What Would She Do?

It’s been over ten years; however, I vividly recall the first day I met her. I was really scared. She was the retiring executive of one of the largest agencies in Columbus. She agreed to meet me at the request of a mutual friend, and frankly I wasn’t sure why she would be interested. I was just starting out, and she had enough going on in her life. The initial meeting was cordial; however, what has developed over time has been quite remarkable. This woman has become my guidepost for almost all decisions I make for the business. She is old school, which I just love – she still handwrites thank you notes. She believes in hard work, honesty, and Ohio State. I have not only come to respect her for her business acumen, but our friendship has developed into one of love. She has helped proofread RFPs for me. She has critiqued my business plans. She has guided me on how to think about public relations for the business. Most recently, she is helping me with a new client that she worked with almost 30 years ago. She is my conscience, my friend, and my mentor. I thank God every day that she agreed to meet with me. She knew I really needed her.

It All Comes Together.

Many of you who know me are aware of an orphanage in India that I have been helping for years. I have kind of become its U.S. fundraising arm, which carries significant responsibility with it. The woman who is charge of the orphanage is one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met: I call her my mother Theresa here in central Ohio.

This July, we had a fundraiser with the hopes of raising $12,000 and, unfortunately, only reached half our goal. I was disappointed, however, hopeful that she could pay $6,000 now for the rental fee for the children’s home and then pay the rest later. I found out yesterday that the landlord wanted the full $12,000 or nothing. What to do?

I sent out a desperation email to all the wonderful supporters of this cause. And what happened in the past several hours was nothing short of a miracle. Several friends committed the remaining amounts. The most interesting part to this story? How significantly these particular friends have impacted my career over the years and continue to do so.

The first person I affectionately call Superman, though, he probably doesn’t know that. He has that Clark Kent look, being an ex Military Academy grad, and just seemed to always say and do the right things. He gave me my first break with a huge account when I worked in Cincinnati and has remained a good friend even today. The second person I was actually scared of the first time we met. He was at the time President of a huge company here in Columbus and he somehow intimidated me. He started a business in which we assisted with the marketing launch, though more importantly, he joined our PRISM advisory board and has been an indispensable member.  We became good friends through all of this and have stayed close since. The third is a fellow entrepreneur that I’ve know for years who is a model for building an amazing business while keeping his feet on the ground, focusing on his growing family, and finding time to give back to the wonderful community he calls home. The final person is a woman who not only continues to support our business through referrals, advice, and general counsel, but has also become my sounding board when faced with difficult life decisions.

I think all of us struggle with the balance between life and work. Is our work actually making a difference? Today, the universe aligned for me and four dear friends, who have been significant influences on the business and my life. Together, we helped fulfill something that is really bigger than all of us. My life has been enriched from knowing these people, and now 30 beautiful girls in India have a safe and secure home for the next two years.

My first and only Lexus.

I can remember the day like it was yesterday. He pulled up to Capital University to interview me for my first job in a beautiful maroon Lexus. Frankly, I was 22 years old and not really into cars, so I didn’t even know what it was. He stepped out of it though in a neatly pressed suit with amazing cufflinks and a watch that caught my eye. It was the beginning of a long and wonderful relationship together.

He was my first boss and, unless I decide to move back into corporate America, my last boss. I learned more from him than I ever realized and still heed much of his advice and wisdom today. He scolded me when I was faxing a proposal to someone because he said you should always sit face to face when you are talking money. He stood up for me when a customer was screaming at me over something just ridiculous. He encouraged me to look at sales differently when the phone just wasn’t getting results; it led to a series of 3-dimensional promotions that were hugely successful. We went on sales calls together, grew the business in new directions, and ate at some wonderful restaurants (he really knew how to order food!).

Like all great relationships in our lives, I learned so much more than just about success in the workplace. He treated everyone with respect, kindness, and this fatherly love. I can recall when I told him I was getting married, and he knew I didn’t have a lot of money. He actually offered to pay for part of my wedding – and he meant it! It wasn’t just me that he treated like family; it was all of us who cared that same way about him. It was really him and my husband who encouraged me into this life of self employment. I can hear him saying so strongly, “Michelle, you can do anything. Just look at what you’ve accomplished in such a short period of time. I believe you can do it.” He also forced his daughter (though I know she didn’t mind doing it) to be my friend and introduce me around town. It was through a party she had one Friday night (a loser’s party for those of us single with no real prospects) that I met my husband Scott.

Really, isn’t that all we need sometimes? Someone who we love and respect so much that puts their neck on the line and believes in us without a doubt?

I learned a few days ago that he went to heaven. I know he’s there, as we also used to go to Mass on holy days together. I loved his faith, and he wore it on his sleeve. He gave so much to me that I’m only hoping that the life I’m leading would make him smile. I know I’ll never meet someone like that again who had such a positive and pivotal influence on my life. We often don’t realize how unique and wonderful experiences are until they have passed us by. Thank you for an amazing ride Mr. Fovel – I will never forget you.

He walks AND works by faith.

I have always gone to church; however, I’ve often struggled between work and my religion. My faith has been an important part of my life; yet, it wasn’t until we joined our current church that I felt like I was in a faith community. It was through a dear friend who volunteered me for a committee (that I should have said no to) that I met my next influential person.

He was intimidating at first. (I later learned he has that effect on many people!) But there was something about him that was intriguing. He was and still is a very successful businessman, yet he talks openly about his faith, the Holy Spirit working in our lives, and the good that is in everyone. People just don’t speak or act that way anymore. My grandfather did, but somewhere along the line people just started keeping to themselves. And in the work world, that can make it so easy to become cynical.

At that time, I actually was getting to the point that I was starting to believe the pessimists: I had had enough experiences with people that owed us money, treated us poorly, and went out of their way to hurt the business. My new friend reminded me that almost ALL people are good and, given the opportunity, want to do good.

I wanted to get to know him better. He reached out and I began to learn. Not only about business, but this mix of how our lives and faith are all interconnected in everything we do. His deep thoughts challenged me to desire more. Not only more for myself but my family and my work. I do want to be a better person. I do want to make some type of impact on my world. This man showed me how we can do this each and every day, with every interaction we have with others, and in everything we do.

Hard work always wins.

I always felt like I had a strong and disciplined work ethic. I think it’s a pre-requisite for self employment. However, these past several years, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of collaborating and partnering with another woman owned business that makes me look like I’m in slow motion. The most amazing thing is how this entrepreneur pulls it all together with such grace and humility. Her husband has had a very successful career that would tempt many women to stay at home and plan social outings. Not my friend. She knew she wanted a career and family and didn’t want to do it half way. She is all-in in everything she does. She gives her time to family, the community, and the incredible business she is building. She knows that our lives (both personal and work) aren’t about what you get but how much you give. Every time we interact, it is an enriching, learning experience for me. She asks me tough questions about my business; she provides insight on a personal level – like how she cooks all her family’s meals on Sunday for the entire week. I actually implemented that one a year ago, and it has been a lifesaver! She shares uncomfortable situations and how she is dealing with them. I treasure every interaction we have. I think many of us (including myself at times) have believed that you reach a point in life where you are just there. You’ve reached the top of your game. You’ve won the coveted prize. My friend has told me and showed me this is not the case and she’s invited me along on her journey. Because we are never there. We are a constant (very hard) work in progress!

Getting by with a little help from our friends.

Well, you’re seeing a trend here of people who have made a big difference in my life and that of the business. The same account, one of our company’s original accounts that I mentioned in my earlier blog, has been that kind of friend. Well, it’s really been the amazing people we’ve worked with and continue to work with – everyone from the current CEO to a marketing manager who has been unwavering in her support of our business.

From day one, I have always approached this partnership (like all of our projects) as if I worked there. I wanted to learn as much as I possibly could. I dug way beyond typical marketing to understand their sales process, talk with their operations teams, and dig into the financial side of how they make money. I believed the more we knew, the better partner we could be. It has taken almost 14 years to develop the trust and mutual respect necessary to operate at this level; however, it has by far been one of the most gratifying experiences for me.

I think we all have this innate need to make a difference. I knew early on that to be successful and happy at self employment and marketing, I had to prove my value and worth to our clients. Fortunately, this has also benefited organizations and, more importantly, developed lasting friendships. We all do need each other and want to feel like we’re helping… even in the world of business.