I believe every successful businessman should have a nice wallet. I'd like to think it's more important than the car you drive. And a hell of lot less-expensive, too.
But I lost my terrific Gucci business card-size wallet not too ago, and it's been driving me crazy. I probably took too long to replace all the contents. But can you blame me? I was hoping all the time that it would turn up.
I checked with every drug store, client, restaurant, parking lot, car and bank I visited that fateful day in Los Angeles. It's not that I lost my wallet, it's the interesting conversations I've had with Clients and friends regarding how well-prepared I should be: "Well, you're a Professional Organizer and Productivity Specialist" Mr. Trosko, you should have everything photocopied, with copies sitting in your safe-deposit box at the Bank, right?" One conversation I had with a Client was trying to convince her that women have this permission to carry around big purses on their shoulders-- and Men have to carry their entire life all wrapped in a 4" x 4" piece of leather, and stick it in their back pant's pocket. I think I took the wallet out of my pocket for a moment and left it somewhere.
No-- I had no photocopies. And it's been a pain to replace everything. My colleague has been vigorously telling me to replace my driver's license every time we drove to Burbank (where the DMV lines are not at long as they are here in the LA Basin.) I never took his advise, and he gave up reminding me -- I guess I was hoping all the time that my beloved Gucci wallet I owned would eventually turn up.
The final straw was I tried renting a car. And Beverly Hills Luxury Cars at the Hyatt on Sunset Boulevard told me they weren't accepting the old, expired license I had so cleverly located. I left the rental desk with no rental car and no ride home except for a lonely $7 taxi ride.
And of course my colleague warned me I'd have this problem. I went ahead and tried to rent the car anyway-- made lots of exciting plans for that weekend that never happened. So I learned my lesson and went to the DMV the following Monday. The new driver license came in the mail today.
But yesterday was a triumphant day. I completely gave up, drove over my local Louis Vuitton store at the Beverly Center, and quietly, yet quickly, bought myself a new wallet-- a snappy LV version of my lost Gucci, but with a bit more room. A purchase I am proud of and a purchase of quality that will last as long as I don't lose this one. All my credit cards, AAA card and insurance cards have been replaced. My driver's license was delivered today. But I still wonder where my lonely wallet sits-- unused and lonely.
Time to move on with one of Life's mysteries with a quick visit to FedEx Kinkos to copy the contents of my wallet.
I guess I can go back to being successful now.
