I Helped a Blind Man See

The Mind's Eye is Powerful

Subject: Motivation, Money, Vision, Success

By Victor Antonio

The story I’m about to tell you is true…

Last Thursday I was in Missouri doing a Internet Sales seminar for a group of about 300 people.  It was a tough room because the room itself was narrow which meant that the rows of seats stretched so far back it was difficult to read what I projected on the screen. 

In fact, so poor was the visibility that some people began to complain during the breaks.  I tried my best to assuage their concerns by telling them that I would repeat out loud what was on the screen so all they had to do was listen and write the information down.

Also in the back were a few folks who couldn’t make it to the front because they were in wheelchairs.  Again, the room setup was poor.  One gentleman in particular was blind and sat in the back in his wheelchair with his seeing-eye dog lying alongside him.

I knew he was listening attentively because he had his head cocked aligning his left ear in the direction of the speaker.  As I walked around the room, as I usually do, I also noticed he had an intense look of concentration on his face as though he was hanging on my every word.  It was a long day, and this blind gentleman hung in there all the way.

As the seminar progressed, I could tell that people in the back rows were leaving.  Again, I did my best to read out loud what I had on the screen but to no avail. Throughout the day there was a steady stream of people leaving from the back rows.  At the end of the day the only guy left in the last few rows towards the back was the blind guy who had parked his wheelchair and his seeing-eye dog by one of the main speakers.

At the end of the day I went to the back of the room to speak with audience members and answer questions on any of the products for sale.  After going through a long line of people, the gentleman in the wheel chair, his name was John, called my name,

“Victor, can I speak with you?”

 

“Absolutely, how can I help you?” I responded

 

“Well, I want thank you for the great seminar.  I’d like to speak to someone.”

 

“I can answer any question you might have.” I shot back.

 

“Well I don’t have any questions.  I just want to get started.” He answered back.

Now, let me stop here for a moment because I need to share with you the flood of thoughts that rushed at me all at once: 

“What did he say? He wants to get started?  On the Internet?  He’s blind!  Maybe he’s joking with me.  He can’t mean what I think he means”

After quickly gaining my mental composure I repeated, “You want to get started online?”

He then extended his arm in my direction to shake my hand.  As he shook my hand gently he said, “Yes Victor because I can see it.  I can see how this works; I get it.”

The irony of the moment did not escape me.  But without missing a beat I called one of the assistants over and ask him he if would please assist John who I said is interested in getting started in the online business.  I told John that if he had any questions that I’d be around for a while and would be more than happy to answer them.

As John strolled off in his wheelchair being led by his seeing-eye dog, he went pass the rows of abandoned seats in the back of the room; that’s when the irony of the moment really hit me!  

Those who left early, who could see, complained that they couldn’t see.  Yet the blind man who couldn’t see, saw clearly what the others couldn’t see.  The folks in the back were focused on “seeing” the screen instead of focusing in on the content. 

John depended on his hearing and, an often ignored sense, his mind’s eye to see what others couldn’t see because they were too preoccupied with the small print on the screen.  Which firmly begs the question, “Who was really blind that day, him or the folks who complained and left?”

As for me, I’ll never forget the day I helped a blind man see.  As a professional speaker and trainer, beyond the money and the glory, it’s moments like this I treasure the most.    So to my new found inspiration John, I salute you and wish you the best.  As Humphrey Bogart once said, “Here’s looking at you kid.”

Victor Antonio

“Success Happens for a Reason”

p.s., When John stated he wanted to get started on the Internet, my immediate reaction was “But you’re blind”.  He made me acutely aware of my own handicap.  I now know that just because a person has a visual impairment doesn’t necessarily mean they have a ‘vision’ impairment.  Lesson learned.  Wisdom earned.

Please share this article with a friend who may need a word of inspiration.

Copyright © 2006 by Victor Antonio   All rights reserved.  This article MAY be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, as long as the author’s name, website and email address are included as part of the article’s body.  All inquiries, including information on electronic licensing, should be directed to Victor Antonio.