This post is dedicated to one of my true mentors. A former boss of mine between 2000-2003, that taught me so much, business and personal wise. Often when I’m hesitating in my work I try to think what he would’ve done. Not only did he create a warm and fun atmosphere around him, he made us deliver results in an empathic environment, or maybe it would be spelled empatric (?), those that worked in the same team as me in those days understand that word…

In my opinion his main belief was that business, heart and trust goes hand in hand which meant that he gave the people around him trust to deliver without hesitating at every moment, and space to fail, but at all times you felt that you had his support. In short, supercharge what you are there to do, with full support and a lot of heart.

This may sound easy, but I think that many people in leading positions have issues with this (I guess all have from time to time), which will make the people around them hesitating, instead of enjoying their full potential.

I’m really thankful for my time, working with him, and my thoughts passes those years every now and then. A truly great and inspiring leader.

From “Tuesdays With Morrie” by Mitch Albom:

On this day, Morrie says that he has an exercise for us to try. We are to stand, facing away from our classmates, and fall backward, relying on another student to catch us. Most of us are uncomfortable with this, and we cannot let go for more than a few inches before stopping ourselves. We laugh in embarrassment.

Finally, one student, a thin, quiet, dark-haired girl whom I notice almost always wears bulky, white fisherman sweaters, crosses her arms over her chest, closes her eyes, leans back, and does not flinch, like one of those Lipton tea commercials where the model splashes into the pool..

For a moment, I am sure she is going to thump on the floor. At the last instant, her assigned partner grabs her head and shoulders and yanks her up harshly.

“Whoa!” several students yell. Some clap. Morrie finally smiles. “You see”, he says to the girl, “you closed your eyes, That was the difference. Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them too –even when you’re in the dark. Even when you’re falling”.