I have to admit that I had no clue as to who this fellow was or his significance in my life. I was simply accepting and invitation to dinner from a good friend and I knew that whatever it was, it would be worth doing. I had no idea that this experience would have such an impact on my business life as well as my personal faith journey.
There were about 1000 persons in attendance of all races and religious backgrounds. Plemon, over the past 36 years, has come to know and influence so many people and people had come from all over the country and world to attend. The evening began with dinner and then there were presentations, recitations of the Koran, roasts and toast and finally ended with a word from Imam Plemon.
Plemon is from Southwest Atlanta. Grew up on the streets, played football and basketball in high-school. He then got accepted to Harvard University and attended there in the 1960's. Can you imagine the courage and vision it must have taken for an African American boy, from the South no less, to go all the way to Boston to attend an Ivy-League school?
He told how he lived with his friend in the projects while attending college. He told us how he used to work several jobs to support his family AFTER finishing Harvard. (How many white kids do you know that had to work at a filling station after finishing Harvard?) He told us how his family had been together even when he was traveling, and working, and pouring his life into his work.
Finally, he gave us the secret of his life's work: faith in God, simple living, hard work and high thinking. He had lived and practiced this his entire life and was now sitting here in front of hundreds of supporters who loved him. He had achieved success in the development of the Muslim community in the Atlanta and the entire United States. He has lead a movement to bridge the gap between whites and blacks of all faiths.
After hearing this, I thought to myself, "If this man can achieve all this, how simple it would be to achieve something as small as starting and running a business." So, upon returning home, I made a new entry on my white board:
"Faith in God. Simple Living. Hard Work. High Thinking."So, there you have it. Thanks to you, Imam Plemon, for these wise words and may your retirement be as fruitful as your career.
