Hi Claude. In looking back over my e-mail message to you, it could easily APPEAR that I was being condescending in my attitude. (As was recently communicated to me by a friend.) Please, believe me when I say that this was not my intent.
Whatever your opinion of what I am about to say, I only ask that you keep in mind that it is sincere and heartfelt.
The truth is that I was simply protecting myself.
I felt confronted by one of two possible scenarios. Either I was being challenged by someone that I did not know, for reasons that I did not understand. Or, someone was asking me to do (for the umpteenth time) their homework for them.
In short, I felt uncomfortable and really did not know how to respond.
I took, what seemed to me at the time, to be the "safest" course that would still leave the doors open.
I am no "stock picker" and, frankly, get the "willies" if I feel that I am inadvertantly giving anyone that impression. My reaction is generally to run for the hills. I know that I have worked hard for my money. I respect this fact far too much to suggest that anyone listen to "my advice". To me that would be as pretentious on my part as would someone who just took a class in CPR giving medical advice on neurosurgery.
To share information with other people who have already made their own decisions is fun. To infuence anyone towards making that decision SCARES the hell out of me. I am simply and honestly COMPLETELY unqualitied for the task. As an amateur I am free to make my own mistakes, as only I have to pay for them. I would protect anyone else from suffering the consequences of "my ignorance or foolishness".
By the same token, how can I really "defend" my decision or preferences under these circumstances? To me it is somewhat like "defending" my choice of an entree on a dinner menu. That is not to say that I do not perform my own "due diligence". In fact, I do so with an almost fanatic zeal. It is just that my own style in group situations is in line with the "dialogue" model represented by Senge in "The Fifth Discipline", certainly not any "adversarial or confrontational" style.
If you will look back at all my other posts you will see that I enjoy talking with people. It is the "people" part of all of this that interests me. My knowledge about finances, economics and what not is woefully inadequate. To be honest with you, Claude, these subjects bore the hell out of me.
In all the time that I have posted, I have steadfastedly refused to make any "suggestions", no matter how hard I was pressed. I made it a point, in fact, to contain my personal enthusiasm to 5 people with whom I have developed a relationship with, and know are knowledgeable enough to perform their own "due diligence". The last thing I had intended to do was to "promote", "hype" or "recommend" this company (or any other) to anyone. Being at heart, an honest and sincere person, I did not think to censor myself publically.
Rest assured that I will NEVER make this mistake again.
Clearly, my response to you was not an illustration of one of my "better choices in judgement."
If I have offended you in any way, I can only offer you my hearfelt apology. This is the very LAST thing that I would have choosen to do.
Sincere regards,
JED
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