Life Lessons from a Mentor and ‘A Message to Garcia’

In moments of reflection, we often find ourselves examining our lives and identifying specific moments that have had a significant impact on us, both professionally and personally. It is often said that our experiences shape us, and if we are fortunate, we encounter mentors who invest in us, challenge us, and prepare us for the next stages of our journey.

If there were a Mount Rushmore dedicated to the leaders who have profoundly influenced my life, W.F. (Dub) Hampton would undoubtedly be etched into my granite of remembrance.

At the age of 18, during my first year of college in my hometown of Pensacola, Florida, I was given the opportunity to work for a former high school teacher in my first technology job. This was during the early days of the personal computer industry, and I was employed to assist in programming and configuring computer systems for small and medium-sized businesses.

Mr. Hampton, who had recently retired from teaching a high school typing class, was my employer. Interestingly, he was the same teacher who, during my 9th-grade year, awarded me my first “C” on a report card. He emphasized that typing was a skill, and perhaps my acceptance of the finality of that grade was a foreshadowing of other life lessons he would impart.

I worked for Mr. Hampton during that first year of college. However, my desire for new experiences led me to decide to transfer to Florida State University and leave my hometown for new horizons. Although Mr. Hampton was disappointed to see me go, as a former Navy pilot, he understood the need for a young man to carve his own path.

It was a few months before my planned departure for Tallahassee that Mr. Hampton gave me a new assignment.?I was asked to find a synopsis of a book that he read a long time ago.?He was purposely vague about the name of the book or instruction on how I was to find the information – but set me on the task.

As a young buck in that day I promised to get to it, but alas he had to remind me a few times of his request. ?It wasn’t until my last day of work that I went to the local library and found the book?“Message to Garcia (Little Books of Wisdom)”.?As I read the short text – I quickly learned the message he had sought to instill.

In brief, the book is about a man (Rowan) being tasked with an important mission and that those who are quick to take action, and complete a task are those that are most valued.?As I had delayed in completing what I deemed a trivial, non-urgent assignment, the message spoke perfectly at that moment and further instilled a desire to be known as someone that can be relied upon to get things done for the sake of all involved.

This seemingly small task, which imparted a huge life lesson, continues to shape my perspective today. I doubt Mr. Hampton knew at the time the impact this exercise would have on my life, but it is often said that the giver may never fully understand the true impact of their gift.

In recognition of Mr. Hampton and the timeless parable of “A Message to Garcia,” I gift this book to every employee in our organization. I encourage everyone to spend some time with this short read. As we strive to improve and better ourselves, its message of individual initiative and a conscientious approach to our work is invaluable.

In the end we should all strive to be known as a “Rowan” who when called upon can carry “A Message to Garcia”.?

Thank you, Mr. Hampton, for your lasting impact on my life.

H. Michael Burgett has more than 30 years of experience in the technology sector as a corporate executive, entrepreneur, board member, organizational consultant and executive recruiter. He is the founder and publisher of The National CIO Review and writes frequently for the publication. His other portfolio companies include CIO Partners?, CIO Professional Network?, Talentric?, IT LeaderBoard?, BURGATE, and Burgett Enterprises.

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