You’ve heard of “Pie in the Sky”—an idiom to convey that which is so unlikely that we shouldn’t count on it, a kind of fool’s gold, a dream only a Pollyanna would dare to dream.
Well, if Pie-In-The-Sky describes what can’t come true, perhaps “Mile High Tea” should be the new descriptor for what can. Why? Because anything Judith Briles touches actually does turn to gold. Judith was my hostess this past weekend for a gorgeous, elaborate and delightful tea at the lovely home where she and her husband, poet and editor John Maling, love to entertain.
So what do I mean by “gold”? When it comes to Dr. Judith Briles it means that which is practical and demonstrable. Her career began three decades ago when she was a stockbroker and one of the first female financial planners working with a national firm—laying the groundwork for the likes of Suze Orman. In fact, rather than continuing to work for someone else, she became an author and a speaker. Now, with twenty books to her name, and having delivered literally thousands of presentations focusing on strategies and solutions in personal and professional endeavors, Judith has success down to a science and an art.
Of course, it’s obvious she’s a “head” person. Her mind works so fast it’s a challenge to keep up. Sometimes she’s crunching numbers—something she seems to be able to do with her left hand while her right hand is making scones. Sometimes she’s pondering a client’s progress as she might a chess board, planning the next six moves in a career as steadily and deeply as a steeping pot of tea.
She’s someone who’s interested in breakthroughs—and in finding those who are ready to leap ahead. That’s why she founded Author U, which offers dynamic monthly programs for serious authors. But even before she started her organization, she kept an ear to the ground for evolved authors while keeping an eye peeled for publishing opportunities. When it comes to locating these future business partners, she certainly uses her acumen and judgment— meaning she uses her head.
But why does she do all this? This is where the heart comes in. Because when it comes down to the bottom line, there’s nothing in it for Judith. She doesn’t ask for a percentage or even for a fee, unless one is a client. She brings people together for exciting new possibilities because she believes in good books well published; she understands the power of the word; and she passionately believes that a person fulfilling his or her calling in life is a person making an important contribution to the world. She feels that if a good thing can happen, it should.
That’s why the tea Judith hosted for me wasn’t just High Tea: it was Mile High Tea in the Mile High City. Yes, guests enjoyed delicious food from cucumber sandwiches to homemade sweets, along with several varieties of hot tea poured from a private tea pot collection. And yes, guests enjoyed the stories I shared, and bought lots of books before they headed home. But a lot more than good food and stories happened that afternoon. People got a glimpse of their own possibilities. That’s what “in it” for Judith: the joy of inspiring others, and doing something special to instigate their success. She may have hosted this event for me because her head told her it would work. But the energy, resources and generosity that she expressed in giving me this gift—that came straight from the heart.
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