"I Need More Friends"
One Minute with Marlin
“I need more friends.” That's what the back of my business card says, and I put it there for a few reasons. First, it’s the truth, and secondly, it's a great icebreaker to start a relationship with almost anyone I meet. This transparency—a willingness to be vulnerable—is unexpected, and it draws people toward a conversation. In my opinion, friendship is one of the most valuable things God ever created.
Back in August, Kevin Bille (our General Manager) introduced me to a good friend of his, Mike, and today I am so very glad he did. But to tell you the truth, the only reason I agreed to the meeting was because I trust Kevin, and if he says I need to meet someone I will do it. Period.
Moving on to the point, Mike has become a trusted advisor and friend, someone I know I can call anytime about anything. Mike has a lifetime of business and leadership experience, and I’ve come to discover that there is much wisdom under that white hair! He is a talented communicator who has a way of compressing multiple layers of meaning in one sentence. For example, one nugget of wisdom that Mike frequently shared is this piece: “the conversation is the relationship.”
It took me a few times hearing that phrase and then chewing on it before I really understood how deep it goes. “The conversation is the relationship.” Think about the last few chats you’ve had with family, a friend, or a total stranger. What do you talk about? How do you talk with one another?
Another friend told me he doesn’t think real change can be made in someone’s worldview without genuine and honest conversation. In my experience, the best way to change someone’s mind is by having a conversation with them one-to-one. The weather, a recent hunt, maybe politics or the pandemic all make conversation topics. We have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, but only when we engage with thoughtful conversation.
If you read between the lines, you will notice I have more friends than brains! But that's fine with me, because that's how I learn the most. Good friends encourage us and help us to be less selfish. And isn’t that the point of living in community, anyway?
As always, may you find joy in the simple things,
Marlin Miller
Publisher of Plain Values
