in good reading condition." My copy was all of those things and more. It was like the homecoming of an old friend, a cherished companion or the opportunity to hold in my hands again an old treasure. It was the bitter sweet opportunity to say hello again to Joseph Turner. Those of you who have taken the opportunity of reading some of my prior offerings, in With Regard, know of my Dad and others who have served, over the years, as mentors for me. Joseph Turner has also served as such. It may seem strange that a fictitious character in a book could serve as a mentor. That is because you have not had the opportunity to get to know Joseph. Thus, on this occasion, this beginning of 2001, this With Regard is going to provide you some Quotes from the mouth of this character and the mind of the author. Say hello to Joey. Chapter 33, finds him with a group of people in Shea Stadium discussing how people often look for others to help them and how that they really have the power within themselves, to help themselves. Joey speaks: "Until a few weeks ago I was an ordinary man with a simple life. I worked as an ironworker, a connector, to be exact. My job was to help place the iron and steel beams that make up the skeleton of new buildings. I’m not working with iron and steel anymore. But maybe, in some ways, I’m still a connector and still helping people build. "So many people have so many problems. They tell me they’re lonely, they’re sad, they’re sick, they’re poor. But the worst part is that they think they’re helpless- helpless to do anything about these things. And so when they look for solutions, for some way to change what’s wrong with their lives - what’s wrong with the World - they look far away from themselves. They look everywhere except to the power that’s inside them and around them. "They look to where everyone else tells them the power is. They feel helpless and they say, 'The real power’s with the government and the politicians, the real power’s with big business - or with the labor unions.' They feel helpless and they say, 'The real power’s with the churches’ or with some supernatural power.' "So what happens? These people, they -- no, these people you believe have so much power turn around and agree with you. They say, 'Yeah, you are powerless, you are helpless. We know best how to run your lives.' The businesses say. 'We’ll tell you if and when you can work.' The government says, 'We’ll tell you how much of your money you can keep, and we’ll decide where to spend the rest.' The churches say, 'We’ll tell you whether you’re good or you’re bad, we’ll tell you how to live and how to die, and we will tell you whether you get to go to heaven or hell!' And so you try to do what they say. And the problems turn out to be still there. Then they say it’s because you’ve got to give them more power. And when you do, you feel even more helpless. What I’ve come here to tell you today is that he - I - can’t. But more important, you don’t need me to! The real power you need is not out here, out there. It’s in you! "When you discover you’re not alone, and that the power you need to make your life happy is inside you and all around you, you won’t be giving it away anymore. You’ll begin to take it back, to see that the building of your life is yours to do. There are times when we need to hire other people to help us build. The businesses you buy from, the labor leaders and politicians you elect, the churches you support - they are your hired help. You pay them in money, and you pay them in votes. But in the building of your life, you’re the owner, you’re the contractor. All the power those big organizations have, they get from you. Now on a building, no one gets paid until the work is inspected and approved. The way to take back your own power is not to pay people who work for you until you’ve inspected and approved their work. Don’t give them your money or your vote until you’re sure that you’re getting what you want, what you contracted for. The people you’ve hired to work for you know how much power is yours. They know how to work on getting more of it from you. And it’s up to you not to depend on them for things they really can’t give you. It’s up to you to see when someone you’ve hired or elected, is doing good work or shoddy work, or to see when they’re making empty promises. It’s up to you to hire them or fire them yourself. "I’ve talked today more than I expected to. And I’ve asked you for a lot. I know some of the building I’ve asked you to do seems difficult. But I know that it’s the only kind of building that will last." Final Thought This is the time of the year when people make New Years Resolutions. I never put much faith in those kind of resolutions because so many (which I had made in prior years) were just lip service and I truly had no notion of keeping them. I hope that some of the stuff told us this year go on to become resolutions for those who were the tellers. The powers to be have told us, that Points or Clubs & Points is, the only product worthy of being part of the new Leisure Industry. They have told us, that we must now be "Branded" if we hope to succeed in Timesharing. Cendant has told us, that the purchase of Fairfield Communities will not provide Fairfield with a competitive advantage with respect to RCI. RCI has told us, that their members who own at RCI Weeks affiliate resorts are just as important to them as those (Developers or Members) who are associated with the new RCI Points product. This year I did make a resolution I intend to keep. You see, I have been Empowered (or as it were) Re-Empowered by or through rereading this old book. This new purpose I have, comes directly from Joseph’s words. "It’s up to you to see when someone you’ve hired or elected, is doing good work or shoddy work, or to see when they’re making empty promises." The power is mine ...... and I intend to use it to have a great 2001. How about you? PS: If you find some meaning in Joey’s words and would like to read the book yourself send me an e-mail at BOYGPS@AOL.com and I will provide the Title and Author. Believe me when I tell you that at this time of the year it is especially meaningful.

Jerry Sikes, RRP / CHA, is President of Professional Resort Operators, Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona. He has 35 years in the Hospitality Industry / 25 years in Timesharing, and is the current Co-Chairman of ARDA Arizona as well as Chairman of the Arizona Timeshare Management Association. Jerry is a frequent guest speaker regionally and nationally on all aspects of Timeshare Management and a frequent contributor of articles for industry publications. Email: boyjerry@cox.net Phone 480-947-3300 Fax 480-947-6853 Web site: http://www.protimeshare.com

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