Chess Britt - Seek to be wise : finding extraordinary wisdom in everyday life

I had the privilege of working with Chess for over 30 years! In all those years, the characteristic I most admired in him was his wisdom. I always referred to him as the Wise Old Owl of our company. His wisdom and leadership helped guide us through the toughest of times. In this book, Chess distills this timeless wisdom into down-to-earth principles that everyone can benefit from.

JOHN ADDISON, CEO & PRESIDENT, ADDISON LEADERSHIP GROUP, INC., FORMER CO-CEO, PRIMERICA

Ive always been fascinated by the earliest days and years of lifethe way children absorb the world around them like sponges. Physical changes aside, they mature, develop and grow most dramatically by learning from the small world around them. Every day they discover deep, lasting truths about themselves, the world, and their place in it. Over time and especially into adulthood, as our world expands, our curiosity, sadly, tends to fade.

Chess Britt has therefore hit a bulls eye on one of the most vital aspects of personal success: the lifelong search for wisdom. While the most important lessons are always closest to home, the journey never stops.

JOSH ELLIS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, SUCCESS MAGAZINE

In Seek to Be Wise, Britt gives away the secret to a life well lived: above all else, Seek to be wise! This book is filled with stories illustrating timeless bits of wisdom he has acquired along his lifes path. In a humble, yet insightful way, Britt shares 31 maximstimeless truthshe picked up from family, friends, co-workers, and popular culture. This is not a book youll want to read and put on a shelf; this is a book youll want to refer to again and again.

DR. BARY FLEET, LIFE COACH, EDUCATOR, SPEAKER, AND AUTHOR OF THE BEST-SELLING BOOK, MOVE INTO YOUR MAGNIFICENCE: 101 INVITATIONS TO A LIFE OF PASSION AND JOY

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher and author are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. Nothing herein shall create an attorney-client relationship, and nothing herein shall constitute legal advice or a solicitation to offer legal advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Published by Greenleaf Book Group Press

Austin, Texas

www.gbgpress.com

Copyright 2020 Chess Britt

All rights reserved.

Thank you for purchasing an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright law. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the copyright holder.

Distributed by Greenleaf Book Group

For ordering information or special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Greenleaf Book Group at PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709, 512.891.6100.

Design and composition by Greenleaf Book and Rachael Brandenburg

Cover design by Greenleaf Book Group Rachael Brandenburg

Cover image: istock/uuoott

Publishers Cataloging-in-Publication data is available.

Print ISBN: 978-1-62634-721-2

eBook ISBN: 978-1-62634-722-9

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper

20212223242510987654321

First Edition

In memory of Dad.

In honor of Mom.

The pillars of my life.

And to Grayson. A little wisdom from Pops.

Wisdom is not a product of schooling, but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.

Albert Einstein

LIFE BLESSED ME WITH WONDERFUL parentsBarbara and Gene Britt. You are the pillars of my life. Any success I have, I owe it all to you.

Trisha, Chess, and Mattyou are the greatest blessings in my life. Trisha, I love you and appreciate all you do. You have loved me and shared your life with me for over forty years, and there is no one I would rather spend my life with. I look forward to our future. I am confident the best is yet to come. Chess and Mattyou are the world to me. I am proud to be your dad. I give thanks every day for you, and pray God will be with you.

This book would have never happened if it had not been for Monica Lewis. Your help and encouragement in the early stages are the reasons it kept moving forward. I am grateful for your time and talent. Youre the best!

To Danny WoodardI have always valued your good judgment and honesty. Your thoughts on the early manuscript encouraged me to double down on my efforts.

To John Addisonyour valuable input on the early manuscript helped me see the next steps. Thanks for that input and your leadership. But most of all thank, you for your friendship. We have shared a lot of good times, and I am certain there are many more to come.

Thanks to Larry Weidel for recommending that I contact Greenleaf Book Group. The team at Greenleaf have been remarkable. Sally Garlandyour input and wise coaching brought clarity to the message. Thank you, also, Aaron Teel and Elizabeth Chenette for your outstanding work.

I will be forever grateful to all of my family, friends, and acquaintances who shared their lives with me. They inspired and guided me in my search for wisdom.

To Rick Mathiswho has been my best friend since the second grade. I am thankful that you encouraged me to come to work at Primerica. That decision changed my life.

To my teammates at Primerica, the greatest group of men and women in North Americayou have blessed me with your leadership and inspiration. There is no better place for a kid from Grayson, Georgia, to have started his career. It was an extraordinary thirty-six years. Glenn Williamsyou have done an incredible job as CEO. I appreciate your leadership and the opportunity to have worked with you. Your hard work, dedication, and character are remarkable. Andy Young, and Bobby and Red Buissionyour team-first approach to business, leadership, and life make you the teammates I aspired to be. Bobbythanks for meeting with me and sharing your chapter three. Your words planted the seed that maybe I had something to share. Andyyou have a way of putting things in perspective and can see bull crap sooner and clearer than anyone I have known. When I proofread a chapter, I used What would Andy think? as a filter. I hope I hit the mark.

Most of all, I am grateful to you, the reader, for using your valuable time to read my message. It is my honor to share my thoughts with you. My prayer is that it was time well spent.

Prologue

WISDOM IS CALLING: WHY NOT answer the call?

Whatever you seek in life, wisdom will lead you in the right direction.

Some people are seeking spiritual success; others want personal success. Maybe you are seeking financial or business success. Whatever you are after, allowing wisdom to guide your search will make all the difference in the world.

As you become wiser, your life just gets better.

My purpose is to inspire you to seek wisdom in your daily life, because life is always teaching. The question is: are you willing to listen and learn? The topics I cover in this book are simply things I have been inspired to share. I am not a know-all, be-all voice. Im just a person who has grown to understand the power of wisdom in our lives. I only want to share things that have had a positive influence on my life. My goal is not to tell you what to think, but what to think about. This book is about helping you grow as a person.