An Extraordinary Life
When I think about my father’s life, I think about how full it was. And then I think, well, what made it so full? And I thought about how my father was very successful in his professional life—he helped cultivate a family run funeral business which is over 100 years old and still in business today. He accomplished that through hard work and through demonstrating caring and empathy for every single family who came through those doors for over a 70 year period. Yes, that is a very long time! He was relatable, friendly and warm, and a real mensch; he comforted so many families along the way. And they never forgot how he made them feel. He also raised a lot of money through charity work, which served Baltimore area hospitals and their communities. He was a loving father and husband. Family meant the world to him. And he was a fun-loving, happy guy.
So as I think back to what I have learned from my father, I have decided on a few things:
- Work hard at what you do; have it be meaningful to you and to those with whom you work; show people you care about them
- Build relationships all the time.
- Demonstrate empathy and caring for others.
- Make a difference for people either by helping them through a hard time or helping them be better people.
- Lead with confidence and enthusiasm.
- Show love as much as you can to those you cherish.
- Have fun in your life, enjoy sports, and try new things.
- Think what you can do for your community at large.
As I reflect, I realize I am already doing many of these things in my life, but I know I can always do better. Here are some more reflections…
I realize through my coaching, I am helping leaders to be their best professional selves. This is meaningful to me—I feel privileged that my clients trust me to sit with them and share their vulnerabilities with me, and are willing to try new ways to be better. As a coach, I believe my clients feel the caring I have for them. I will continue to cherish the role I play in their lives.
And yes, like my Dad, I value my relationships; my family, my friends, and business relationships, and am always trying to build new relationships. It takes time and effort, but I know the value of having a strong network of people in my life, just as my Dad did. My Dad did it so authentically and with such ease—I will always be inspired by his charming nature.
I do think I tell my loved ones how much they mean to me, and I will continue to do so. I know my Dad knew how much he meant to me as I was able to tell him towards the end of his life, and I did along the way. I find this very comforting.
And fun—gosh my Dad had fun—he loved to laugh, he schmoozed, he did favors for others, he loved a good party, and was a great dancer and athlete. I have fun, but could probably lighten up sometimes, so I will focus on that as well.
Finally, I do take pride in the community work I do, and I know my Dad is proud. I am contributing to causes that are important to me through my time and energy. This feels good—repairing the world in small ways.
The big lesson for me is to remember none of us is here forever—so make each day count and have meaning. I know how much of an impact my Dad, Stanley T. Levinson had in this world, through the work he did, his family, and through all the ways he helped others. I know I will be inspired through the rest of my life to honor his memory and live up to his ideals.
