The Gallagher Way, Tenet 4

We can all improve and learn from one another.

I’m old. To some of you, I’m really old. I will be 73 in June, which is about three times older than a young woman in our organization who has taught me a great deal. And that’s about twice as old as a young man in our organization who has also taught me much. 

A few years ago, I was working on a project and needed some help with the final presentation; Ryan said to me, “Let me show you how to do that.” Last year when we began preparation for the World’s Most Ethical submission for 2020, I realized that the project had become very complicated and involved several different parts of the company. Abbey said to me, “Tom, let me put this together in a Project Plan for you.”

They both taught me things that were new, and better, than the ways I had been doing them. But this is a two-way street. On a regular basis, throughout these projects, they asked for my guidance; they sought my opinion and approval. And often, they made changes at my suggestion. 

Learning does not stop as we age, and mentoring is not limited by age. I believe sincerely that as we chart a course through this crisis, we would not be in the excellent position we are today if not for the bright young minds who guided, and were guided by, experienced and talented older minds. Art Gallagher was teaching and learning until the day he died and we're still gleaning truths and guidance from his work and leadership! 

I challenge you to share with me one important thing that you have learned from a person whose age is at least twenty years away from yours. Who is mentoring whom?

Tom Tropp