He was uber-focused, so imagine coaching the likes of me. I always thought he might have taken me on because if he could help Me he could help ANYone. Imagine his consternation, when, after coaching me maybe for a year, he asks me “So…how was your week” “Well, you’re not going to like this…” (Mike: nervous laugh) “God, why??” “Well, I kind of started something…” (insert Mike rolling eyes here) And I proceeded to tell him about the caramel lightbulb moment. His response wasn’t “you idiot”, it was “alright, what’s next”. We always talked about what it would take to make things happen, next steps, how to make the impossible possible, there were no impossibilities or bad ideas. He was patient, insightful, giving and my cheerleader.
He was my coach, my mentor and best of all my friend. We did alot of laughing and gabbing, but we also did alot of real work that made a serious difference. I left our meetings every week feeling a little beaten up as I would have to “eat the frog” somehow (that’s the whole accountability thing of coaching) but also empowered and determined.
I know he knows I am eternally grateful for all his help, I told him all the time, but I am sad I never got to say goodbye. I can’t imagine starting my week without him.
For those in the Chamber and Forum and other networking groups reading this, Mike died suddenly last week from an unexpected blood clot. I have his new address at the studio (I’ll get it to you in private message tomorrow) if you’d like to send a card to his family, I haven’t heard back yet about any details. I’ll keep you posted.
