Pitchman Billy Mays' interview just before his death serves as a reminder to not put off what is important until tomorrow
Late last week I found myself on a significantly delayed American Airlines flight with a good book to read but still irked by the seemingly unexplained two-hour delay. As the flight ended I notice a feature article in the American Way magazine on Belize--a place I've always wanted to go. I tucked it in my briefcase.
The next morning the news revealed that television pitchman Billy Mays had died. He's the guy who hawked everything from Oxy Clean to Orange Glo in brief infomercials shown millions of times across the nation.
I pulled out that American Way magazine again and noticed that one of the cover articles, entitled "The Man with the Pitch," was about Billy Mays.
Curious, I flipped to page 41 and read about the career of this famous salesman. It concludes this way:
"Still, Mays isn't sure exactly what will come next for him. He's not turning away cleaners and choppers by any means, but he does think he's been successfully enough at selling the Billy Mays brand that he can use it for some greater good...
"I'm not going to let other people who may have a problem with me-the way I pitch--deter me because I have a lot to give and a lot to do yet in my life. I think there's a bigger platform out there for me now."
"I think there's a bigger platform out there for me now." Those words haunted me. How often have I pinned my hopes on the platform I could stand on in the future, or the greater good I could do tomorrow, or the ideas I have for someday.
This simple interview with Billy Mays reminds me that there are no guarantees. My careful planning for tomorrow must not trump the influence I must seek to have today.
When it comes to mentoring, coaching and discipling the next generation, this moment, now, is the most important platform there is. Take time now to give a blessing. Go to lunch today with someone who needs your encouragement. Be reconciled with others today. Make that phone call now.
Martin Luther King was right. There is a fierce urgency of now.
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