“…the most pressing task is to teach people how to learn.”
Peter Drucker
I first learned of Gene Bluestein from my fellow dorm mates while attending CSU Fresno. I knew students who were taking American Literature courses covering the works of Mark Twain and Walt Whitman, and Gene was their professor. The student buzz coming out of these classes about Professor Bluestein was, “You have to take his course! He is interesting, provocative, and he uses music to teach American Lit.” So when Gene and Ellie made plans to go to New York in 1977 on a teaching sabbatical, a couple of us students leapt at a chance that opened up to live at the Bluestein home. At the time, a part of me simply thought we scored a great off-campus alternative to dorm life. In retrospect, the real value was we were welcomed as members of the extended Bluestein family, and I gained lessons that have lasted a lifetime.
At that impressionable age, their home was a parade of unforgettable visitors. Gene and Ellie of course traveled back from Brooklyn from time to time. Earl Lyon, the dean of CSUF’s English Department and Phillip Levine, the Pulitzer Prize winning poet came by to check in on us. Pete Seeger’s brother, Mike Seeger, visited with his musical troop, including the amazing 83 year-old guitarist, Elizabeth Cotten; as did many other folk musicians, professors, artists and Bluestein family friends.
As a student, interacting with Gene was challenging; he was at once warmly welcoming, fatherly, disarmingly funny, and intellectually demanding. For example, Gene was instinctively unwilling to accept any conventional views we tried to pass off as personal conviction. He encouraged us to think critically and find our own answers beyond conventional belief. I was quickly introduced to Gene’s gift to distill the complex to the understandable – whether it was unveiling to a student the lyrical prose of Whitman, or cutting through a student’s conventional political or societal dogma to help them discover their own “truth”. And with Gene’s encouragement, it was only the first epiphany to discover we each had an ability to discern truth within the context of reality. The more important lesson learned from interacting with Gene; hearing his oft told stories, or those told about him from his friends, colleagues, and children; was that it wasn’t enough to just figure out what was right. It was more important to have the spine to stand up for our convictions — no matter the authority level that we may confront holding an opposing view. When I was 21 years old, what stood out about Gene Bluestein was he was fearless when it came to facing authority with principle. That is what I wanted to be when I grew up.
While still in my 20s, my wife and I moved back to Fresno for a time. At one point in my early career, Gene helped me take advantage of a breakthrough opportunity. I was working on a multi-million dollar grant proposal on behalf of the University. While Gene and I worked on the proposal and the deadline neared, I thought it might be easier for Gene to just give me some direct suggestions instead of asking me questions. Finally, I said in frustration, “Gene – do you know you always answer all my questions with a question!” and he thought for a while, smiled, and said, “Do I?” We laughed and just stayed with his more deliberate approach. He simply thought I would learn more if I worked through the process with some effective critical thinking. He also thought there would be more intrinsic reward with an earned result. As proof, not only was the proposal and project approved, I repeatedly applied the concepts with other universities for even greater results.
I learned about life from Gene and his wonderful family. But in context, I also learned what turned out to be an entrepreneur’s tool-kit: (1) Think critically, (2) Have courage in your convictions and (3) Take effective, bold action. Opportunity timing is sometimes inexplicable, but success typically finds its roots in the efforts of mentors. Latch on to mentors who impact your life and career. Keep a working list of those coaches, teachers, professors, and managers who make a difference, and thank them — often. Then find a way to truly give back by making a difference in the lives and careers of others.
©2009 Ancala Equity Partners / Timothy P. Fargo all rights reserved
Next Week: The journey is the joy; and four things that matter.
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