Our Last Conversation With Someone

When we learn that someone close to us has just lost a parent, one can struggle to know what to do or say. There are all the obvious things, “I’m so sorry. How can I help? Please go be with your family. We will cover for you at work.” And of course, going to be with the friend during the family evening and at the funeral is an appreciated way to support.
Recently, I was visiting a new client, Bridgeway Capital Management, Inc. in Houston, and at dinner the COO suddenly glanced down at his iPhone and shared the news that a Partner had just lost her mother.

The next day was Partner Day and a special Partner meeting.  It was obvious that many things were being done quietly to support the Partner and her family but then a very inspiring thing happened. Mike Mulcahy, the COO, talked about the sudden loss and how important it is that we take time to stay current with our loved ones. He invited each of us to go to our office over lunch and call our parents or another person special to us to tell them how much we appreciate and love them or whatever we would want them to know if this were our last  conversation.
    
People scattered to their offices over lunch and as the meeting reconvened, John Montgomery, chairman and founder, asked for stories. Who did we call? Would we like to share? How many reached a parent? Left a message?
   
The stories shared were very moving as several told about reaching an elderly parent or grandparent to say how much they appreciated years of sacrifice and support.  One person mentioned how easy it is to stay busy and even connected yet we may not say the things we would want to have said if this were our last conversation in this lifetime.
    
I was blown away that a financial management firm had such inspiring values, putting families first.
   
It’s one thing to say we believe in putting families first.  It is another to see a company whose behavior is truly aligned with these values.
“Love is the only emotion known to enhance intelligence.”
Humberto Maturano – Chilean biologist & philosopher

“Test for servant leadership…Do those served grow as persons; do they, while being served,     become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servant?      And what is the effect on the least privileged in society; will they benefit, or, at least, will they not     be further deprived?”