Ode to Merlin . . .

We are one down - it is with a heavy heart and deep long sigh, that I share that Napier Collyns has passed. He was my mentor from 2006 onward. We met at a conference in France where we were both speakers on a panel : If you want to change the world, change your life. The conversation was about how micro shifts create macro impact. Since that conference I visited him six times in Manhattan, two times in Berkley and one time at his home with his lovely wife?Pat Collyns?in England. He came to Rochester two times and met my entire family.

I dedicated Strategy, Leadership and the Soul to him in the forward - where I referred to Napier as Merlin.?

I cannot thank Napier Collyns enough for the encouragement, accountability, and advice he has given me over the pasts seventeen years of our friendship.

His leadership mantra is Leadership, Listening and Love.

He has a way of asking every one he comes into contact to be a higher, better version of themselves. He sees in you capabilities you didn't know you had and it is impossible to discuss constraints or limitations to him. He cannot hear anything but how much work is to be done and what you can do about it.?

I have been touched by the magic of Merlin and my hope is that some of that magic lands in your life too.

I am forever one of his knights and will continue to connect people and ideas in the spirit of Napier.?

Today I am sad. These words from Once & Future King are the prefect antidote as there are exactly what Napier would be telling me:

“The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.”?―?T.H. White,?The Once and Future King

My invitation today is that you write a letter or note to someone who has positively impacted your trajectory.?

We get so busy sometimes we forget to ensure that those who have lifted us up know how much we need them.?

In the rigor,

Jennifer Sertl