Life Lessons Worth Learning

 

LIFE LESSONS WORTH LEARNING
By Jim “Gymbeaux” Brown, April 14, 2026

A word of explanation.  I wrote the following as I normally would. It was written to my grandson who was graduating from college; a graduation that circumstances kept from attending – my loss! The lessons do not apply to just college graduates; they would apply to anyone in any situation.  After I wrote what I thought was important, I requested ChatGPT to convert what I had written into a text style that FogHorn Leghorn might have written or have said. It gives the reader the image of an old rooster (me) passing on his well—gained knowledge to anyone in the barnyard that would listen. That is what I wanted to achieve. and I think ChatGPG and Foghorn did it. I hope you enjoy reading this Nugget and take away the lessons I hope it provides.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I say, I say, lemme tell ya somethin’, BUD—there’s been a question rattlin’ around this ol’ noggin of mine for decades now, and I mean DECADES! Especially these last twenty years or so, it’s pecked at me like a woodpecker on a tin roof. If I had the chance—now listen here—if an 80-year-old Gymbeaux could sit down jaw-to-jaw with a 20-year-old Jim, what ONE MESSAGE, I say ONE MESSAGE, would I pass along that’d actually stick? You didn’t ask me, BUD—but if you had, well sir, here it comes loud and clear!

Back in the mid-1990s—yes sir, back when folks still read newspapers instead of peckin’ at phones—I came across a couple of studies that said fewer than 5%—I say FIVE PERCENT—of professionals ever read a single book about their own line of work. Now son, I was knee-deep in trainin’ real estate agents back then, and I’m here to tell ya, that 5% sounded downright generous! Most of ’em wouldn’t read a sales book if it came with a free steak dinner. Sales, relationships, motivation, contracts—might as well have been written in hieroglyphics to ’em.

Now picture this, BUD—imagine your heart doctor, scalpel in hand, about to tinker with your ticker… and he ain’t cracked open a book on surgery since he got his diploma. I say, that ain’t just bad—that’s “write your will” bad!

Now ol’ Gary Keller—sharp fella, co-founder of Keller Williams Realty—used to say, “You’re either knowledge-based or ignorant-based… choose wisely!” And I say, BUD, that man was right on the money!

So here’s the deal: if you wanna be a success—anywhere, anyhow—you best get yourself in the habit of readin’ NON-FICTION about your craft. I set myself a goal—three books a month, every month—and I stuck to it for decades. Don’t you tell me you ain’t got time, BUD! You got time—you just ain’t managing it right!

Now here comes the second nugget—lean in close, son—MAKE YOURSELF IRREPLACEABLE! I say, IRREPLACEABLE! You do that, and you’ll never be lookin’ for a job a day in your life. Your boss’ll look at you and say, “That boy’s worth more than two men and a pickup truck!” and they’ll bend over backward to keep you happy. And if you’re workin’ for yourself? Why BUD, you’ll soar higher than a hawk in a tailwind!

And another thing—bein’ satisfied? That’s a dangerous place, I say DANGEROUS! Stay curious! Stay adventurous! Get out there and see the world—even if it’s just a walk through a national park. There’s more out there than your front porch, son!

Now if I’d had the chance to tell my younger self all this, I would’ve laid it out just like I’m layin’ it out for you. Take it for what it’s worth—but I say it’s worth more than a stack of fancy diplomas! Most of what really matters—you learned before first grade. That’s right—your mama and daddy, they were your first and best teachers. Truth, right and wrong, good and evil—that’s the foundation, BUD!

So congratulations on your graduation, BUD! I tip my hat to ya! I hope one day this sticks in that brainpan of yours and you pass it down to your kids and grandkids. And if you’re wonderin’ where I’ve said all this before—well sir, it’s all tucked inside that book I co-wrote with Lou Vickery—Where Are You Going?

Now go on out there and make somethin’ of yourself, BUD—I’ll be watchin’!