Celebrating Loss & It's Inspiration

Today was an amazing day! It was filled with hugs, smiles, and handshakes. It was a time in which a group of individuals met together for the first time in person since last March.

It was also a time in which we celebrated the loss of a friend, a mentor, a beacon of light. Rich Roche meant so many things to all these people. It was not a time for sadness. It was a time of celebration, laughter, and letting go.

I respect what words were said as some were private but I believe in the amazing message Rich left behind. Here are 5 things I took from celebrating Rich today and how they inspire me. It is truly leadership at it’s finest. I hope they inspire you or be a reminder of not lying down. While you have breath, stay up.

REJOICE: Rejoicing and looking back on the many reasons to celebrate do not happen enough. we get so entrenched in what we have to do or how perfect something must be that we miss the many steps we have already accomplished. We miss the many relationships that are right in front of us. We miss the wins that may seem small. Practicing rejoicing is a skill I want to do more of.

FIND THE WHO FIRST, THEN WHERE: Too often we are looking so far ahead or finding the job, title, position we think we are supposed to have. We completely miss the WHO. Who am I? If I don’t find this piece out, I won’t be able to find the path/direction I am meant for. It will be very difficult to find alignment with my decisions and actions.

L-R-Cf: LOVE. RESPECT. CARED for. Rich’s amazing wife Peggy was at our meeting. She spoke of her relationship with him. She said these three character traits were so profound for their relationship. It was something that INSPIRED me. I want my wife to say the same things about me. Heck, I want all my relationships and people in my life to truly feel as if they are loved, respected, and cared for.

YOU SHOULD BE MAD: The actual word that was used was pissed. You should be pissed “to not be chasing after your dreams.” It was one of those things that if Rich were here, and you weren’t attacking your dreams, he’d be upset. He’d be kicking you for not going after them. So today, don’t get pissed, get back on your path and start chasing those dreams again.

START WITH FAILURES: This is something I want to practice. If you share a conversation with me, please ask me about my failures. Hopefully, I tell you about them first. Rich was known not for sharing the fact that he helped start 26 businesses, or influenced many business leaders, but that he failed many, many times. He would start with his failures as a leader, husband, and father. How many powerful people would you see that might be wiling to share the failures from the get go? Starting with the failures meant that you could share your knowledge and experiences.