Delegate

Life is most remarkable. And you know the old Pa. Dutch adage! "I grow too soon old and too late smart.",

So I shall try to impart something I have learned from cousin Warren Berl who was head of the West Coast's largest independent brokerage firm, Chairman of the West Coast Stock Exchange, and involved in numerous eleemosynary organizations. when I asked him if he were Jewish: "I'm not interested in religion." Fascinating answer. But i had met his parents and there was no doubt.

His grandfather and my grandfather, who sired a large Catholic clan, were brothers. After the 1906 San Fran. quake, my granpaw said, "I'm outta here." He fled south with the railroads, married one of New Orleans' socialite belles.

Warren's brother always tells me we won't be able to see Warren; "He's ill and can't be available." I met big, strapping Warren once. He just wanted to get a peak at another Berl. He had seen a few in 1935 when his family made a pilgrimage by car to the East. They spent one night in the Berl house in Wilmington and were quickly ushered on the next day. [Great Uncle Berl whom I later met in S.F. just sounded too Jewish to be turned loose in the clannish city of Wilmington. He never mentioned the snubbing.]

What I have learned from Warren is worth noting: Warren delegates. Warren has always been immensely busy. How did he accomplish so much? Whenever I asked him a question, the answer was always, "Ask my brother about that." Or, "see so and so."

Now this may appear just normal to you, but i have been thinking about it because I was taught from early on to be self sufficient. "If you want it done, do it yourself." And so I did. Quite independent and successful in my own way.
But suddenly I realize that Warren was the really smart one! He never did a thing! but he knew exactly who could accomplish it. Of course he inherited a firm that had employees and that was a grand asset.

But the important thing is that he never tried to do it himself! He knew that someone else had more experience, more knowledge, or, at least, the capacity to accomplish the mission.

All my wasted life, I've been learning, learning, learning. At 78, i realize what an idiot I've been!