What would Tractor Brown think?

It's quite the exercise to sit and ponder such deep things that you really can only guess. Things that facts, validation, and science don't have a chance to uncover.

I am proud of a lot of things I have done. In some areas, I came up VERY short of my own expectations and certainly my own potential. But wiser folks than I would recommend you focus on the positive, so I generally tend to do that.

You will hear much about Tractor Brown.

Allow me to introduce the main character of this story.

Travis J Brown Sr. was born and lived his entire life in Corsicana, Tx (minus a few years serving his country in the US Army). Corsicana is a medium-sized town in East Central Texas. I could not tell you what it was known for....but to me, it was The University of Life. This was where my young formidable mind was massaged, challenged, rewarded, and expanded by my grandparents on my father's side. Two incredibly kind and simple people

Mind you, my grandparents on my mother's side were incredible in their own way but both suffered sadly with generally debilitating conditions and just could not spend the time with me as I am certain they wish they could have. They were important, but most of their energy was used for their own health, as it should have been.

While both of my Corsicana grandparents made huge impressions on me, my grandfather took it as his obligation to teach me about life, being of service, of value, and making sure I never had to depend on anyone in my life.

One note before we jump into the story, I think it's important to explain why he was known as Tractor Brown.

My grandfather only had two jobs as an adult. One was an officer in the US Army (WWII) and the other was selling John Deere tractors. He worked for one dealership for 62 years. He covered a pretty wide area surrounding that little part of Texas. This was obviously a farmer-rich environment. You will hear more about my stories of bouncing around dusty dirt roads in the 100-degree heat. But the fact that he sold tractors to 3 generations of farmers was a huge sense of fulfillment for him, as it was for me. His customers and friends called him Tractor Brown, and it stuck.

 

 

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What will I do?

This was a challenging question he asked me often from the age of 5 years old !!.

How was I supposed to know? But I of course had a list:

• Fireman
• Cowboy
• Astronaut
• Pilot
• Farmer
• Rodeo Bull Rider
• Rodeo Clown
• Radio DJ
• Stunt Driver

The same list I assume you had :)

He would ask this over the years. I always obliged him with an answer I would think of that day.

I played sports a lot...but it seems I never thought about saying, a pro athlete. I went on to do very well in sports in High School and college, but I never listed that as a career.

He would quietly listen and usually ask a few more questions to cause me to think deeper. Can you do that? How will you.....why, etc.

He would then put his hands on my shoulder and said it really didn't matter WHAT I did, but WHY I did it was important. That still obviously sits with me today because I am a passion junkie. When I set out to do anything...I ask the WHY question. His point was, to do something that brings you joy, and happiness and serves others and it will never feel like work.

He of course passed in my late 20s and he never really got to see me do what I would grow to do. I owned a few businesses but I was grinding and just following some path that I wasn't probably truly attached to.

If he could see me now

At 50, I feel like I have uncovered most of the secrets of life (or at least the ones I can comprehend) and have assembled a suitcase of experiences and memories for a lifetime. I have worked all over the US and 12 countries doing Disaster Recovery.

I have met some of the best and most interesting people, seen and done things I could never have imagined, and been able to form a set of life principles that I think he would have loved to chat about. He would be proud and that would make me very happy. To make sure he knew that I listened and that I understood (even if it took 40 years).

I don't have grandkids yet but I can imagine I might find some dusty dirt roads and take them for rides to meet the humans that make a real contribution to others and have discoverable conversations with them. Then hope they look back one day and realize that, like Tractor Brown, we spend these times and moments so we fertilize minds that have the capacity to make a difference.

I think he would be proud. I know I am.

I think that is all for this week.

If you want to help one of our favorite charities, buy me a coffee: Be Kind Here

 

 

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