35 years ago this month, I walked into a local Chamber of Commerce with the goal of getting situated in an unfamiliar community. Making this visit proved to be a turning point in my life. It was Linda who greeted me first. Then she introduced me to Bob, the director. His welcome smile and genuine interest in me radiated. I eagerly signed up as a new member and walked away feeling like a rock star.
From this point on, Bob became one of my biggest mentors. He was my cheerleader, my advocate, and a strong coach. When I say strong coach, I mean it:
Bob would also not let me sell myself short. One time I was present in an early morning committee meeting. I made a wisecrack comment. Somebody had brought bagels and all of us tied into them. I said, “Nobody knows if people like bagels, because when they are put in front of us, we are usually so hungry we could eat dirt.” In front of the whole group, Bob called me out and said, “You have disappointed us, Steve. We count on you for your kindness and positive attitude. You fell short with that remark.” Ouch! Battleship hit! He was right. Bob had my trust and I knew he was my supporter and would not let me fall short. I grew from his comment. He was giving me a reputation to live up to. If anyone else other that Bob had made that comment, I probably would not have taken it well.
Bob passed away last month at the age of 98. His passing left his town in mourning. There are streets and buildings named after him. He was kind and generous. To me, he was a marvelous leader who made me believe in myself and always use my strengths. The two qualities? Building trust and respect.
