{"id":7800,"date":"2019-04-26T06:22:44","date_gmt":"2019-04-26T11:22:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/?p=7800"},"modified":"2026-04-24T14:58:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T19:58:04","slug":"remembering-my-first-mentor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/remembering-my-first-mentor\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering My First Mentor"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"7800\" class=\"elementor elementor-7800\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b0e1623 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2b0e1623\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-673a677c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"673a677c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63db5dcc elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"63db5dcc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Remembering My First Mentor<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fdd1d30 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"3fdd1d30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-545bbe2 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/author\/lbwebmaster\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-user-circle\" viewBox=\"0 0 496 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M248 104c-53 0-96 43-96 96s43 96 96 96 96-43 96-96-43-96-96-96zm0 144c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48s21.5-48 48-48 48 21.5 48 48-21.5 48-48 48zm0-240C111 8 0 119 0 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S385 8 248 8zm0 448c-49.7 0-95.1-18.3-130.1-48.4 14.9-23 40.4-38.6 69.6-39.5 20.8 6.4 40.6 9.6 60.5 9.6s39.7-3.1 60.5-9.6c29.2 1 54.7 16.5 69.6 39.5-35 30.1-80.4 48.4-130.1 48.4zm162.7-84.1c-24.4-31.4-62.1-51.9-105.1-51.9-10.2 0-26 9.6-57.6 9.6-31.5 0-47.4-9.6-57.6-9.6-42.9 0-80.6 20.5-105.1 51.9C61.9 339.2 48 299.2 48 256c0-110.3 89.7-200 200-200s200 89.7 200 200c0 43.2-13.9 83.2-37.3 115.9z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTom Lemanski\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-b1f0a24 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"commentCount\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/remembering-my-first-mentor\/#comments\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-comment-dots\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M144 208c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zm112 0c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zm112 0c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zM256 32C114.6 32 0 125.1 0 240c0 47.6 19.9 91.2 52.9 126.3C38 405.7 7 439.1 6.5 439.5c-6.6 7-8.4 17.2-4.6 26S14.4 480 24 480c61.5 0 110-25.7 139.1-46.3C192 442.8 223.2 448 256 448c141.4 0 256-93.1 256-208S397.4 32 256 32zm0 368c-26.7 0-53.1-4.1-78.4-12.1l-22.7-7.2-19.5 13.8c-14.3 10.1-33.9 21.4-57.5 29 7.3-12.1 14.4-25.7 19.9-40.2l10.6-28.1-20.6-21.8C69.7 314.1 48 282.2 48 240c0-88.2 93.3-160 208-160s208 71.8 208 160-93.3 160-208 160z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-comments\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5 Comments\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-378b8cf0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"378b8cf0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><span class=\"bsf-rt-reading-time\"><span class=\"bsf-rt-display-label\" prefix=\"Reading Time\">\n\t\t<\/span> <span class=\"bsf-rt-display-time\" reading_time=\"7\"><\/span> \n\t\t<span class=\"bsf-rt-display-postfix\" postfix=\"mins\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52cd819f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"52cd819f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c1fd5f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5c1fd5f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Max_Klein-350-qon9jt34x4f7zam5qoqkrhomue9fktditng24t1ibk.jpg\" title=\"Max_Klein-350\" alt=\"Max Klein\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61d464e3 elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"61d464e3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5fe4b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5fe4b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Leadership AI Deep-Dive<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76845bf9 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"76845bf9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.buzzsprout.com\/2608746\/19022553?client_source=small_player&iframe=true\" \r\n        width=\"100%\" height=\"200\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"Leadership Breakthroughs\">\r\n<\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2be5acae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2be5acae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In this short audio exploration, I\u2019ve tasked an AI version of my voice to sit down with host &#8216;Alex&#8217; to dive deeper into the mindsets discussed in this post. While the audio is synthesized, the insights are 100% human-driven. Listen while you&#8217;re on the move.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ae2ae79 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ae2ae79\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-09e7756\" data-id=\"09e7756\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93bf961 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"93bf961\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">First, A Book Recommendation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1c9bf91 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1c9bf91\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e873629\" data-id=\"e873629\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dcd2168 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dcd2168\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1422157970\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1422157970&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=chicaexecuc0b-20&amp;linkId=cec2ea7877b86ed60dccf0acb712f6cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HBR&#8217;s 10 MUST READS On Leadership<\/a><\/strong><\/em> inspired me to write this remembrance of my first mentor.\u00a0 It is a great collection of leadership insights from experts that include Peter Drucker, Warren Bennis, Daniel Goleman and Jim Collins. Based on a strong recommendation from my scholarly colleague, Terry Barnhart, I bought the audio book.\u00a0 As I began to listen, I discovered two unusual coincidences.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p><p>The first coincidence came in Jim Collins&#8217; section on <a href=\"https:\/\/vista-development.com\/pursuit-level-5-leadership\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><i>Level 5 Leadership<\/i><\/b><\/a>.\u00a0 That section opens by describing <em>a seemly ordinary man named Darwin Smith<\/em>.\u00a0 Mr. Smith was the CEO of Kimberly-Clark, the Wisconsin based paper company.\u00a0 At the time I listened, I was in the car driving for my first meeting of a new coaching engagement at Kimberly-Clark in Wisconsin. Ironic? Perhaps.\u00a0<\/p><p>As I continued listening on my drive through <em>America&#8217;s Dairyland<\/em>, another section of the audio book hit much closer to home.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7e370c7\" data-id=\"7e370c7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc93a9d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bc93a9d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1422157970\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=1422157970&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=chicaexecuc0b-20&#038;linkId=cec2ea7877b86ed60dccf0acb712f6cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/HBR-Leadership-cover-az.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-10539\" alt=\"HBR 10 Best Leadership cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/HBR-Leadership-cover-az.jpg 400w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/HBR-Leadership-cover-az-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/HBR-Leadership-cover-az-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" title=\"\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2cf21af elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2cf21af\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dbe516d\" data-id=\"dbe516d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51008b4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"51008b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">My Best from HBR's 10 Best<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78759c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"78759c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Crucibles of Leadership<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f8a8a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3f8a8a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This section, written by Warren Bennis and\u00a0 Robert J. Thomas, recounts mentoring relationships. The story that struck me featured entrepreneur Michael Klein.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b99e749 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b99e749\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><em>A young man who made who made millions in California real estate while still in his teens, only to lose it by the time he turned 20 and then go on to start several other businesses.\u00a0 His mentor was his grandfather, Max S. Klein who created the paint-by-numbers fad that swept the United States in the 1950s and 1960s.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9739611 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9739611\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Michael Klein&#8217;s grandfather, Max Klein, shared his business expertise with more than his grandson. Max also shared and mentored <i>me<\/i>. With his guidance, we developed a unique business partnering arrangement that went beyond a typical vendor-customer dynamic.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p><p><strong><em>The Crucibles of Leadership<\/em><\/strong> section of the HBR book describes how Max and his grandson spoke by phone for an hour every night until Max passed away.\u00a0 I suspect that after he hung up with Michael, he called me. Or perhaps the reverse given our time zone differences.\u00a0 Max and I had regular weeknight phone discussions until his passing in 1993.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b170ba9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b170ba9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Became of Michael Klein?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3351ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a3351ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Upon returning from my Kimberly-Clark trip, I was eager to answer this question. I thought about I might reach out to him to remember our mutual mentor. Upon searching, I learned that Michael Klein&#8217;s entrepreneurial successes continued beyond the Real Estate ventures mentioned in the book. Michael was the CEO of Pacificor LLC, a Santa Barbara, Calif.-based company that manages several hedge funds. He founded two companies in the 1990s before becoming president and CEO of eGroups Inc., which was the world\u2019s largest group e-mail communication service. Yahoo Inc. purchased eGroups for $450 million in August 2000. It later became known as Yahoo Groups.\u00a0<\/p><p>I discovered that I was one degree away from a really interesting half-billionaire.\u00a0 Or so it briefly appeared until I also learned that Michael was tragically killed in a plane crash in Panama in 2007. The crash also\u00a0took the life of his 12 year old daughter.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2839c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c2839c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Moving On<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21738bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"21738bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>With Max&#8217;s protege&#8217; Michael gone, I feel obligated share what I learned from his grandfather.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1163591 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1163591\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6733568\" data-id=\"6733568\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0afa01b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0afa01b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paint_by_number\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Paint-By-Number<\/a><\/h3><p>I don&#8217;t know how Max gained an ownership interest in <i>Palmer Paint Company<\/i>.\u00a0 I do know that he started his career in Detroit as an engineer for General Motors.\u00a0 He told me that he didn&#8217;t enjoy a big corporate environment.<\/p><p>Palmer Paint Company had a limited market. They were selling washable children&#8217;s paints. Adults who were not artistically talented had little use for their product. Max addressed this obstacle to increasing their customer base by asking <i>possibility questions<\/i>:<\/p><ul><li>How might we start selling our paints to adults?<\/li><li>What if people didn&#8217;t need artistic talent to buy paint kits?\u00a0<\/li><li>How could we help people without that talent to use our product to create something they could be proud of?<\/li><\/ul><p>The answers to those questions came from his collaborations with his package designer, artist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newschannel5.com\/news\/national\/dan-robbins-the-man-who-invented-paint-by-numbers-has-died-at-the-age-of-93\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dan Robbins,<\/a> and led to the birth of the paint-by-numbers fad.\u00a0 Max&#8217;s slogan for the business:<\/p><h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>&#8220;Every Man a Rembrandt&#8221;<\/em><\/h4><p>The fad launched in 1951 and <em>swept the nation<\/em>.\u00a0 With a creative solution to a major marketing obstacle, millions of paint kits were sold to regular folks who otherwise would have no need for paint kits.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>Max had a positive attitude and creative approach to viewing obstacles. He thereby found creative ways for overcoming them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-aea501b\" data-id=\"aea501b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a6b9fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6a6b9fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/paint-by-number2-768x384.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-7873\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/paint-by-number2-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/paint-by-number2-150x75.jpg 150w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/paint-by-number2-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/paint-by-number2.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" title=\"\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9931bc2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"9931bc2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f92faa elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9f92faa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"502\" height=\"249\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/last-supper-pbn.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-10583\" alt=\"Paint By Number\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/last-supper-pbn.jpg 502w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/last-supper-pbn-300x149.jpg 300w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/last-supper-pbn-150x74.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 502px) 100vw, 502px\" title=\"\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70e1c72 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"70e1c72\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Beyond Paint-By-Number<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7694cc3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7694cc3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Max made his first fortune in the paint business. He didn&#8217;t stop there.\u00a0 He was a Detroit guy.\u00a0 After moving on from the paint business, Max maintained his relationships with executives and buyers of a local retailer, <i><b>S.S. Kresge<\/b><\/i>. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.m.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kmart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kresge became <strong><em>Kmart<\/em><\/strong> in 1977<\/a>.\u00a0 Kmart became a dominant retailer. And Max Klein became the plastic housewares king of Kmart.\u00a0 \u00a0When you walked the housewares aisles at Kmart, one side of the aisle was all Rubbermaid.\u00a0 The other side of the aisle was the <strong><em>Max Klein<\/em><\/strong> brand.\u00a0 The line included waste baskets, dust pans, salt &amp; pepper shakers, baby baths, you name it.\u00a0 The housewares business expanded to build an expansive manufacturing facility in Baraboo, WI. But, there&#8217;s more&#8230;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7411ec4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7411ec4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Serial Entrepreneurship<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9c4717 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c9c4717\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Fortune Building Scorecard<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef50fa0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ef50fa0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>Max&#8217;s<strong> first fortune<\/strong> came from the Paint-by-Number business.<\/li><li>His <strong>second fortune<\/strong> came from producing and selling his Plastic Housewares, related commercial products and store fixtures. Mostly to Kmart.<\/li><li><strong>Fortunes #3 and #4<\/strong> came from selling his plastic companies. Buying them back, then selling them again.\u00a0 These deals included a partnership with the legendary <em>Father of Conglomerates<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Royal_Little\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Royal Little<\/a> of Textron.<\/li><li>Mixed in with these activities, Max played the markets. It was difficult to meet with him when the markets were open due to his frequent check-ins with his broker.\u00a0 It&#8217;s fair to assume he made <strong>another fortune<\/strong> from countless profitable trades.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2a1176b elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2a1176b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-48dc57a\" data-id=\"48dc57a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee4d65c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ee4d65c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Mentorship<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b0b542 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5b0b542\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For some reason, Max took a liking to me. He initiated regular nightly, hour long business conversations.\u00a0 <em>Our manufacturing company collaborated on producing his line of non-housewares plastic products.<\/em> But our discussions covered other general topics about business philosophy and approaches. All the while we explored creative ways to collaborate.\u00a0<\/p><p>Max&#8217;s companies were major customers for our family&#8217;s manufacturing business.\u00a0 We established a partnering relationship at a time before the term &#8220;partnering&#8221; was in vogue. Our manufacturing company collaborated and went beyond producing his line of non-housewares plastic products. We did their warehousing, distribution and even created invoices to their customers. That partnering and integration later led to our acquisition of that business after Max&#8217;s passing. It was a natural progression.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-386cc73\" data-id=\"386cc73\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47b226c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"47b226c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"249\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/Max_Klein-350.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-7804\" alt=\"Max Klein\" srcset=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/Max_Klein-350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/Max_Klein-350-150x107.jpg 150w, https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/Max_Klein-350-300x213.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" title=\"\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26412c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"26412c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\">That&#8217;s me on the left (before I changed my hair color). Max Klein in the middle with his signature bow tie and my wife Holly on the right.\u00a0 In the days before camera phones, Max often brought a camera along, took photos and mailed them after they were developed. He was the first person I knew with a &#8220;car phone&#8221;.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a4e8b11 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a4e8b11\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5fb1a38\" data-id=\"5fb1a38\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-669a090 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"669a090\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Customer Relationships and Work Ethic<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74e65e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74e65e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Max would show up at Kmart Headquarters most mornings at 6 am. to meet with executives and buyers. While other visitors to HQ needed appointments and visitor badges, Max was exempt from such formalities.\u00a0 He wandered the halls freely and was known by all.\u00a0 Buyers regularly sought him out to discuss new opportunities.\u00a0 As buyers and merchandise managers were prompted to the VP and C-level, they were close friends of Max.\u00a0<\/p><p>Max did most of his meaningful work during evenings and weekends. His weekdays were filled with playing the stock market.\u00a0 If I\u00a0 met with him on a weekday, we were constantly interrupted by conversations with his brokers.\u00a0 So I learned to accept his invitations to convene on weekends.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>Max&#8217;s ability to easily move from the paint kit business to plastic housewares was all about the relationships he developed with executives at Kmart from top to bottom. He learned about their needs on many levels, responded to them and thereby created countless successes..\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6f699a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e6f699a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why Mentor Me?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7144a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a7144a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Michael was Max Klein&#8217;s ambitious, receptive grandson.\u00a0 It&#8217;s easy to understand why that mentoring relationship developed and prospered. I still wonder why Max chose to mentor me. In meetings with others, Max&#8217;s preference for my opinions was often obvious. A few times there were post meeting comments about his preference.\u00a0 Why me?\u00a0\u00a0In hindsight, I believe the attraction was about our shared values:\u00a0<\/p><ul><li>Strong appreciation for the value of a customer.<\/li><li>An understanding of the importance of having a work ethic that drives you to go beyond the normal call of duty.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/li><li>An appreciation for the value of partnering by extending the level of cooperation and collaboration between business partners.<\/li><li>A positive, creative approach to overcoming obstacles to achievement.<\/li><\/ul><p>I&#8217;ll never really know the real reasons behind his his attraction.\u00a0 I&#8217;ll always miss those nightly discussions. The attraction was mutual. I was always flattered by the attention.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46ec475 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"46ec475\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Lessons Continued<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75ce0e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"75ce0e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I attended Max Klein&#8217;s funeral in Detroit.\u00a0 As mourners were filing out of the cemetery, I recognized the Chairman of Kmart.\u00a0 He had appeared in TV commercials. I casually slipped in behind him and his colleagues and heard him say:<\/p><blockquote><p><strong>&#8220;We lost much more than a vendor today.\u00a0 We lost a good friend.&#8221;\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><p>I later learned more about what prompted that sentiment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><h4>Developing a High Level Friendship<\/h4><p>I knew of the relationships Max developed by routinely showing up at Kmart Headquarters in Troy at 6 AM. Several years later I gained a greater understanding about what built a unique <em><b>friendship <\/b><\/em>with <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Joseph_E._Antonini\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the CEO<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p><p>As a result of our partnering relationship, we acquired a consumer product business from his successors.\u00a0 As I was going through boxes of files moved in the acquisition, I made a surprising discovery.\u00a0 I found drafts of speeches ghost written for Kmart&#8217;s Chairman. The speeches were intended to share the Chairman&#8217;s vision with Kmart employees and stakeholders.\u00a0 Max was mentoring him as well.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-089b49e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"089b49e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What's in this for YOU?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce05377 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ce05377\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Here are my recommendations. First, I challenge you to <strong><em>ask yourself:<\/em><\/strong><\/p><ul><li>Who are <em><strong>you<\/strong> <\/em>mentoring?\u00a0 If you don&#8217;t have a mentee, who might benefit from your experience?<\/li><li>Who has mentored you?\u00a0 How have you expressed your gratitude?\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><p>Consider reading or listening to <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1422157970\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1422157970&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=chicaexecuc0b-20&amp;linkId=cec2ea7877b86ed60dccf0acb712f6cc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HBR&#8217;s 10 Must Reads on Leadership<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. There&#8217;s no telling what you might discover. There is a section titled <em><b>Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?<\/b> <\/em>\u00a0Answering the question alone is potentially valuable, introspective\u00a0 food for thought about becoming a more effective leader.<\/p><p>Max Klein never asked me if I wanted mentoring. I never asked to be mentored\u00a0 He simply began calling me at home in the evenings.\u00a0 In the later years, he&#8217;d occasionally call from the Mayo Clinic, saying he was just there for a check up.\u00a0 We later learned he was actually fighting cancer. We never know when our time is up. We don&#8217;t always get to choose when valuable relationships end.\u00a0 \u00a0Time is truly our most scarce resource. I remain grateful for the time that Max Klein shared with me.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My Best from HBR&#8217;s 10  Must Reads on Leadership &#8211; The Crucibles of Leadership &#8211;<br \/>\nThis section, written by Warren Bennis and  Robert J. Thomas, recounts mentoring relationships. The story that struck me featured entrepreneur Michael Klein. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"New on #Leadership Breakthroughs: Remembering My First Mentor, the late Max Klein","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[21,106,181],"tags":[336,274,337],"class_list":["post-7800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-achievers","category-customer-attraction","category-focus","tag-max-klein","tag-mentorship","tag-paint-by-number"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/Max_Klein-350.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1I2Yr-21O","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7800"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17669,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7800\/revisions\/17669"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}