As I start on this new exercise of blogging I feel it is only fitting to write my first post about the greatest man I’ve known – my father.  I was lucky to see my father almost ever day of my life as I went to work with him shortly after leaving college.  Image being able to eat lunch with your dad each day and learn from his years of experience.  I am humbled by the man he was and the gift I was given.

Shortly after his death I left the family business to start my own business producing the Energy Trust Better Living Show and following my passion for starting sustainable garden programs at elementary schools.  And I bring to the latter, the ethos that my father taught me.  He was a humble man that was never interested in being in the limelight.  He just showed up and did the work.

One of the greatest pictures I have is from a newspaper article which featured a picture of a man mopping the floor.  The caption read, “Janitor mopping up a spill at the Portland Boat Show.”  That man was my father.  Here was the owner of a multi million dollar corporation doing whatever it took to get the job done.

Now he was also a very smart man.  He loved mopping the floors, or sitting on a bench, dressed in his understated clothing.  It was from that vantage point that his customers would share their insights on the event.  They would open up and give him their true opinions, good or bad, and dad would listen and learn.  And with humility he would connect with these people never telling him he was the owner unless asked.  More than once I witnessed an exhibitor’s face turn white when they learned they were demanding this ‘janitor’ clean up a spill by their booth, only to learn he was my father.  My father didn’t care.  He just wanted the job done.

I decided when I started this company with my dear friend Stephanie that I would spend a minimum of ten hours a week actually volunteering and working on restoration projects.  I realized that I am not comfortable in a leadership role in the volunteering endeavors, rather I just want to get my hands dirty.  Frankly I am tired of all the talk.  I was never good at it anyway.

As an added benefit I get to meet some really great people and hear what they think about life on this beautiful planet we all share. It is from this position I get to make a small difference and listen to people.  I don’t have my father’s gift for gab, but I do have his inspiration.  The time for talk is over.  I challenge the sustainably minded out there to spend less time running committees and get out in the field and start mopping up the mess.

If you would like to volunteer at the Better Living Show, click here.  Meet nice people, help us recycle and get a free shirt from Planet Protect Sportswear Co.