4 Days to My 10th Anniversary at Lever Interactive

Just four days left. Time has flown by. Both this last month, and the last decade. It is so amazing how 10 years just flies by.

Lever Interactive Memory: The "Jesus" Hands

?Just to be clear, this was not going to my memory for today, however, in searching for something in the archive, I came across a very old deck, and I could not resist bringing this back to life.

I cannot remember who first coined the phrase "Jesus" hands, but it has stuck, for 10 years. But the above picture was the title slides of our decks when I first arrived and for about a year or so after. They were also featured on the website. And, to be honest, I never really focused on the hands, or really put any thought into them until someone dubbed them the "Jesus" hands, and then I could not shake the image or phrase from my head. Figured I would bring them back one more time. Yes, you are welcome!

Lesson I Learned: Accountability Starts at the Top

It seems reasonable, if I'm not accountable to get my job/tasks done, as well as accountable to my team and what they need, why should they be accountable? Sure, I want them to be, but I'm not setting the example. Nor am I respecting them if I'm not accountable as it impacts them in a variety of ways, none of which are positive.

But the great part is you gain this mutual respect in a team where everyone, including your leadership, is accountable. And let's face it, no one is perfect, and deadline or tasks get missed on occasion. And on occasion, when these things happen, we all have a respect to know that it wasn't done intentionally, and we trust there was a very good reason for the miss. We pick each other up and we go on.

And we encourage each other. Saw it in my team today. They know I have been extremely busy the past two weeks, all for two deliverables, one of which was today. And I got a Skype from a team member working remotely to check to see how I was, how the deliverable was received and if I needed anything. And other team members in the office checked in on me, asked if they could help and even joked with me to keep me smiling and positive. That is what an accountable team does. It isn't just about being accountable, it is helping each other be accountable and supporting each other.

Thank You: Chris Gilmartin

Yes, of course I do have to thank the big man, Chris Gilmartin, who hired me and took a chance on me ten years ago, but know this thank you is not out of obligation, but love and appreciation. I learned in Junto that every hire in an entrepreneurial company is critical. Each hire can either breathe life into it or can bring it closer to death. And at the time he hired me the company was new, just under two years old. His oldest daughter was just about to turn one, so he was supporting a young family. He was taking a chance. And I hope he agrees that I brought life into the company and that risk was worth it!

Our working relationship has a lot of similarities to a marriage. Heck, there are probably weeks/months we saw each other more than our actual spouses (this week being one of them!). But it is something we have to work at constantly. And we are different people and have different approaches - opposites attract! Some ways this is great, because we complement each other in many ways and are great for each other where we have gaps. And we all know this can be difficult at times. The true measurement of any relationship is not getting through the good times but getting through the not-so-good times. The good news is, the good times far outweigh the bad times. If they didn't I would not be here for 10 years!

On a regular basis, Chris challenges me, makes me laugh, surprises me, inspires me, listens to me, coaches me, sometimes all in the same day. But most of all, he allows me to be me!

I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude for supporting me, my family (even the four paw members), and my career!

Thank you, Chris, for an amazing decade. Looking forward to the next one! (And yes, you are stuck with me!)