We had some very sad news this week in the passing of one of our friends, colleagues and all-round good eggs, Marty Finkle.
Marty worked for the Scotwork US business and for a considerable time he was the CEO of the organization on the other side of the pond, before he took on a role of selling and delivering skills advice, training and coaching to a wealth of clients and to quote Marty helping others to help themselves via the medium of negotiation.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer almost 2 years ago and lived on in the way he had lived prior to the diagnosis, with humor, positive energy and a zest for life which was infectious.
A few years ago, just after Marty was first given the news of his illness, I called him to say how sorry I was. Frankly, I was dreading the call. I girded my loins and picked up the phone and was bowled over by Marty’s attitude. I left the call after 45 minutes not feeling saddened by the experience but uplifted by a man determined to spread as much joy and love as he possibly could in the time he had left. He was keen to carry the message he had spent much of his life working on for as long as he could and share the life-affirming value of his teaching to as many as he could.
He did that until his health dictated that he could no longer work, and spent the last stage of his life, with his much-loved family and dedicated friends, remaining the man he always was. Kind, caring and determined to help anyone he could.
I was personally delighted that he managed to live to celebrate his 60th birthday, and he had a celebration in his home, which he had been determined to share with those he loved and who had loved him.
He sadly died a short time later.
Not everything in this life is negotiable. Death eventually will come calling for us all. That is not in our gift to change.
What we can however negotiate is how we chose to live the time that we have.
Marty’s message to us all lives on. Be kind, live well and help each other whenever possible so that we can all benefit from the interactions that we all have in every walk of life, be that a business or social interaction.
Finding a way through the inevitable compromises we all have to make on our paths, was Marty’s passion. He did that through his work, but also the integrity he brought to his life.
So long Marty, been a pleasure to know you.