On Friday April 17, 2009, the world lost a great soul, when my long-time friend and mentor, Ken Harris was killed in a motorcycle accident. I first met Ken in 1988, when I was hired by ERA Real Estate, as a “wet behind the ears” franchise sales rookie. At that time, Ken was ERA’s Vice President of Franchise Development. During those years, and the years that followed, Ken taught me a ton about franchise relationships and development.
Many of you know that George Slusser, another ERA colleague, is who actually hired, nurtured and managed my career at ERA. (Not once or twice, but over the course of nearly 10 years, George actually hired and promoted me on three separate occasions.) It was Ken Harris though, who taught me my most fundamental lessons about franchise sales and development. Ken helped me learn that franchising is a business model built upon relationships. He also taught me that life is more about the journey, than the destination. While I don’t think I ever told him so, Ken actually gave me the courage to get into business for myself.
More than anyone I’ve ever known, Ken Harris reached for the stars. He had the courage to step outside the box and give things a try. Some of those things worked out better than others, but make no mistake, Ken Harris was always in the game. Moreover, Ken inspired the same in all of those that knew him. He was the consummate networker and he cared deeply about everyone in his universe.
Ken loved life and lived it to its fullest. While he’s left us behind for now, the Big Guy’s legacy will live on, in all of the professionals whose lives he touched. His wife Gayle, their kids and grandkids are some of the luckiest people in the world. They had the good fortune of spending more time with Ken than I ever could. I can't thank them enough though, for sharing some small part of him with me.
Live to ride, ride to live…, that’s the Ken that I knew. I will love him and miss him, until I see him again.
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1 comment:
Amen.
Don Kane
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