MEMORIES
BENJAMIN PETEL
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/series-7-s1e2-my-grandfather-inspiration-benjamin-g-petel?trk=mp-author-card
BENJAMIN PETEL
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/series-7-s1e2-my-grandfather-inspiration-benjamin-g-petel?trk=mp-author-card
Series 7 - S1E2
My Grandfather the Inspiration
Jul 7, 2015
Elliott on a trampoline at age 93. He trains two-three times a week with a professional Olympic trampoline instructor as an exercise for both body and overcoming the fear of falling.
For the second episode of the Series 7 posts I would like to give the stage to a man I admire and has been an inspiration for me and all that meet him - My Grandfather - Mr. Elliott F. Royce.
Born in 1919 in Minneapolis (USA) as the youngest son of Romanian immigrants, my Grandfather has spent his 96 years on this earth questioning any convention and redefining the meaning of age, being only a number on a calendar and finances being only a number on a piece of paper.
To list a few of his many achievements to date (yes yes - he is still very much alive and kicking) Elliott has lived through the depression and maintain a successful business, a pilot and flight instructor in WWII, built and sold successful businesses, had Five children, lived on a boat, lived on floating house, plays multiple instruments and many more concrete "bottom-line" achievements that I probably don't even know about. But although all these look good on a resume, these are only part the things that make him the amazing man he is.
This canvas is much too small to paint the full picture of this remarkable man. I can merely say that every book I read about self-improvement or how our brain works it always is clear to me that he is the living the living example of how positive thinking, a never ending curiosity and infinite kindness and generosity are the recipe for a long and happy life.
So with no further ado - here are the seven things I have learned from my Grandfather:
1. Every obstacle is an opportunity - When Elliott turned 82 his driver's license was taken away by his children. Being a very independent and confident driver, he was put out at first that he had to start relying on other people and public transportation. But, Elliott being Elliott, he soon turned the whole experience into an inspiration. He quickly learned the bus routes and while riding them noticed that there are many bored children on board. Not long passed before he learned how to create balloon animals for the children on board and gave them all balloons and pumps for them to continue enjoying it at home.
2. Boredom is never an option - When I was 12 years old I visited him in his Florida floating house. Elliott never had a television and during the long hot summer days I found myself nervously pacing around, bored like only a young teenager in his Grandfather's house can be. He instantly invented mind games, strength games, took me out to see a construction site and meet the foreman that without knowing Elliott before, took the time to explain the construction process to us for over an hour. Throughout the years there have been many other clever and intelligent ways to learn and enjoy our time together. Time without learning something or doing good was a waste of time.
3. It is always possible to reinvent yourself - One of Elliott's main characteristics is the ability to become completely engulfed in a subject, get fascinated by it and try to study it from every aspect and, when something new comes around, he will drop it and never look back. When he was in his late 80's he became fascinated with ants. After reading most books in the public library, he tracked down an ant professor in some US college and started going on research excavations throughout the US and Central America. From all I've read, this is one of the best ways of keeping a lucid and rejuvenating mind.
4. Don't stay mad for long - Staying mad at someone or some situation is a waste of time. Whenever I've seen him get mad it lasted around Five minutes and passes as if it never happened. Being similar to him in this aspect I have found that in the business of live entertainment, it is a very useful quality to posses.
5. Everybody is someone to learn from - I've seen Elliott in countless occasions start a conversation with the person at the crossroad waiting for the Green light, the clerk at the supermarket, the carpenter installing his neighbor's kitchen...Anyone and everyone. Some of these people stay his friends and continue meeting with him for years. To some of them he says goodbye as soon as he crosses the road.
6. Be generous as possible!! - During the 1990's Elliott bought a Toyota Camry Station Wagon. He fell in love with this cheap, comfortable and safe car and proceeded to acquire any of them that he could get his hands on and give them away to his Grandchildren that just got a license, friends in need and others. This wasn't about money - he recognized what he regarded as a good machine at a cheap price and wanted to share this joy with others around him.
7. Learn how to fall - Falling is part of life, learn how to do it right! When Elliott was 90 years old he recognized the fact that most seniors fall and injure themselves. He decided that falling is inevitable so he might as well learn how to fall. Finding a coach that will train a 90 year old how to fall proved to be a difficult task but, nevertheless, Elliott found a coach in Hawaii and flew down for a two week training on falling and rolling. When he returned home he started practicing 50 times each morning on an inflatable mattress in his apartment. He also started jumping on trampolines to take the fear out. The following link is an article done on Elliott instructing other seniors on the art of falling: http://video.startribune.com/95-year-old-man-teaches-other-seniors-how-to-fall/294732761/
My grandfather is an inspiration to me and many others around him. With every project I am involved in, every new professional I meet and many personal and professional decisions, he is a standard to which I aspire.
P.S - if this post interests you and you would like to meet him, I'm sure he would love making your acquaintance and learning from you as much as he can. Send me a message and I will connect you.
Benjamin Petel is the Creative Producer of Pyromania, an international Creative Production Group that creates tailor-made shows and experiences for events, productions and venues worldwide.
My Grandfather the Inspiration
Jul 7, 2015
Elliott on a trampoline at age 93. He trains two-three times a week with a professional Olympic trampoline instructor as an exercise for both body and overcoming the fear of falling.
For the second episode of the Series 7 posts I would like to give the stage to a man I admire and has been an inspiration for me and all that meet him - My Grandfather - Mr. Elliott F. Royce.
Born in 1919 in Minneapolis (USA) as the youngest son of Romanian immigrants, my Grandfather has spent his 96 years on this earth questioning any convention and redefining the meaning of age, being only a number on a calendar and finances being only a number on a piece of paper.
To list a few of his many achievements to date (yes yes - he is still very much alive and kicking) Elliott has lived through the depression and maintain a successful business, a pilot and flight instructor in WWII, built and sold successful businesses, had Five children, lived on a boat, lived on floating house, plays multiple instruments and many more concrete "bottom-line" achievements that I probably don't even know about. But although all these look good on a resume, these are only part the things that make him the amazing man he is.
This canvas is much too small to paint the full picture of this remarkable man. I can merely say that every book I read about self-improvement or how our brain works it always is clear to me that he is the living the living example of how positive thinking, a never ending curiosity and infinite kindness and generosity are the recipe for a long and happy life.
So with no further ado - here are the seven things I have learned from my Grandfather:
1. Every obstacle is an opportunity - When Elliott turned 82 his driver's license was taken away by his children. Being a very independent and confident driver, he was put out at first that he had to start relying on other people and public transportation. But, Elliott being Elliott, he soon turned the whole experience into an inspiration. He quickly learned the bus routes and while riding them noticed that there are many bored children on board. Not long passed before he learned how to create balloon animals for the children on board and gave them all balloons and pumps for them to continue enjoying it at home.
2. Boredom is never an option - When I was 12 years old I visited him in his Florida floating house. Elliott never had a television and during the long hot summer days I found myself nervously pacing around, bored like only a young teenager in his Grandfather's house can be. He instantly invented mind games, strength games, took me out to see a construction site and meet the foreman that without knowing Elliott before, took the time to explain the construction process to us for over an hour. Throughout the years there have been many other clever and intelligent ways to learn and enjoy our time together. Time without learning something or doing good was a waste of time.
3. It is always possible to reinvent yourself - One of Elliott's main characteristics is the ability to become completely engulfed in a subject, get fascinated by it and try to study it from every aspect and, when something new comes around, he will drop it and never look back. When he was in his late 80's he became fascinated with ants. After reading most books in the public library, he tracked down an ant professor in some US college and started going on research excavations throughout the US and Central America. From all I've read, this is one of the best ways of keeping a lucid and rejuvenating mind.
4. Don't stay mad for long - Staying mad at someone or some situation is a waste of time. Whenever I've seen him get mad it lasted around Five minutes and passes as if it never happened. Being similar to him in this aspect I have found that in the business of live entertainment, it is a very useful quality to posses.
5. Everybody is someone to learn from - I've seen Elliott in countless occasions start a conversation with the person at the crossroad waiting for the Green light, the clerk at the supermarket, the carpenter installing his neighbor's kitchen...Anyone and everyone. Some of these people stay his friends and continue meeting with him for years. To some of them he says goodbye as soon as he crosses the road.
6. Be generous as possible!! - During the 1990's Elliott bought a Toyota Camry Station Wagon. He fell in love with this cheap, comfortable and safe car and proceeded to acquire any of them that he could get his hands on and give them away to his Grandchildren that just got a license, friends in need and others. This wasn't about money - he recognized what he regarded as a good machine at a cheap price and wanted to share this joy with others around him.
7. Learn how to fall - Falling is part of life, learn how to do it right! When Elliott was 90 years old he recognized the fact that most seniors fall and injure themselves. He decided that falling is inevitable so he might as well learn how to fall. Finding a coach that will train a 90 year old how to fall proved to be a difficult task but, nevertheless, Elliott found a coach in Hawaii and flew down for a two week training on falling and rolling. When he returned home he started practicing 50 times each morning on an inflatable mattress in his apartment. He also started jumping on trampolines to take the fear out. The following link is an article done on Elliott instructing other seniors on the art of falling: http://video.startribune.com/95-year-old-man-teaches-other-seniors-how-to-fall/294732761/
My grandfather is an inspiration to me and many others around him. With every project I am involved in, every new professional I meet and many personal and professional decisions, he is a standard to which I aspire.
P.S - if this post interests you and you would like to meet him, I'm sure he would love making your acquaintance and learning from you as much as he can. Send me a message and I will connect you.
Benjamin Petel is the Creative Producer of Pyromania, an international Creative Production Group that creates tailor-made shows and experiences for events, productions and venues worldwide.