Dave's Cancer Blog

At one time, I worked for an incredible person named Dave McCalley. Dave is the single most influential person in my journey to grow my leadership skills. It is Dave who got me hooked on reading every bit of leadership related books, articles, journals, etc. Through his example, I learned how to balance compassion in the workplace with focus on winning. I learned how to define what winning is.

A few years ago, as I learned to manage a team through severe illness of a valued employee, Dave was there to listen and support my efforts. He seemed to intuitively understand and appreciate the work I did to help our teams rally behind Tom & Mindy Hanaway and Helen & Mark Stevermer. While I focused on making sure they had the things they needed and my team had what it needed to be successful through those trials, Dave stopped by my office to see how I was doing. That meant a lot to me.

When news came that I would not be continuing my journey with American Century, Dave was the only officer in the company who reached out to help me in any way. He was the only executive who said good bye to me. He was the only one who expressed regret at my departure.

Dave is not perfect. There are a few things I've learned to avoid by watching Dave go first. But that's part of what I loved about working for Dave. He always had an open door. He always at least looked like he was listening. I always felt that my opinion was valued--even when his decisions took us in another direction. Dave, through his example, taught me to allow myself to be honest and vulnerable with my staff, to accept resulting criticisms with grace, and to win their hearts in the process.

Around the time that I was interviewing for positions at Sprint and Park University, Dave learned that he had cancer. In December, he began aggressive treatments that are very hard on the body and taxing on the mind and spirit.

Dave has shared his journey over the past few months through his blog. Just as he has openly shared his personal lessons in leadership over the years, he is now sharing his lessons in how to get through this trial with illness and come out a winner. As evidenced by the outpouring of comments in his blog, Dave's writings have touched and inspired many people. More than once during the past few months, I have thought that if I am ever faced with such a challenge as the one he is facing right now, I hope I have the courage to manage it just like Dave.