I’m just back from the funeral of a friend, colleague, fellow member of the Executives’ Association of the Palm Beaches. I am honored to be a member of Execs and when I was approved for membership a couple of years ago, I didn’t really comprehend how close-knit this organization, and especially this chapter, is. Think fraternity (because yes, most of our 70+ members are men) of business leaders who have each others’ backs at all times. It is an amazing family and thankfully we were there for each other today.
We were all there attending the mass to honor Bill Mignogna and support his wife and family this morning, along with a couple hundred other people. Bill was always ready and willing to help another – kind and generous, hardworking and supportive. I heard someone say this all seems surreal. How can it be? Bill was just here, we were hanging out, laughing with him only a few weeks ago. And then, October 17th, a drunk driver ran a red light and Bill spent 10 days in the hospital. He was 57 years old.
During his eulogy, one of Bill’s life long friends said that this past summer he and his wife had tried to find some time to come down to Florida to visit, but they never did. When the call came last week though, somehow he found a way to get here within 24 hours. We’ve all heard these kind of stories and maybe you even have your own regret in this area. And every time we hear another one, we remind ourselves once again how crucial it is to live in the present and to make the time for the people we love and not put important things off. We dwell on these thoughts of mindfulness for a few days or weeks, and then we go back to life as it always was and we forget. Until the next time something happens that makes us remember.
I’m including this post in my blog today because I needed to express my thoughts. But I also included it because if you’re reading it now, maybe you needed a reminder too. Now, today, before something traumatic or irreversible happens, make the time to do whatever it is that you didn’t have the time to do yesterday.

Thus far, it’s been a month of trade shows. First as attendee, at the Fancy Food Show in NYC and then as an exhibitor at the Atlanta Gift Mart. I’ve met great people, created opportunities and seen some interesting behavior. I’ll post first on some observations from my perspective as a show attendee and write later about the view from the other side.