Interview – Lorrie Goldman: Living the good life!

Every interview has been a learning experience for me and this one with Lorrie Goldman is no exception.

You first heard about him here in my teaser. I knew he was someone special back then and have only grown to care for and respect him more since.

Now, for what I’ve learned by interviewing Lorrie. First, I have to explain how I go about crafting these interviews.

I generally have an overview-idea. Like, for Lorrie, it was about success.

I put together a series of questions and mull over them thoroughly… cutting and adding and back and forth… until I have the “perfect” grouping of thought-provoking, probing questions that will prompt the person I’m interviewing to spill their guts (not to put too fine a point on it. Ha!). After all, I want my interviewees to be the stars, not the questions and certainly, not me.

Lorrie’s answers shouldn’t have surprised me but did. I’ve been sitting with them for hours and it suddenly occurred to me what he’d done: He’d answered simply and straight from the heart. No embellishments needed.

I just looked up and realized the answer was in front of me all along, on a framed poster in our kitchen. My computer is on the table below… it’s where I write.

It says:

Listening to your heart, finding out who you are, is not simple. It takes time for the chatter to quiet down. In the silence of “not doing” we begin to know what we feel. If we listen and hear what is being offered, then anything in life can be our guide. 

So, folks, listen to Lorrie, who understands the depth and importance of simple truths. This is how he lives his life… and he is (pretty much hands-down) the happiest man I know.

1. You have a Joie de vivre about life. Where did that come from?

For me this came late in life. After experiencing some major losses, I started to appreciate things every day and not take things for granted, as many of us tend to do.

2. I have watched you adapt to the changes in your life with grace, aplomb and ultimately success. To what (and/or whom) do you credit this ability?

I’m a carbon copy of my late father Murray who these words describe perfectly. He was a great man and kind to everyone he came across.

3. In your day job, you are highly successful in sales. We both know there’s an element of selling yourself in the process. How does this translate into both your life and career?

I don’t really sell myself – I choose to build relationships and trust with my customers, many of who have become friends and continue as friends to this day. You try to find commonalities – people like to deal with people like themselves.

4. I would swear you are ten years younger than you are – seriously! How do you take care of yourself?

Thanks Sheryl – when you work in car sales and you’re running around the dealership it’s easy to get those 10,000 plus steps in every day!

5. Who are your favorite self-improvement authors/ gurus?

This may sound corny but its not someone who travels the world and gives motivational speeches. Also not someone who writes a best seller on the NY Times bestseller list. It’s actually my beautiful wife Carol who motivates me every day, supports me and guides me. Everyone needs a reason to the best they can be – a reason to get out of bed in the morning and do some good, and treat people right. And for me, that person is my Carol.