Have You Checked Your Investments Lately?

I recently took another look at the portfolio of someone who invested in me many years ago. The return on the investment Dr. Warren Angell made in me—and in countless other musicians over the course of his career—is incalculable.

I sang in his choir as a student at Oklahoma Baptist University for only one year, but his influence guided me throughout my career. I'm tempted to think he didn't remember me very well since I wasn't one of his standout students. Yet the last time I saw him, he greeted me with the kind of smile and handshake usually reserved for your closest friends. Then again, he seemed to have an indiscriminate love for all of his students.

Whenever I talk with fellow alumni, his name always comes up. Then the stories begin to pour out—memories filled with warmth, humor, boundless enthusiasm, and a deep love for God, music, and people.

The last time I sang under his direction was on the occasion of his 90th birthday, when he amazed us all by standing and leading more than 400 former students through a rehearsal—all from memory. We were looking at our music, but he needed none. He died just a few days shy of his 99th birthday in 2006 and was mourned and celebrated by thousands of friends, students, and colleagues who are now investing their own lives in others around the world.

I continue to be inspired by him and grateful for the investment he made in me during one brief year of his long and illustrious life. I already knew a little about singing with my voice, but he taught me that the best music comes from your heart.

Who has inspired you to sing from your heart—to live with enthusiasm and joy? If they're still available, why not get in touch and simply say, "Thank you."

And what about you? What's your investment strategy? Who are you investing in?

Thanks for reading.

I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, or experiences in the comment section below.

--Danny

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