“He Pushed Us Past Himself”

This is a picture of Dick Pettinger, a legendary mentor in our company. The words used to describe his contributions to the success of our future leaders by those leaders themselves: “he pushed us past himself”, have always stayed with me.

Helping others become more than we are is something we are willing to do for our children, without question. Yet I can remember a guest speaker once challenging us in the audience with the question: “Why is it any harder for you to do so for your direct reports, your peers”?

Great question! Dick Pettinger, a man with Grade 8 education and a mind like a steel trap, knew the answer. I have a lot more formal education and a mind of a much weaker metal, and I have had to learn the answer slowly and often.