On any given day my subscribers face all kinds of challenges: Business challenges, marketing challenges, personal challenges, health issues, family crises.
Sometimes the level of inspiration that would suffice for inventing a sales hook isn’t enough to power you through a real crisis. Sometimes you need some monster inspiration.
Well I got some of that just this week. My friend and neighbor Joy Sherfey has a close relative, Lisa Fox, who’s been to surgery for the second time for a brain tumor. Lisa is a 39 year old mother of young children, and this has not been a fun time for anybody at the Fox household.
She is weak, she’s on chemotherapy, and her memory, speech and motor skills have all been seriously affected by the surgery. She brings a spoon or fork to her mouth with considerable difficulty.
Her husband Rich brought her from the hospital a few days ago, on their 17th wedding anniversary. Rich prepared a special dinner surprise.
While they ate, piano music was playing in the next room. Her favorite song came up, and at that point he led her by hand into the living room.
It wasn’t a CD. It was a real live concert pianist.
Huntley Brown, a wonderfully gifted musician, was in Chicago for a concert. Rich had contacted Huntley – “Mr. Brown, you’re one of my wife’s favorite musicians of all time, and we’re struggling with this situation…”
Rich persuaded him to sneak into their house and make the evening special.
Grand slam, Rich. Congratulations on the romantic achievement of a lifetime!
That was a week ago, and the Spirit of Music has helped her along since then. She normally has a difficult time talking, but there was special music at church and Rich heard her singing along. Then she came home and — despite having a hard time eating and getting dressed — she miraculously played her piano for 45 minutes.
Lisa’s not out of the woods, and no one can say how her recovery will go. But her husband is obviously not sitting glumly in a stew of self pity. His eyes laugh in the face of disaster, and he has turned the grimmest of situations into a celebration.
Dear subscriber, I don’t know what your situation is, but odds are you’re facing something.
Rise up and face it with courage. And humor. And be sure and add a bit of romance. You too can laugh in the face of disaster — and in fact that disaster may be the crucible that perfects you so you can rise to the next occasion.
Carpe Deim.
Perry Marshall
P.S.: Enjoy this performance by Huntley Brown at the Crystal Cathedral in California. It’s worth watching all the way to the end:
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About the Author
Perry Marshall has launched two revolutions in sales and marketing. In Pay-Per-Click advertising, he pioneered best practices and wrote the world's best selling book on Google advertising. And he's driven the 80/20 Principle deeper than any other author, creating a new movement in business.
He is referenced across the Internet and by Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, INC and Forbes Magazine.
29 Comments on “12 Days of Christmas Day 12: Boldness and Faith — even Romance! — in the Face of Disaster”
Great story, awesome music, inspiring words, thank you.
Thank you Huntley Brown for taking time out of your schedule to make yourself available to someone going through such a difficult time. Perry, thank you for sharing.
A beautiful, heart touching story that proves love, kindness and charity are still out there waiting for you to reach out and claim them. Sometimes I get a bit cynical when I see all of the less than nice things that people do to one another. Thank you for this lovely reminder of the good in people.
Wishing Rich and Lisa, Huntley Brown, Perry and loved ones and all who are enriched by this sharing, a safe and wonderful 2011 filled with joy.
Thanks Perry. I hope you had a Merry Christmas.
Mr. Brown is awesome.
Perry. God bless you, brother. Thank you for the reminder to count our blessings and that there is hope even in the darkest point of the struggle. I also share many of Steve’s sentiments! All the best to you and yours.
Perry,
Thanks for sharing this! I had never heard of Huntley Brown until today.
None of us knows what the future holds, and we need to count our blessings and make the absolute most of every day we are given.
We’ll be praying for Lisa and Rich.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful New Year!
What a way to end my Christmas Eve. The Dinner guest post was just so inspiring. It touched my soul. When all else is stripped away, my heart lays bare in the presence of this type of unselfish devotion. Rich you are great. Thanks for sharing this story with me on Christmas eve.
Being a entrepreneur can be a lonely occupation at times. I don’t have many true friends and at 54 I’m fine with that. In fact, I believe it is a blessing. It allows you to stay focused, it cuts the ‘white noise’ down to a minimum.
I’m writing this alone on Xmas Eve but it’s fine, I’m taking off with my son tomorrow for some great skiing till Tuesday.
Opening up my email and seeing this post, Perry, has made everything alright. It makes me count my blessings and say a prayer for your neighbor and his wife.
My wife left me for nothing, really, the ‘bigger better deal’. She knows bigger isn’t better now. I admire people such as your friend, that ‘fights’ for his relationship and mariage. That quality is so hard to find today, in potential mates.
Dogs have it right, unconditional love and instantaeous forgiveness!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I tell everyone interested in on-line marketing to: just study “Perry”. Just do what he does. In other words, be real not a “guru”.
I consider you one of my closest friends even though we’ve never met! {**Thank God for the internet and lets hope ‘Julian Assange’ hasn’t screwed it all up and attracted ‘Big Brother’ intervention and control, sooner rather than later.}
The only down-side I see with the internet is that every moron can line up for his ’15 minutes’ of fame! Sad!
Thanks My Man! Merry Xmas and Rock On!
Steve, it’s a pleasure meeting you. Merry christmas.
Although inspirational that a husband would do something that meant so much to his sick wife. I found it depressing and upsetting as we all know the outcome with this kind of illness. I went through it with a friend also.
I wish all my best to the family and hope that they will overcome this. It’s also good that the husband is being positive for his wife that is what your suppose to do even though it’s hard to do. Anyway it was a beautiful gift that was given to his wife.
I would have to disagree with some of the comments on this subject. Day 12 served no purpose for your 12 Days of Christmas and was not relevant to the other days. The only thing it said was don’t waste time and worry about stupid things as we never know.
Sometimes you have to give to your readers and not lock up what you call so much information that was given away as we all know it was only a scratch on the surface. But I did like your theme of emails 12 Days of Christmas taken from the song.
Merry Christmas
Perry,
That is truly an inspiring message! Her husband, Rich, certainly was thinking creatively. I am sure he realized that inspiration in the face of their challenges was definitely needed. Their 17th wedding anniversary will most likely be the one they remember with the fondest memories, in spite of the challenges. All the best to their courage!
— Thanks, Roger
What a beautiful gift, from the husband, from Huntley Brown and from you Perry. Thank you Perry for all you give and especially for introducing me to Huntley Brown. I had never heard of him before this.., WOW
Wishing you every blessing for Christmas and a wonderful new year in 2011.
Jenni Wright
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I always learn so much from you and this series is no exception. You have given great gifts this Christmas – and I appreciate each one. I have had fun and learned a ton today going through them.
Those who do not use this free content are really at a disadvantage!
Merry Christmas – may yours be blessed!
Thank you Perry. Its nice to know more of the whole person and you have showed us your heart! Lovely story and video. Happy Holidays to you Perry!
My goodness Perry.
I’ve always admired you as a brilliant marketer and strategist. But your ability to inspire with your words and thoughts is a gift that transcends business and goes straight to the heart of life in general.
You’re awesome. Really and truly.
Best,
Alan
Thank you Huntley Brown for doing something that you didn’t have to do, that was probably inconvenient, and that made a life long lasting affect on one of God’s children who needed you.
Perry,
God bless you buddy for all your kind gifts this holiday season. You continue to inspire me with your stories and words of wisdom.
A special thank for the last 12 days of awesome gifts.
Wishing you and your family abundance, prosperity and good health in the 2011. You’re the best!
Happy Holidays,
Charlie
Merry Christmas!
And thanks for sharing.
First, thanks for sharing this. 2nd, I am now a Huntley Brown fan. 3rdly, you’re right. I’m behind the 8 ball again on Christmas, but I’ve worked out a plan and I’m gonna execute it. Here’s to another year of working it out. Much love, Perry.
Merry Christmas!
Thanks for fighting for the faith and teaching everyone what real marketing is about.
Thanks for this. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.
What a wonderful lesson. I am afraid we all fall into the trap of thinking our problems are so huge, that life is such a struggle. Thanks for putting things in perspective.
I know we all avoid failure/disaster with all our energy. Yet time and time again, our most valuable lessons come from adversity. We need to permanently etch this thought in our mind “disaster may be the crucible that perfects you so you can rise to the next occasion.” We need to embrace our adversities so we can learn and grow from them.
Again, thanks for the sobering yet inspiring message. We need to count our blessings this holiday season and throughout the year.
Thanks for the gifts of wisdom you constantly share with us.
Perry Marshall thanks for the wonderful concert of classical music
Thank you Perry for this wonderful Christmas gift of music. Merry Christmas, may God bless you and yours.
Re: Dear subscriber, I don’t know what your situation is, but odds are you’re facing something.
Rise up and face it with courage. And humor. And be sure and add a bit of romance. You too can laugh in the face of disaster — and in fact that disaster may be the crucible that perfects you so you can rise to the next occasion.
Mr Perry, it is a great honour & blessing being on your list. I have learnt a great deal from your deep fountain of wisdom.
Thanks and happy holidays to you and your family.
Thank you Perry for this uplifting post and my prayers are with Lisa today.
Merry Christmas Perry,
Each of these 12 Days of Christmas “gifts” you have presented have been wonderful. Each very valuable on their own with a synergistic value as a package. So, thanks. However, I think you definitely saved the best for last. What a great story. Rich’s love, support, and respect for his wife is uplifting. As we move head strong into this Holiday season, I will reflect on my twenty-seven years of marriage to a very wonderful lady, and offer a special prayer to Lisa and Rich Fox.
Thanks Perry, God Bless, and Merry Christmas to all.
Perry,
You never cease to amaze me with your posts. I must confess that I always viewed you as a strategy person, a no nonsense marketer focused on results (and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that :)) but I’m happy to see other sides of you as well.
Thanks for sharing this. Makes me zero on on those things in my life that I can be grateful for and gives me courage to face those things I’d rather turn my back on.
Music is a powerful communicator. Thanks for sharing the clip.
I hope that you have a fantastic Christmas and that you continue to share and enjoy abundance in your life.
Giselle
Thank you Perry, for these twelve days, for this awesome ending.
Thank You Huntley Brown for giving your time, talents and abilities to your “sisters” & “brothers”. Rich, you are a dear husband!
Thank You Perry for the wonderful Christmas Card!