I have been a teacher most of my life. At my latest high school reunion, I found my picture in a copy of the yearbook. Under the picture of my teenage self was the quote, "Gladly would he learn, and gladly teach." Even back then, I had the yearning to teach others.
Throughout most of my professional life - 30 years with IBM, founder and principle for an international patent consulting company, sales manager and seminar leader for a worldwide educational corporation - I have been learning and teaching others. At one point, I counted the number of people I have had in seminars, user group sessions, keynote speeches, and classrooms, it is well over 10,000. And counting.
As a father, I have raised five successful children: four grown with their own careers as a doctor, a university coach, a school administrator, and a photographer and business owner. My youngest is still in school, but thriving in her studies, interactions with her teachers, and relationships with her friends and other students.
I reckon I will continue to learn and teach as long as I'm alive. It is fun, challenging, and most importantly, it gives me the sense of making a difference for others.
