A philanthropist from Manchester shared with me an incredible story — one that he attributes his success in business to and what gave him the courage to stand strong in a time when it was that much harder.
At a business expo in China, Yanki met a well-known Chassidish couple from Stamford Hill who are quite wealthy. Their lines of industry could have complemented each other beautifully, yet the couple showed little, if any interest in partnering. So, Yanki kept the conversation short and cordial.
Before parting, however, the husband remarked on Yanki’s exceptional shemiras einayim. They had noticed how he never once let his eyes wander even slightly — even in a place where that particular challenge was rather difficult to overcome. Impressed but curious, they commented on his conduct. Yanki smiled and shared a brief story that had taken place a year before:
When attending the previous year’s expo, he had found himself unexpectedly in a setting that was, to say the least, unsettling. Despite the challenge, he took charge of the situation and reinforced his commitment to kedushah, ensuring he remained pure while continuing his work.
When Yanki returned to Manchester, he felt satisfied with the contacts he had made, yet when push came to shove, none of the contracts came to fruition.
Two weeks later, Yanki received a phone call from a non-Jewish CEO of a hotel group he had met at the expo. “Are you,” she asked, “the one who kept your eyes lowered the entire time we spoke?”
When Yanki confirmed, she continued. “Though we received many offers to furnish our new hotels, your conduct stood out. It showed me integrity. If you are careful with your eyes, I trust you will be just as careful with your business dealings.”
What began as a brief, seemingly uneventful encounter turned into the only partnership that came to fruition. That unexpected phone call became the only deal that materialized from all his efforts that year.
After pointing out what guarding his eyes did for him, he parted from the couple from Stamford Hill.
That second year’s expo came and went, and Yanki had many new connections. Shortly afterward, Yanki received another call — this time from the Stamford Hill couple’s brother and his business partner.
During a meeting, Yanki’s name had come up, and though the couple themselves had no interest, his brother and his partner had been struck by the story of Yanki’s shemiras einayim. He was therefore determined to meet him personally and partner with no one else.
That collaboration became Yanki’s greatest success. He joined forces with that developer, who built thousands of residential units, and the contract brought Yanki’s company unprecedented growth.
Yet, more meaningful than the profit was the nisayon he had overcome. In a land known for its spiritual challenges, Yanki had stood firm — swimming against the tide and discovering a treasure at the bottom of the sea.
Within a short time, he went from being modestly comfortable to truly successful — able to support his children and sons-in-law so they could learn Torah with menuchas hanefesh.
Yanki often said that it was the deal he didn’t chase that became the greatest deal of his life — all because he chased kedushah over temptation.
