Merry Christmas Robot...Oops I mean Mike.

One of the coolest things about this gift of service is the opportunity to think about the person throughout the year and reflect on the experiences you have had with them and how they have impacted your life.  Over the last few years Mike McBride and I have been able to spend a lot of time together and develop a lot of memories. When AJ was diagnosed with cancer Mike was the first one to meet Lani and me at the hospital.  Through working together we have spent a lot of time looking over spreadsheets, flying on airplanes, attending meetings, and giving each other a hard time.

The first year that Lani and I lived in North Carolina, Mike signed up to coach Connor's basketball team.  He asked me to help out as an assistant coach.  It was a lot of fun! The kids were all really young. We spent half of the time just trying to keep them organized and focused.  In honor of that memory with Mike I volunteered to help out with the North Carolina Special Olympics basketball Clinic/Competition.  I had never worked with the special Olympics before but after this experience I will definitely do it again.  They could not have picked a better name for the event, because the whole experience was very special.

The participants were all high-school aged kids and had varying degrees of abilities.  Some of the kids were pretty functional. They communicated well and were able to do higher level drills like shooting a free throw.  Others were much more limited in what they could do.  One group of kids were all confined to a wheelchair and only able to move a couple of fingers to push a button on their chair to move.

All of the kids had a special spirit/light about them.  The highlight of the day was to see them light up when they walked in the gym and everyone started cheering for them.  They all smiled proudly when they received their medal at the end of the event. One of my jobs at the event was to serve as a guide and lead the kids to the different events.  This was actually very fitting, because there have been many times in my adult life that Mike has served as a guide to me.

My first job in North Carolina was a tough one.  I was thrown into the deep end quickly and expected to swim.  Fairly early on there I was tasked with coming up with a marketing plan and presenting the plan to all of the top executives of the company.  I was in way over my head and suffered what I would call in my non-medical opinion a near nervous breakdown.  I couldn't sleep or eat.  I was so stressed about coming up with a plan and presenting it to these important people. The night before the presentation I went over and met with Mike. He talked with me about my presentation, shared some scriptures with me, and gave me a blessing. It really helped and I was able to get some sleep. The presentation went well and I grew from the experience.  I was very grateful for Mike.

Later on he helped provide me with a life changing opportunity by opening the door for me to join GE and then serving as a tremendous mentor for me there. Joining GE has changed my life and provided me with opportunities that would NOT have happened if I stayed at my last job.  Lani and I would never have been able to invest in real estate without GE, I would never be able to afford AJ's ongoing medical expenses at my last job.  I would not have been able to develop the professional confidence I have now. It was a life changing move and made possible because of Mike.

I was nervous to have a job so heavily based on commission.  I was worried about my ability to provide for my family.  Mike provided reassurance and promised he would teach me to be successful.  He worked with me and taught me how to be a top performing rep.

When Mike announced that he would be taking a new job, I was very nervous about how I would survive without him.  But the lessons I learned from him before he left have continued to help me.  At least once a month I will have a difficult problem or situation come up and ask my self "WWMD" What Would Mike Do?  Usually that helps me come up with a solution.  I have gotten by alright without him, last year I was a top 3 rep and expect to be one again this year. The lessons Mike taught me has been a big part of my success.

Mike's posts are usually clever with a lot of humor. He's not a very sentimental Robot, I mean guy.  So I'm going to make him a little uncomfortable by saying that I love him. I am grateful for Mike McBride.  Knowing him has blessed my life and I'm grateful for his influence in my life.  He has been a mentor when I needed a mentor and a friend with I needed a friend.  I never had an older brother growing up and Mike has been an older brother to me.  Merry Christmas Mike. Thanks for all you have done for me and my family.