Page 42 - Midas Touch

This was an enormous undertaking. For one thing, the rink is over an acre
in size, requiring 22 miles of pipes and two 35,000-pound refrigeration
units. There was also water damage and holes in the roof of the skaters’
house, and the work being done there had serious leadership problems. I

knew I’d have to take an active part in seeing this through. I spoke to
many experts and found the best skating-rink builder available. I checked
on the progress myself every single day, both on the ground and from my
apartment window.

A couple of months into the project, I had moments where I realized I
could be hurting my reputation if this grand plan didn’t work out, and
certainly the media would be on it immediately. But I kept my vision

intact for a finished and beautiful rink and realized what good luck it
would be for everyone involved. The city and its citizens already had six
years of bad luck, and I wanted that to change.

After five months of work, the rink opened a month ahead of schedule and
under budget. I was relieved and very proud. The rink was beautiful, and
the city was in a celebratory mood because it was back in operation in

time for the holiday season. We had a gala opening celebration with Peggy
Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, and Scott Hamilton, among others, to help
commemorate the special day. Seeing Wollman Skating Rink open at last
was a fantastic feeling, and all profits went to charity and the Parks
Department. That’s turning bad luck into good luck in a big way, for
everyone. That’s the Midas Touch.

Distilling It Down: Strength of Character

The stories we presented in this first chapter show that strength of
character is fundamental to the Midas Touch. The thumb conveys that
strength because it is the one finger that enables us to grasp and take
control of things. It separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom,
turning a paw into a hand. Symbolically, the thumb stands for an

entrepreneur’s ability to find strength when others want to run, hide, quit,
or blame someone else for their failures. It also stands for the successful
entrepreneur’s unique ability to turn trying times into triumphs.

Most people would be entrepreneurs if winning were guaranteed. You’ve
probably heard plenty of people wistfully say, “It sure would be nice to be
your own boss.” It sounds nice to be able to make your own hours and