College, Pizza and Baseball

At first glance, the pizza looks and tastes like most home delivery pizza.

Hot, cheesy, and wafting of oregano and parmesan, Dominos Pizza has kept many a college student going!!! When I was in college in Louisiana, I ate my fair share of the stuff!

But did you know founder Tom Managhan has donated hundreds of MILLIONS of dollars? HUNDREDS of millions! He also made some big mistakes in his life... but he didn't quit!

"But Mom. I want to come home. I don't want to be here at the children's home."

"But Mom, I'm sorry. I was just having fun at seminary. I didn't know the nuns would kick me out for that!"

"But Mom, I'm sorry! I thought I was joining the Army. Yes, I know how tough the Marines really are!"

"But Mom, James wanted to trade the store for the VW!"

These conversations could have taken place in Tom's life. His mother loved him and because she could not care for him, took him to a Catholic children's home. He did get expelled from seminary, did accidently join the wrong branch of the U.S. military, and did trade his brother a VW Beetle for his brother's half of a little known pizza restaurant.

However, what I learned after taking a second glance at Tom Managhan's life was the millions of dollars he has invested, donated, and given away... despite his mistakes. He took each large mistake he made and tried again.

That is the key to success, you know -- trying and trying again!

While still in college, he and his brother James bought a little pizzeria in Michigan. Tom worked and worked and worked that little business until it was the Domino's pizza empire! Then he was able to buy and sell land, furniture and even entire professional baseball teams with MILLION dollar price tags.

But even with his affluence Tom wasn't so happy... deep inside... he knew he was missing something. So he took a break... a 2 year hiatus from work and reexamined his purpose, his passions, and his beliefs.

He wound up a different man. His "reawakening" brought him peace. Purpose. Meaning. He discovered that he had more by giving to others. So he channeled his business savvy and talent into more philanthropic endeavors. He sold his pizza business and now spends his life creating, funding, building, supporting, and sustaining businesses, colleges, investments and communities that he feels best represent his personal beliefs.

Tom didn't allow being given up as a child, his mistakes or his disillusionment with life to stop him from living. He took the punches, the failings and kept on going. Not everyone in this world agrees with his new directions. They question his religious zeal. The business world wonders at his new enthusiasm. But Tom knows he has to do what gives him the most inner peace.

I wonder; do you know that you too need peace? You don't have to have millions of dollars to give away to find it. All you have to do is to ask yourself, "Is what I am doing bringing me peace?" Your honest answer will reveal much. I sincerely hope if you don't have that calming power of peace in your life that you do whatever it takes to get it. I know it is not easy, nor does it happen over night. But one small step today will bring you a little closer to it tomorrow.

Next time you take a bite out of a Dominos pizza, remember the man who didn't do it all correctly, but kept on trying until he made it right!