When I was a kid there was an infomercial on TV that I absolutely loved. In the ad a guy named Tony Wu would stand on a cigarette boat while it rocked gently in a canal somewhere in Florida. Joining Tony on the speedboat were five or six blonde women in tiny bikinis. All of the women were at least six inches taller than Tony. Behind the grinning group you’d see a huge McMansion glittering in the Florida sunshine.
Tony would talk for a while about how he built up his real-estate empire (and you could too!). At the end of the spiel he’d sweep a hand through the air, inviting you to take in the enormity of his success. Then he’d smile at the camera and say “Look at me, I’m Tony Wu!”
I’d sit there with a smile, watching Tony and his towering bimbo horde. When he delivered his victory line I’d pump a little fist in the air and say “Tony, my Main Man!”
I don’t know what happened to Tony, but I’ll bet he’s now in a Florida trailer park, selling bibles from the trunk of a Ford Pinto. Why do I say this? Because I think the universe wants you to accept your wealth and talents with grace and quiet gratitude. It doesn’t want you to inflate your ego with tacky displays that scream “Watch me now and envy me later.” If you do this, I believe that the universe comes after you.
So where’s the evidence? Think about a rapper who appears onscreen saying “Yo, look at me, in da club with all my bitches!” A year later he’s selling off his bling at a steep discount just to pay the rent. Or look at that financier who owns a cricket team. One minute he’s surrounded by women and has one of his player’s wives sitting on his lap. Basking in his glory, he has no idea that next year he’ll be in a nasty fistfight over the phone they let inmates use in prison. Okay, you say, but what about the connected ones on Wall Street who always seem to get away scot-free? Well, where do you think those ex-wives that take half their wealth come from?
I’m hoping I’m wrong about Tony. If he’s half as bright as the Hawaiian shirt he wore in the infomercial, he probably figured out how to be quietly grateful for all he was given. I really hope this is true, because Tony Wu is still my Main Man.
Maybe Tony Wu will get back with the original blondes from the infomercial and do a comeback concert!
Those old infomercials were the bomb! Today’s try to act like talk shows or news programs.
I think he is now big wig for Law of Attraction people and he does the speaking circuit for them.:)
Well, I’ve known businessmen with the “Midas touch”, who, after their first success, think they are a genius and everything they touch will turn to gold. One particular guy was great at starting businesses but couldn’t keep them going. Yet another businessman did quite well buying up the first guy’s bankrupt businesses and turning a profit. I worked for one of these businesses after it was sold by the original Midas man.
I’m sure the Tony on the commercial wasn’t the real Tony. He was probably the most humble guy around in reality. But I’m sure the towering bimbo horde was real.