4.30.09: Miracle of the resolute | New York Social Diary

Miracle of the resolute

Upper East Side window boxes. 2:10 PM. Photo: JH.

April 30, 2009. Yesterday was another beautiful, sunny Spring day in New York. Not as hot as the day before.

Ambition. I went to lunch at Michael’s with W. Randall (Randy) Jones to talk about his new book, “The Richest Man In Town; The Twelve Commandments of Wealth.”

Randy is a well known figure in the media business in New York. When he was 29, he was publisher of Esquire which was later sold to Hearst. In 1992, he launched Worth which grew its circulation to more than a half million in three years time.


	DPC and Randy Jones at Michael's.

He has since written books as well as acquired publications. He and his wife Connie, whom he’s known since boyhood in Carrollton, Georgia, their hometown, are frequent hosts at their spectacular duplex apartment on 57th Street near Sutton Place, as well as raising their three sons in Bronxvile.

I was intrigued by the book because I grew up in a small New England town where there was The Richest Man in Town, and I vividly recall the quiet reverence that existed for the man who was the richest (see NYSD 4.23.09).

Now, having lived in the metropolises of New York and Los Angeles all my adult life, surrounded by what sometimes seems like crowds of very rich men and women, I realized that none of them enjoy the quiet distinction conferred on their (self-made) financial peers and their communities in small town America. Yes, there are some similarities, obviously. And some of these achievers who are crowned with respect are world famous. The great philanthropists of New York are rightly recognized, but even that recognition comes mainly through big time media which identifies these individuals for us. In a small town, you know about the richest because you may often see him driving to or from his business. He’s one of us ... except ...

I mentioned this to Randy and he agreed. He realized that we so often view wealth and success with Hollywood or New York eyes. He decided to canvas The Richest Man in 100 communities of varying sizes across the country.

I asked him what these people had in common.

Firstly, of all of them started their own businesses, and surprisingly none started with a business model or even a goal. Secondly, all of them had what Randy calls “Perfect Pitch” – they knew themselves, their strengths and their weaknesses. These were not wishful thinkers; they were honest about their abilities as well as their inabilities. None of them thought of him or herself as being able to do anything. They knew their limitations and didn’t kid themselves about it.


Click image to order.

Most importantly, they were engaged in doing something they liked to do, something they had a talent or special ability for, and something that they didn’t even consider work because they got so much pleasure out of it. None of them want to retire, and none of them were in it for the money when they started (except those who specifically wanted to Make Money – such a Warren Buffett).

I asked Randy what else they had in common. Answer: the obvious – ambition. They all work hard. Except it’s not “work” but more what they like to do -- their pleasure.

The variety of Randy’s choices are broad. Mainly men, but some women, some are very well known in the world – Kirk Kerkorian, Sergey Brin, Philip Knight, Bill Gates, Michael Dell – but most are known only in their communities and in their chosen fields.

I was reminded of Arianna Huffington, the writer and internet publisher whom I saw interviewed by Silda Wall Spitzer a few weeks ago at a luncheon at the Harmonie Club. Silda asked Arianna how she felt about her “success” on the internet. Arianna replied that she didn’t quite see it as success as much as it was something that simply felt right to her, something that she liked to do, something that she could see herself doing for the rest of her life. It fit. Arianna had developed perfect pitch. She could someday be the richest girl in town.

I think this book started out to be a sociological view of wealth accumulation and turned a primer, almost a how-to, because Randy Jones’ talent is communication. But the thrust of Randy Jones’ text is about how this happened. Who these people were in their own eyes and what motivated them. This is not pie in the sky, wishing upon a star sort of thing. This is real optimism, derived from the self, the essence of what is still known as The American Dream. When we get back to “normal” financially, this is what will return as the focus. For the richest men in town, I don’t doubt this is always the focus, even now.


	Walking down the hallway towards the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf.

Last night in New York, down at the Waldorf in the Grand Ballroom, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation held its annual spring benefit. The phenomenon was created about two decades ago by Evelyn Lauder to raise funds to assist researchers finding a cure. There are other organizations engaged in similar tasks and goals, and all of them are bringing something to the table in the fight against cancer. BCRF fascinates me because of Mrs. Lauder whom I have come to know over the years mainly because of her work with this foundation (although she’s been an executive at the family company for all of that time). I am in awe.

The evening’s theme is always pink – an idea that derives from the choice of the color to represent not only the foundation’s work, but the cause itself. Hence the pink ribbon. The Grand Ballroom is done up in Pink. The theme titles are pink. They fill the place.

Last night there were about 1200 guests – no numbers shrinkage due to the economy for these folks. And of course they raise a lot of money. Last night I think it was close to $4 million. Since they started raising money in the early 90s, they’ve raised almost a quarter billion dollars! And most of it goes directly to the research doctors and scientist.

The crowd at the Waldorf for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's annual spring benefit.

The table centerpieces were pink roses.

Liza Minnelli.

BCRF is so streamlined that only 8 cents of every dollar goes to administration of the foundation. The rest goes directly to research. Evelyn Lauder did this. She’s had amazing help. But she founded it, found the help and has kept it moving at a grand pace. It’s the miracle of the resolute. It’s like the “ambition” in Randy Jones’ “Richest Man in Town.” You can feel it in the room. You can also feel the optimism that is not misplaced. One woman did this. And now many men and women do.

Sir Elton John has been aboard for the past nine years donating his time and his performances to the guests. This year he was joined by Liza Minnelli, and the two stars brought down the house with their concert. The beautiful Elizabeth Hurley was emcee. I got a few pictures of (very) few of the many guests. In the next day or two we’ll have many more pictures as well as the final report for Mrs. Lauder’s annual triumph.

Evelyn Lauder

Mario Buatta and Thorunn Wathne

Hilary Geary Ross and Mariana Kaufman

Matt Rich and Kristen Dalton, Miss USA 2009

Jackie Weld Drake

Eleanora and Michael Kennedy

Some of the tables from Tuesday night's The Horticultural Society of New York's 12th Annual Flowers & Design; This Side of Paradise, honoring Suzy Bales, Thomas Balsley, and Mario Buatta ...