Mom’s Deathbed

I’m not one to share what’s going on in my life...but sometimes there are lessons from my life that help me be a better person. Perhaps, others can learn from them as well.

Growing up, my mother was in distribution.

Her product: negativity.

She was one of the best in the business.

Compliments were rare and in our household, she had a knack for telling my brothers and me we were no good. My mother's relentless negativity, coupled with my father's intermittent rages against my siblings, left us to navigate a gloomy upbringing. It was a stark reality that persisted until something incredible happened.

My mother's outlook on life remained steadfastly grim until she found herself on her deathbed. A fall led to hospitalization, and routine blood tests revealed leukemia. The prognosis was bleak, offering a life expectancy of two weeks to four months. Every day, I made the hour-and-a-half drive to be by her side. As she faced the end, she made an unexpected turn.

In those final visits, as we discussed what she wanted in her obituary, something shifted. Perhaps it was the fragility of life that prompted a change in her disposition. I shared the news of my recent promotion to vice president at work, a significant accomplishment. In response, she uttered words I never thought I'd hear: "I'm proud of you." It was a revelation, a tiny ray of light breaking through the pervasive darkness.

In the years before, we had our share of clashes, and I'll admit, I didn't always handle them well. There were moments when she would call, and I promised to return the call but never did. One of her parting lessons was a gentle reminder: "Remember, if you tell people you're going to call them back, make sure you do." As I grappled with her loss, that advice lingered in my mind.

Losing someone so close was an experience I hadn't encountered before. The pain and sorrow opened a new chapter of empathy within me. Now, when friends, co-workers, or clients mourn the loss of a loved one, I understand the depth of their sorrow. Through the lens of my grief, I've learned to truly sympathize with others in their moments of loss.

It has made me a better person.

Thanks, Mom.

“If you want a new outcome, you will have to break the habit of being yourself, and reinvent a new self.”

― Joe Dispenza

In my line of work, empathy has helped me to find better ways of navigating it. Debts and dying are as related as peanut butter and jelly. Or fire and brimstone. Knowing how to find solutions makes me more valuable. I have seen so many operators detach themselves completely. Little do they know that detaching yourself is not the solution...it’s being “there with them” to help them figure out a way through.

Susan Richards is the Founder and CEO of CredTech Consulting LLC , in Delray Beach, FL. After close to 35 years in the business world, including stints as a Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Operations, she set up her own shop. Susan and her team provide their clients, such as collection agencies, auto finance companies and financial institutions, with business process outsourcing services.

They can also assist with offshore call centers, debt collections and account receivables management, among other services.

If interested, you can call Susan at 215 791 0999. You can also email her or get on her calendar.