He was a traditional leader who hoped for more efficiency in his firm. He heard about my work and thought that I could help this happen. He had no idea I would give him a new leadership philosophy. The beautiful thing about him was that as I began to work with his key people in my workshops, he totally joined in as part of the student body. He needed to be one of them as a student, not the boss simply sitting in. He offered no resistance to remaking his understanding of leadership and the way they all worked together—my kind of leader.
He owned a small airplane, and during our free time together, we flew around the Michigan countryside. I loved being given the opportunity to be behind the wheel. Being color-blind kept me from flying for the Navy during the 2nd world war. If I did, there would be much about my life which would have changed, so maybe that’s how it was supposed to go. Events do Dictate!
As his firm grew, our relationship blossomed into a friendship in addition to our student/mentor relationship. He insisted I stay at his home on a beautiful lake, so as long as I worked with him and his firm, I became a member of the family. Whenever friendships like this happen, and it happens often, those relationships become deeper. Talk is more personal. Sitting around the kitchen table is a true equalizer.
To this day, I remember our times together, the workshops, the people, and, of course, our flying together and him turning the wheel over to me. Taking off and landing was always his job, but at least I had a chance to participate and not just observe. Imagine? And making a living too?
People I have met—Most are friends as I am to them—We make this happen
Sy
