I have a friend named Tim Tyler, and he’s one of the smartest and nicest guys I know.
I met Tim when I was working in my first corporate job in Columbus, Georgia. He was part of a vendor team, but he sold by providing value rather than shooting air pistols. He remains the model I have in my head for the flawless sales person.
Anyway, when we met was always bringing ideas and books.
I ate it up. We’d talk through concepts, explore new ideas, and of course…eat. It was always spectacularly enlightening and entertaining.
Many years later, while I was at a job I wasn’t happy with, I got an unexpected call from him. He asked what I was currently working on and whether I wanted to chat with a friend of his who was starting up a new group.
It was his long-time friend Ryan English, and I did in fact have that call and take the position. I became the second employee (behind Ryan himself) in a group that we then grew (with lots of help along the way) to over 300 people.
All because of a call from Tim Tyler.
These days Tim continues to kick butt at work, and he also still reads voraciously and constantly shares what he’s learning with others.
I don’t know how much my last decade and a half of passion for reading and expressing ideas came from Tim, but I’m willing to bet it was a lot.
I’m thankful to him for the opportunity he gave me, for the enthusiasm for concepts he infected me with, for the boost he no-doubt gave my career and life, and for the passion he brings to everything around him.
You’re the best, Tim.
Notes
- You too can benefit from some of this by following him on Twitter.
- Whenever I do these people always ask if the guy is dead, or not doing well. No, they’re fine. I’m trying to appreciate amazing people while I still have them!
