I’m February 4th of 2015 my husband of 24
24
24 years committed suicide his suicide was
years committed suicide his suicide was
years committed suicide his suicide was a complete shock to me and everybody who
a complete shock to me and everybody who
a complete shock to me and everybody who knew him he was highly intelligent he
knew him he was highly intelligent he
knew him he was highly intelligent he had a great job
had a great job
had a great job his health was great he seemed to have
his health was great he seemed to have
his health was great he seemed to have everything he was afraid
everything he was afraid
everything he was afraid unfortunately he was overtaken by his
unfortunately he was overtaken by his
unfortunately he was overtaken by his fears and none of the us even those of
fears and none of the us even those of
fears and none of the us even those of us who were closest to him could see
us who were closest to him could see
us who were closest to him could see that his mind was crumbling none of us
that his mind was crumbling none of us
that his mind was crumbling none of us could see that fear was overtaking his
could see that fear was overtaking his
could see that fear was overtaking his life I don’t remember much of what
life I don’t remember much of what
life I don’t remember much of what happened that night I don’t remember all
happened that night I don’t remember all
happened that night I don’t remember all the traumatic events but I do remember
the traumatic events but I do remember
the traumatic events but I do remember calling 9-1-1 I remember the paramedics
calling 9-1-1 I remember the paramedics
calling 9-1-1 I remember the paramedics streaming into my apartment I remember
streaming into my apartment I remember
streaming into my apartment I remember her forming CPR and then I remember
her forming CPR and then I remember
her forming CPR and then I remember because the paramedics came in calling
because the paramedics came in calling
because the paramedics came in calling three of my closest friends one of whom
three of my closest friends one of whom
three of my closest friends one of whom was a lot in law enforcement and as
was a lot in law enforcement and as
was a lot in law enforcement and as people continued to stream into my
people continued to stream into my
people continued to stream into my apartment the scene became very chaotic
apartment the scene became very chaotic
apartment the scene became very chaotic but at the same time time Stood Still
later that night one of my friends took
later that night one of my friends took me to her apartment and put me into her
me to her apartment and put me into her
me to her apartment and put me into her bed I know I didn’t sleep much that
bed I know I didn’t sleep much that
bed I know I didn’t sleep much that night I was shaking the next morning
night I was shaking the next morning
night I was shaking the next morning when we got out of bed friends continued
when we got out of bed friends continued
when we got out of bed friends continued to come over to her apartment and my
to come over to her apartment and my
to come over to her apartment and my rabbi came over there were decisions to
rabbi came over there were decisions to
rabbi came over there were decisions to be made people to call and a funeral to
be made people to call and a funeral to
be made people to call and a funeral to plan you can imagine I was in complete
plan you can imagine I was in complete
plan you can imagine I was in complete and total shock I really couldn’t think
and total shock I really couldn’t think
and total shock I really couldn’t think in the days and weeks that followed I
in the days and weeks that followed I
in the days and weeks that followed I felt a lot of confusion I don’t remember
felt a lot of confusion I don’t remember
felt a lot of confusion I don’t remember as I said much of it but I do remember
as I said much of it but I do remember
as I said much of it but I do remember really struggling with
really struggling with
really struggling with some of the most basic things in life I
some of the most basic things in life I
some of the most basic things in life I remember that a friend emailed me an
remember that a friend emailed me an
remember that a friend emailed me an article about dealing with grief and I
article about dealing with grief and I
article about dealing with grief and I remember trying to read the email trying
remember trying to read the email trying
remember trying to read the email trying to read the article and I couldn’t focus
to read the article and I couldn’t focus
to read the article and I couldn’t focus on the words on the page I didn’t know
on the words on the page I didn’t know
on the words on the page I didn’t know how to make sense of what had just
how to make sense of what had just
how to make sense of what had just happened
happened
happened I was afraid even the simplest things
I was afraid even the simplest things
I was afraid even the simplest things like getting out of bed scared me two
like getting out of bed scared me two
like getting out of bed scared me two days after my husband’s death my uncle
days after my husband’s death my uncle
days after my husband’s death my uncle who is my number one mentor and coach in
who is my number one mentor and coach in
who is my number one mentor and coach in life and I’ll come back to that concept
life and I’ll come back to that concept
life and I’ll come back to that concept later came over to my apartment and said
later came over to my apartment and said
later came over to my apartment and said I want 30 minutes alone with you and I
I want 30 minutes alone with you and I
I want 30 minutes alone with you and I kind of looked at him and said can you
kind of looked at him and said can you
kind of looked at him and said can you give me a break and so we sat alone in
give me a break and so we sat alone in
give me a break and so we sat alone in my bedroom just the two of us and he
my bedroom just the two of us and he
my bedroom just the two of us and he looked at me and he said I want you back
looked at me and he said I want you back
looked at me and he said I want you back at work on Monday I want you to go back
at work on Monday I want you to go back
at work on Monday I want you to go back to your office and I want you to begin
to your office and I want you to begin
to your office and I want you to begin working again let’s at him and Mike
working again let’s at him and Mike
working again let’s at him and Mike thought and as I was about to say
thought and as I was about to say
thought and as I was about to say something to him like are you kidding he
something to him like are you kidding he
something to him like are you kidding he continued and he said you’re an
continued and he said you’re an
continued and he said you’re an entrepreneur you’ve started from scratch
entrepreneur you’ve started from scratch
entrepreneur you’ve started from scratch before 15 years ago you have an idea
before 15 years ago you have an idea
before 15 years ago you have an idea you’ve put everything you had into this
you’ve put everything you had into this
you’ve put everything you had into this idea you’ve been courageous you’ve been
idea you’ve been courageous you’ve been
idea you’ve been courageous you’ve been fearless you’ve thought big you’ve let
fearless you’ve thought big you’ve let
fearless you’ve thought big you’ve let your mind wander and you’ve built
your mind wander and you’ve built
your mind wander and you’ve built something beautiful and so from that
something beautiful and so from that
something beautiful and so from that moment I wasn’t really ready but I knew
moment I wasn’t really ready but I knew
moment I wasn’t really ready but I knew that it was time to begin again
that it was time to begin again
that it was time to begin again two weeks after David’s death I was
two weeks after David’s death I was
two weeks after David’s death I was faced with a choice and I was faced with
faced with a choice and I was faced with
faced with a choice and I was faced with the choice of going on a business trip
the choice of going on a business trip
the choice of going on a business trip that was planned well in advance of his
that was planned well in advance of his
that was planned well in advance of his death or canceling the trip and the trip
death or canceling the trip and the trip
death or canceling the trip and the trip was going to be a big trip for me I was
was going to be a big trip for me I was
was going to be a big trip for me I was hoping that I was going to go and visit
hoping that I was going to go and visit
hoping that I was going to go and visit with a prospective client and close on
with a prospective client and close on
with a prospective client and close on what would be my biggest deal ever but I
what would be my biggest deal ever but I
what would be my biggest deal ever but I also knew that I was scared and that I
also knew that I was scared and that I
also knew that I was scared and that I was feeling very vulnerable
was feeling very vulnerable
was feeling very vulnerable I knew that I still wasn’t thinking
I knew that I still wasn’t thinking
I knew that I still wasn’t thinking clearly how was I going to go stand in
clearly how was I going to go stand in
clearly how was I going to go stand in front of a very successful CEO and his
front of a very successful CEO and his
front of a very successful CEO and his leadership team and inspire confidence
leadership team and inspire confidence
leadership team and inspire confidence and strength all the while knowing that
and strength all the while knowing that
and strength all the while knowing that I really felt very vulnerable and I
I really felt very vulnerable and I
I really felt very vulnerable and I thought about my uncle’s words and I
thought about my uncle’s words and I
thought about my uncle’s words and I thought about how much it meant to me to
thought about how much it meant to me to
thought about how much it meant to me to be an entrepreneur and I thought about
be an entrepreneur and I thought about
be an entrepreneur and I thought about the last 15 years of my life and how
the last 15 years of my life and how
the last 15 years of my life and how much time I had spent building my
much time I had spent building my
much time I had spent building my business and the business that I was so
business and the business that I was so
business and the business that I was so proud of and so I went on the trip and I
proud of and so I went on the trip and I
proud of and so I went on the trip and I stood there in that meeting and I gave
stood there in that meeting and I gave
stood there in that meeting and I gave my presentation and I tried to inspire
my presentation and I tried to inspire
my presentation and I tried to inspire confidence in this company in this team
confidence in this company in this team
confidence in this company in this team of leaders who were looking at me and
of leaders who were looking at me and
of leaders who were looking at me and ready to hand to me a very important
ready to hand to me a very important
ready to hand to me a very important piece of their business something
piece of their business something
piece of their business something critical to the future of their business
critical to the future of their business
critical to the future of their business and what I knew and what I learned in
and what I knew and what I learned in
and what I knew and what I learned in that moment was vulnerability didn’t
that moment was vulnerability didn’t
that moment was vulnerability didn’t make me weak showing my vulnerability
make me weak showing my vulnerability
make me weak showing my vulnerability was not a weakness that I could be a
was not a weakness that I could be a
was not a weakness that I could be a strong and successful businessperson and
strong and successful businessperson and
strong and successful businessperson and I could be vulnerable at the same time
I could be vulnerable at the same time
I could be vulnerable at the same time and that what they saw in front of them
and that what they saw in front of them
and that what they saw in front of them wasn’t weakness what they saw was me and
wasn’t weakness what they saw was me and
wasn’t weakness what they saw was me and it what ended up coming out of that
it what ended up coming out of that
it what ended up coming out of that meeting was a great trust and
meeting was a great trust and
meeting was a great trust and understanding between us because I was
understanding between us because I was
understanding between us because I was honest with them I didn’t have a choice
honest with them I didn’t have a choice
honest with them I didn’t have a choice of whether or not to show my
of whether or not to show my
of whether or not to show my vulnerability I was vulnerable that day
vulnerability I was vulnerable that day
vulnerability I was vulnerable that day they awarded me the piece of business I
they awarded me the piece of business I
they awarded me the piece of business I really didn’t expect to go into that
really didn’t expect to go into that
really didn’t expect to go into that meeting and get the business what I
meeting and get the business what I
meeting and get the business what I really wanted that Dave was just to make
really wanted that Dave was just to make
really wanted that Dave was just to make it out of there without crumbling and as
it out of there without crumbling and as
it out of there without crumbling and as I came out of that meeting something
I came out of that meeting something
I came out of that meeting something struck me my mind started to reengage
struck me my mind started to reengage
struck me my mind started to reengage and this concept a concept from my past
and this concept a concept from my past
and this concept a concept from my past came back to me and it was this idea of
came back to me and it was this idea of
came back to me and it was this idea of big thinking thinking about what I could
big thinking thinking about what I could
big thinking thinking about what I could be and I spent the next week or so of my
be and I spent the next week or so of my
be and I spent the next week or so of my trip thinking about big thinking
trip thinking about big thinking
trip thinking about big thinking that sounds funny to say thinking about
that sounds funny to say thinking about
that sounds funny to say thinking about big thinking but I was thinking about
big thinking but I was thinking about
big thinking but I was thinking about think big thinking and I was thinking
think big thinking and I was thinking
think big thinking and I was thinking about my own comeback and I began to
about my own comeback and I began to
about my own comeback and I began to think about this gift that I had been
think about this gift that I had been
think about this gift that I had been given this gift of being able to build a
given this gift of being able to build a
given this gift of being able to build a brand new life and it struck me in that
brand new life and it struck me in that
brand new life and it struck me in that moment that I felt like I did in high
moment that I felt like I did in high
moment that I felt like I did in high school I felt like I had all of these
school I felt like I had all of these
school I felt like I had all of these choices in front of me and sometimes
choices in front of me and sometimes
choices in front of me and sometimes they were overwhelming and I didn’t know
they were overwhelming and I didn’t know
they were overwhelming and I didn’t know what to do with all of these choices and
what to do with all of these choices and
what to do with all of these choices and I realized that in those moments I had
I realized that in those moments I had
I realized that in those moments I had to come up with some themes for myself
to come up with some themes for myself
to come up with some themes for myself some tools some tools in my tool belt to
some tools some tools in my tool belt to
some tools some tools in my tool belt to pull out in these moments of
pull out in these moments of
pull out in these moments of vulnerability and fear and that’s
vulnerability and fear and that’s
vulnerability and fear and that’s surrounding myself with really smart
surrounding myself with really smart
surrounding myself with really smart people with thoughtful people with
people with thoughtful people with
people with thoughtful people with people that cared about me would be one
people that cared about me would be one
people that cared about me would be one of the keys to my beginning again and to
of the keys to my beginning again and to
of the keys to my beginning again and to my own successful comeback as an
my own successful comeback as an
my own successful comeback as an entrepreneur so I would encourage you as
entrepreneur so I would encourage you as
entrepreneur so I would encourage you as I was feeling like a high schooler and
I was feeling like a high schooler and
I was feeling like a high schooler and as you are today to surround yourself
as you are today to surround yourself
as you are today to surround yourself with people who care about you to
with people who care about you to
with people who care about you to surround yourself with really smart
surround yourself with really smart
surround yourself with really smart people people who can add to your life
people people who can add to your life
people people who can add to your life people who can add value thought a lot
people who can add value thought a lot
people who can add value thought a lot about listening I listen to a lot of
about listening I listen to a lot of
about listening I listen to a lot of people I asked a lot of questions and
people I asked a lot of questions and
people I asked a lot of questions and when I was done asking questions I asked
when I was done asking questions I asked
when I was done asking questions I asked more questions and I started listening
more questions and I started listening
more questions and I started listening to people tell their stories of triumphs
to people tell their stories of triumphs
to people tell their stories of triumphs and pain in their lives
and pain in their lives
and pain in their lives and what I learned was that those people
and what I learned was that those people
and what I learned was that those people who had triumph those people who had
who had triumph those people who had
who had triumph those people who had come back they weren’t defined by the
come back they weren’t defined by the
come back they weren’t defined by the hard things that had happened to them in
hard things that had happened to them in
hard things that had happened to them in life those things made them stronger but
life those things made them stronger but
life those things made them stronger but successful people aren’t defined by the
successful people aren’t defined by the
successful people aren’t defined by the hardships in their past I learned to say
hardships in their past I learned to say
hardships in their past I learned to say yes here I was this strong woman and I
yes here I was this strong woman and I
yes here I was this strong woman and I thought being independent and showing
thought being independent and showing
thought being independent and showing myself to the world as a strong woman
myself to the world as a strong woman
myself to the world as a strong woman was what mattered and in those moments
was what mattered and in those moments
was what mattered and in those moments and in the months after his death I was
and in the months after his death I was
and in the months after his death I was physically and mentally weak
physically and mentally weak
physically and mentally weak I had to say yes I had to let people
I had to say yes I had to let people
I had to say yes I had to let people help me even with the simplest things I
help me even with the simplest things I
help me even with the simplest things I remember one day I let two of my friends
remember one day I let two of my friends
remember one day I let two of my friends come over to clean out my refrigerator
come over to clean out my refrigerator
come over to clean out my refrigerator in my freezer and here it was this
in my freezer and here it was this
in my freezer and here it was this simple task and I wasn’t even capable of
simple task and I wasn’t even capable of
simple task and I wasn’t even capable of that simple task but what I realized was
that simple task but what I realized was
that simple task but what I realized was that as people we want to help other
that as people we want to help other
that as people we want to help other people and I realized in that moment
people and I realized in that moment
people and I realized in that moment that helping other people would help me
and I continued this theme of thinking
and I continued this theme of thinking big and this became for me a dominant
big and this became for me a dominant
big and this became for me a dominant theme and along with that came this
theme and along with that came this
theme and along with that came this notion of overwhelming effort that for
notion of overwhelming effort that for
notion of overwhelming effort that for so many of us who want to succeed for
so many of us who want to succeed for
so many of us who want to succeed for all of you who are going to go on to
all of you who are going to go on to
all of you who are going to go on to hopefully college or some other form of
hopefully college or some other form of
hopefully college or some other form of higher education overwhelming effort is
higher education overwhelming effort is
higher education overwhelming effort is what it takes to get through tough times
what it takes to get through tough times
what it takes to get through tough times I want to tell you a story now about
I want to tell you a story now about
I want to tell you a story now about overwhelming effort my brother Jeff and
overwhelming effort my brother Jeff and
overwhelming effort my brother Jeff and I he was my big brother we’re in
I he was my big brother we’re in
I he was my big brother we’re in business together we were entrepreneurs
business together we were entrepreneurs
business together we were entrepreneurs we started a real estate business and we
we started a real estate business and we
we started a real estate business and we considered ourselves successful
considered ourselves successful
considered ourselves successful entrepreneurs together we were learning
entrepreneurs together we were learning
entrepreneurs together we were learning the business we managed to pull thousand
the business we managed to pull thousand
the business we managed to pull thousand apartments here in the city of Chicago
apartments here in the city of Chicago
apartments here in the city of Chicago and about a half million square feet of
and about a half million square feet of
and about a half million square feet of industrial and retail space we have
industrial and retail space we have
industrial and retail space we have faced a lot of challenges but we were
faced a lot of challenges but we were
faced a lot of challenges but we were thinking big we believed that we had
thinking big we believed that we had
thinking big we believed that we had already built a great business and that
already built a great business and that
already built a great business and that we would continue to do so there was a
we would continue to do so there was a
we would continue to do so there was a time when we wanted to buy a big
time when we wanted to buy a big
time when we wanted to buy a big building in downtown Chicago and the
building in downtown Chicago and the
building in downtown Chicago and the building was in bankruptcy and it was a
building was in bankruptcy and it was a
building was in bankruptcy and it was a complicated messy process and we knew
complicated messy process and we knew
complicated messy process and we knew that it was going to be hard and we
that it was going to be hard and we
that it was going to be hard and we would basically have to wrestle this
would basically have to wrestle this
would basically have to wrestle this building to the ground to get it but we
building to the ground to get it but we
building to the ground to get it but we were up for the challenge and we knew we
were up for the challenge and we knew we
were up for the challenge and we knew we had each other and we knew we could do
had each other and we knew we could do
had each other and we knew we could do it together he was my big thinking
it together he was my big thinking
it together he was my big thinking mentor we had faced a lot of adversity
mentor we had faced a lot of adversity
mentor we had faced a lot of adversity as kids together and so we had this bond
as kids together and so we had this bond
as kids together and so we had this bond along with our sister and this notion
along with our sister and this notion
along with our sister and this notion that our pasts didn’t define us that the
that our pasts didn’t define us that the
that our pasts didn’t define us that the hardships in our life didn’t define us
hardships in our life didn’t define us
hardships in our life didn’t define us and that if we thought big we could
and that if we thought big we could
and that if we thought big we could succeed well we were in high school our
succeed well we were in high school our
succeed well we were in high school our father was in federal prison from a lot
father was in federal prison from a lot
father was in federal prison from a lot of people that I talked to in the months
of people that I talked to in the months
of people that I talked to in the months and years after what I learned and what
and years after what I learned and what
and years after what I learned and what I’m constantly reminded about and I hope
I’m constantly reminded about and I hope
I’m constantly reminded about and I hope I can impart this wisdom on you today is
I can impart this wisdom on you today is
I can impart this wisdom on you today is that we are not defined by the hardships
that we are not defined by the hardships
that we are not defined by the hardships in our past
in our past
in our past Kasey’s not defined by the hardships in
Kasey’s not defined by the hardships in
Kasey’s not defined by the hardships in our past
our past
our past siki wasn’t defined by the hardships in
siki wasn’t defined by the hardships in
siki wasn’t defined by the hardships in her past and I wasn’t defined by the
her past and I wasn’t defined by the
her past and I wasn’t defined by the fact that my father was a convicted
fact that my father was a convicted
fact that my father was a convicted felon I could think big six years ago
felon I could think big six years ago
felon I could think big six years ago my big brother Jeff that’s him with his
my big brother Jeff that’s him with his
my big brother Jeff that’s him with his two beautiful babies two of his three
two beautiful babies two of his three
two beautiful babies two of his three beautiful babies was killed in a plane
beautiful babies was killed in a plane
beautiful babies was killed in a plane crash the 20 seconds from takeoff to
crash the 20 seconds from takeoff to
crash the 20 seconds from takeoff to crash changed the course of my life and
crash changed the course of my life and
crash changed the course of my life and my family’s life forever
my brother was a big thinker he was a
my brother was a big thinker he was a joyful guy he loved life he travelled
joyful guy he loved life he travelled
joyful guy he loved life he travelled around the world literally a couple of
around the world literally a couple of
around the world literally a couple of times and so I think a lot today about
times and so I think a lot today about
times and so I think a lot today about the kindness and the thoughtfulness of
the kindness and the thoughtfulness of
the kindness and the thoughtfulness of my brother and his other traits big
my brother and his other traits big
my brother and his other traits big thinking and he was a mentor he was a
thinking and he was a mentor he was a
thinking and he was a mentor he was a mentor to me and he was a mentor to so
mentor to me and he was a mentor to so
mentor to me and he was a mentor to so many around him and I think about how
many around him and I think about how
many around him and I think about how important that is for all of us
important that is for all of us
important that is for all of us my brother was married with three
my brother was married with three
my brother was married with three beautiful young children he lived a
beautiful young children he lived a
beautiful young children he lived a joyful life he lived a big life he was a
joyful life he lived a big life he was a
joyful life he lived a big life he was a big thinker and he was kind most of all
big thinker and he was kind most of all
big thinker and he was kind most of all my brother was courageous on the screen
my brother was courageous on the screen
my brother was courageous on the screen is one of my favorite quotes life
is one of my favorite quotes life
is one of my favorite quotes life shrinks or expands in proportions to one
shrinks or expands in proportions to one
shrinks or expands in proportions to one in proportion to one’s courage
in proportion to one’s courage
in proportion to one’s courage unfortunately through a lot of hardships
unfortunately through a lot of hardships
unfortunately through a lot of hardships I’ve learned to be courageous so many of
I’ve learned to be courageous so many of
I’ve learned to be courageous so many of us have faced losses even all of you at
us have faced losses even all of you at
us have faced losses even all of you at your young ages so many of you have had
your young ages so many of you have had
your young ages so many of you have had to face these things and there’s three
to face these things and there’s three
to face these things and there’s three pieces of wisdom I want to try to talk
pieces of wisdom I want to try to talk
pieces of wisdom I want to try to talk about today to help those of you who
about today to help those of you who
about today to help those of you who face loss and those of you who
face loss and those of you who
face loss and those of you who unfortunately someday will which is all
unfortunately someday will which is all
unfortunately someday will which is all of us unfortunately first get through
of us unfortunately first get through
of us unfortunately first get through the pain there’s no easy way there’s no
the pain there’s no easy way there’s no
the pain there’s no easy way there’s no recipe there’s no formula lots of good
recipe there’s no formula lots of good
recipe there’s no formula lots of good people are going to tell you what you
people are going to tell you what you
people are going to tell you what you should do there are no shoulds you just
should do there are no shoulds you just
should do there are no shoulds you just have to get through the pain second move
have to get through the pain second move
have to get through the pain second move forward almost immediately I knew that I
forward almost immediately I knew that I
forward almost immediately I knew that I had to keep moving forward and I did and
had to keep moving forward and I did and
had to keep moving forward and I did and third take from the people who helped
third take from the people who helped
third take from the people who helped you in those moments and help other
you in those moments and help other
you in those moments and help other people the thing that has been the most
people the thing that has been the most
people the thing that has been the most fulfilling for me and probably the best
fulfilling for me and probably the best
fulfilling for me and probably the best tool I’ve had in moving forward with my
tool I’ve had in moving forward with my
tool I’ve had in moving forward with my life has been helping other people and
life has been helping other people and
life has been helping other people and much of that comes in the form of meant
much of that comes in the form of meant
much of that comes in the form of meant in coaching so how do you design your
in coaching so how do you design your
in coaching so how do you design your life how do you think big how do you in
life how do you think big how do you in
life how do you think big how do you in the face of adversity in the face of
the face of adversity in the face of
the face of adversity in the face of tough times in the face of the of the
tough times in the face of the of the
tough times in the face of the of the hardships we’ve had in our past how do
hardships we’ve had in our past how do
hardships we’ve had in our past how do you design your life well for me I build
you design your life well for me I build
you design your life well for me I build stuff I’m an entrepreneur this is a bill
stuff I’m an entrepreneur this is a bill
stuff I’m an entrepreneur this is a bill a picture of a building in the
a picture of a building in the
a picture of a building in the stockyards area in the city of Chicago
stockyards area in the city of Chicago
stockyards area in the city of Chicago so for those of you don’t know where the
so for those of you don’t know where the
so for those of you don’t know where the stockyards are this is the historic
stockyards are this is the historic
stockyards are this is the historic meatpacking area and the stockyards are
meatpacking area and the stockyards are
meatpacking area and the stockyards are a really next door to the back of the
a really next door to the back of the
a really next door to the back of the yards neighborhood so near southwest
yards neighborhood so near southwest
yards neighborhood so near southwest side when I built this building in 2011
side when I built this building in 2011
side when I built this building in 2011 for a company called testa produce this
for a company called testa produce this
for a company called testa produce this was at the time the most
was at the time the most
was at the time the most energy-efficient building that have ever
energy-efficient building that have ever
energy-efficient building that have ever been built in the United States it was
been built in the United States it was
been built in the United States it was the first building in the city of
the first building in the city of
the first building in the city of Chicago to be powered by a wind turbine
Chicago to be powered by a wind turbine
Chicago to be powered by a wind turbine by the way that wind turbine is 240 feet
by the way that wind turbine is 240 feet
by the way that wind turbine is 240 feet tall and if you are at guaranteed rate
tall and if you are at guaranteed rate
tall and if you are at guaranteed rate field and getting used to saying the new
field and getting used to saying the new
field and getting used to saying the new name of where the White Sox play and you
name of where the White Sox play and you
name of where the White Sox play and you look up you’ll see our wind turbine this
look up you’ll see our wind turbine this
look up you’ll see our wind turbine this is another building that we just
is another building that we just
is another building that we just finished building this is a hundred and
finished building this is a hundred and
finished building this is a hundred and eighty eight thousand square foot pizza
eighty eight thousand square foot pizza
eighty eight thousand square foot pizza warehouse in Romeoville Illinois so that
warehouse in Romeoville Illinois so that
warehouse in Romeoville Illinois so that warehouse stores about five million
warehouse stores about five million
warehouse stores about five million pounds of pizza every day and if five
pounds of pizza every day and if five
pounds of pizza every day and if five million pounds of Pizza sounds really
million pounds of Pizza sounds really
million pounds of Pizza sounds really great to you it is really cool and by
great to you it is really cool and by
great to you it is really cool and by the way it’s really cool it’s minus 10
the way it’s really cool it’s minus 10
the way it’s really cool it’s minus 10 degrees in there so this is what it
degrees in there so this is what it
degrees in there so this is what it looks it looks like inside of that
looks it looks like inside of that
looks it looks like inside of that building this is Pete the pizzas are put
building this is Pete the pizzas are put
building this is Pete the pizzas are put it packed into cases and put into this
it packed into cases and put into this
it packed into cases and put into this racking and then you can kind of see in
racking and then you can kind of see in
racking and then you can kind of see in the background there there’s a forklift
the background there there’s a forklift
the background there there’s a forklift that comes up and down and pulls those
that comes up and down and pulls those
that comes up and down and pulls those pallets out to ship the pizza
so we’ve talked a little about hardships
so we’ve talked a little about hardships and not being defined by things and and
and not being defined by things and and
and not being defined by things and and for me so much of being an entrepreneur
for me so much of being an entrepreneur
for me so much of being an entrepreneur has being about it has been about
has being about it has been about
has being about it has been about overcoming my fears so I say to you
overcoming my fears so I say to you
overcoming my fears so I say to you today what would you do if you had no
today what would you do if you had no
today what would you do if you had no fear this is a picture of the very first
fear this is a picture of the very first
fear this is a picture of the very first building that I built and the story
building that I built and the story
building that I built and the story behind it is that one of my friends came
behind it is that one of my friends came
behind it is that one of my friends came to me and he said he owned a pizza
to me and he said he owned a pizza
to me and he said he owned a pizza manufacturing business so if you can
manufacturing business so if you can
manufacturing business so if you can think about the pizzas that you see in
think about the pizzas that you see in
think about the pizzas that you see in the deli section of your grocery store
the deli section of your grocery store
the deli section of your grocery store the pizzas that or the pizzas you see at
the pizzas that or the pizzas you see at
the pizzas that or the pizzas you see at a convenience store that come in a brown
a convenience store that come in a brown
a convenience store that come in a brown box take him home cook them for 12 to 15
box take him home cook them for 12 to 15
box take him home cook them for 12 to 15 minutes this is what they make make a
minutes this is what they make make a
minutes this is what they make make a million pounds of these per day and he
million pounds of these per day and he
million pounds of these per day and he came to me and said my business is
came to me and said my business is
came to me and said my business is growing I need a new building can you
growing I need a new building can you
growing I need a new building can you build it for me and I looked at him and
build it for me and I looked at him and
build it for me and I looked at him and I said you know Greg you and I both know
I said you know Greg you and I both know
I said you know Greg you and I both know I’ve never done that before he said I
I’ve never done that before he said I
I’ve never done that before he said I know so but you’re a lifelong learner
know so but you’re a lifelong learner
know so but you’re a lifelong learner you’ll figure it out boy was I afraid we
you’ll figure it out boy was I afraid we
you’ll figure it out boy was I afraid we shook hands and I agreed to build them
shook hands and I agreed to build them
shook hands and I agreed to build them this building my brother and I went out
this building my brother and I went out
this building my brother and I went out and bought some land in Romeoville in
and bought some land in Romeoville in
and bought some land in Romeoville in Romeoville Illinois and we started the
Romeoville Illinois and we started the
Romeoville Illinois and we started the planning process for building the
planning process for building the
planning process for building the building and we started moving dirt on
building and we started moving dirt on
building and we started moving dirt on what had been a farmland and I put all
what had been a farmland and I put all
what had been a farmland and I put all of my savings and everything I had into
of my savings and everything I had into
of my savings and everything I had into this project and I went out and got some
this project and I went out and got some
this project and I went out and got some people to invest in this project and I
people to invest in this project and I
people to invest in this project and I lined up a lender to lend money to me to
lined up a lender to lend money to me to
lined up a lender to lend money to me to build this building and we were off and
build this building and we were off and
build this building and we were off and running and then 2009 came along known
running and then 2009 came along known
running and then 2009 came along known as the Great Recession and in one day
as the Great Recession and in one day
as the Great Recession and in one day all of my backers and my banker walked
all of my backers and my banker walked
all of my backers and my banker walked away from the project in one day
away from the project in one day
away from the project in one day everything I had spent 15 years building
everything I had spent 15 years building
everything I had spent 15 years building was going to be gone tell you that that
was going to be gone tell you that that
was going to be gone tell you that that that day I shed a lot of tears but I dug
that day I shed a lot of tears but I dug
that day I shed a lot of tears but I dug deep and I realized that I needed to go
deep and I realized that I needed to go
deep and I realized that I needed to go back to my big thinking and that I
back to my big thinking and that I
back to my big thinking and that I needed to be fearless and then I needed
needed to be fearless and then I needed
needed to be fearless and then I needed to be courageous and so I called
to be courageous and so I called
to be courageous and so I called everyone I knew and I told them the
everyone I knew and I told them the
everyone I knew and I told them the story of this building and thankfully we
story of this building and thankfully we
story of this building and thankfully we were able to raise the money and
were able to raise the money and
were able to raise the money and convince people to believe in what we
convince people to believe in what we
convince people to believe in what we were doing and to remind them that I had
were doing and to remind them that I had
were doing and to remind them that I had been a successful entrepreneur and that
been a successful entrepreneur and that
been a successful entrepreneur and that these setbacks weren’t going to define
these setbacks weren’t going to define
these setbacks weren’t going to define me that my successes would define me
me that my successes would define me
me that my successes would define me that while the failures were inevitable
that while the failures were inevitable
that while the failures were inevitable they weren’t going to define my future
they weren’t going to define my future
they weren’t going to define my future so we built the building and today that
so we built the building and today that
so we built the building and today that building still manufactures just over a
building still manufactures just over a
building still manufactures just over a million pounds of pizza per day it’s
million pounds of pizza per day it’s
million pounds of pizza per day it’s hard to understand what that means but
hard to understand what that means but
hard to understand what that means but that’s about 400 pizzas a minute what I
that’s about 400 pizzas a minute what I
that’s about 400 pizzas a minute what I learned from that was not to be afraid
learned from that was not to be afraid
learned from that was not to be afraid and I’m no longer afraid despite the
and I’m no longer afraid despite the
and I’m no longer afraid despite the setbacks I’ve had I’m not afraid one of
setbacks I’ve had I’m not afraid one of
setbacks I’ve had I’m not afraid one of the reasons I’ve not I’m not afraid is
the reasons I’ve not I’m not afraid is
the reasons I’ve not I’m not afraid is that I have been fortunate even though I
that I have been fortunate even though I
that I have been fortunate even though I came to it much much later in life to
came to it much much later in life to
came to it much much later in life to understand the power of mentors and
understand the power of mentors and
understand the power of mentors and coaches so one or two of you Kirra may
coaches so one or two of you Kirra may
coaches so one or two of you Kirra may recognize someone in this picture these
recognize someone in this picture these
recognize someone in this picture these are some of my mentors coaches advisors
are some of my mentors coaches advisors
are some of my mentors coaches advisors I’ve learned to surround myself with
I’ve learned to surround myself with
I’ve learned to surround myself with these people I have learned that these
these people I have learned that these
these people I have learned that these people want to help me I’ve learned that
people want to help me I’ve learned that
people want to help me I’ve learned that these people care about me and I’ve
these people care about me and I’ve
these people care about me and I’ve learned the importance of surrounding
learned the importance of surrounding
learned the importance of surrounding myself this is one of my favorite
myself this is one of my favorite
myself this is one of my favorite mentors and advisors and a couple of
mentors and advisors and a couple of
mentors and advisors and a couple of days after my husband died I was taking
days after my husband died I was taking
days after my husband died I was taking a nap and I had said to my family they
a nap and I had said to my family they
a nap and I had said to my family they were in my
were in my
were in my and I said just going to sleep for an
and I said just going to sleep for an
and I said just going to sleep for an hour and I went into my bedroom and I
hour and I went into my bedroom and I
hour and I went into my bedroom and I think I passed out for about three hours
think I passed out for about three hours
think I passed out for about three hours and when I woke up sitting in a chair in
and when I woke up sitting in a chair in
and when I woke up sitting in a chair in my bedroom was this woman our ‘no and in
my bedroom was this woman our ‘no and in
my bedroom was this woman our ‘no and in my sort of haze of waking up I looked at
my sort of haze of waking up I looked at
my sort of haze of waking up I looked at ARLA and I said how did you get here as
ARLA and I said how did you get here as
ARLA and I said how did you get here as though I had sort of conjured her up and
though I had sort of conjured her up and
though I had sort of conjured her up and she likes me and she said I’m an
she likes me and she said I’m an
she likes me and she said I’m an airplane and then she started talking to
airplane and then she started talking to
airplane and then she started talking to me listening to my story and she looked
me listening to my story and she looked
me listening to my story and she looked at me and she said I want to know what
at me and she said I want to know what
at me and she said I want to know what you are going to do to move on with your
you are going to do to move on with your
you are going to do to move on with your life I want to know what you’re going to
life I want to know what you’re going to
life I want to know what you’re going to do to start immediately
do to start immediately
do to start immediately moving forward hard words to hear in the
moving forward hard words to hear in the
moving forward hard words to hear in the days after you’ve just lost to someone
days after you’ve just lost to someone
days after you’ve just lost to someone but because she was my mentor because I
but because she was my mentor because I
but because she was my mentor because I knew she cared deeply about me I heard
knew she cared deeply about me I heard
knew she cared deeply about me I heard her words and I started to listen to
her words and I started to listen to
her words and I started to listen to them and I knew that I would have to be
them and I knew that I would have to be
them and I knew that I would have to be courageous and I didn’t know how but I
courageous and I didn’t know how but I
courageous and I didn’t know how but I knew that I would be able to move
knew that I would be able to move
knew that I would be able to move forward from there so here’s my offer to
forward from there so here’s my offer to
forward from there so here’s my offer to all of you I didn’t come to understand
all of you I didn’t come to understand
all of you I didn’t come to understand the power of mentors coaches and
the power of mentors coaches and
the power of mentors coaches and advisers until late in life today I
advisers until late in life today I
advisers until late in life today I understand it today at any given time my
understand it today at any given time my
understand it today at any given time my mentor four or five young people
mentor four or five young people
mentor four or five young people different ages and I’m ready to take out
different ages and I’m ready to take out
different ages and I’m ready to take out a few more so we’re going to make an
a few more so we’re going to make an
a few more so we’re going to make an offer to you and we’re going to work
offer to you and we’re going to work
offer to you and we’re going to work with your amazing teachers and
with your amazing teachers and
with your amazing teachers and principals administrative staff here by
principals administrative staff here by
principals administrative staff here by the way they are a great source of
the way they are a great source of
the way they are a great source of helping you find mentors and coaches ask
helping you find mentors and coaches ask
helping you find mentors and coaches ask for help
for help
for help but we’re going to work with all of them
but we’re going to work with all of them
but we’re going to work with all of them at your different schools here with
at your different schools here with
at your different schools here with young and the other high schools that
young and the other high schools that
young and the other high schools that are here to offer a few opportunities to
are here to offer a few opportunities to
are here to offer a few opportunities to mentor some of you
mentor some of you
mentor some of you so I hope that you will take us up on
so I hope that you will take us up on
so I hope that you will take us up on that and what I want to leave you with
that and what I want to leave you with
that and what I want to leave you with today is the thought that predominates
today is the thought that predominates
today is the thought that predominates my thinking today and that is that big
my thinking today and that is that big
my thinking today and that is that big thinking proceeds great achievement
thinking proceeds great achievement
thinking proceeds great achievement thank you thanks
thank you thanks
thank you thanks [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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