Unfortunately, saying thank you seems to be an after thought more and more. So at least once a month, I will take a few minutes to publicly appreciate someone that has had an impact on me.
This round: Esther Derby
I first met Esther at the #Agile2008 conference. I had attended one of her sessions about performance reviews and immediately became a fan. I had asked a couple of questions following the session but did not expect her to remember me in the least bit. Yet, when I emailed a follow up question she even remarked remembering my beautiful necklace. Why do I remember this all these years later – because she lived what she spoke about…making time for people.
Over the years, she has been a constant source of learning and connection. I wanted this appreciation to be for something very recent and specific. As I’ve noted, I’ve been pondering writing a book. So I sent Esther an email asking if she had a bit of time to answer a couple of questions. Not only did I get a quick response, we schedule an hour to chat. What I want to share is not her amazing wisdom but how I felt at the end of our discussion. I felt heard. I felt supported. I felt encouraged. I felt inspired. I felt valued.
She answered with great tips. She challenged my personal perspectives. She made jokes to make me laugh. She listened when I shared fears. She shared personal experiences. And she did all of this expecting nothing in return. She told me that my voice would help someone who couldn’t hear another voice. Well, I’m extremely grateful for her voice in my life.
So thank you Esther for going above and beyond!
Tricia
Picture from LinkedIn
