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Posted March 24th, 2009 On the meaning of life. I determined years ago that the meaning of life is to make a difference, a positive difference in the lives of others. Works for me. You may have a different answer. As humans, we have an innate desire to leave our footprint behind, some mark by which others will know we were here once upon a time. We hope to leave something of ourselves behind, children in many cases, or by the change we affected, the contribution to the world that we made. In my case it is the toys, games, and other products we invent and develop. I am reminded of my first mentor in the toy business, Harry Disko, now gone to greener pastures, but once Marvin Glass’s right hand man. He started on the bench as a model maker, legend has it, and on his first day found the shop too messy for his taste and took it upon himself to clean it. From that day on he made sure that the model shop stayed clean and neat, just the way he liked it. Keeping the shop clean was not his job, but Harry was one to mold the world around him to his liking, often to the benefit of everyone else. He ultimately took over managing the business for Marvin, allowing Marvin to be the flamboyant celebrity inventor loved by all, while Harry did the proverbial heavy lifting. Marvin would give out compliments and raises and Harry would come along behind and rescind the raises. The ‘atta-boys’ and kudos they got to keep. Marvin did the hiring. Harry did the firing. He didn't mind getting his hands dirty. He ran a tight ship. It was Harry that gave me my first and only real job. He believed in me enough to give me a chance, and that has made all the difference to me. Thank you, Harry, wherever you are. I hope Heaven is full of racetracks and raspberries.
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