Who helped me the most in 2016? #helpedme2016

Keenan started a meme last week and challenged a few fellow sales & marketing bloggers to participate.  My delay had less to do with loving the idea (which I do) and more to do with narrowing down to one person!

Tough challenge but I took it.  See Keenan’s first post here.  Here’s my take on the questions:

WHO HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR YEAR?

It is incredibly hard to narrow this down to one person. So many people have had a major impact on my year – my wife, fellow members of my EO Forum, a handful of informal mentors including Carlos Hidalgo, Brian Carroll, Don Gregory and more. I could also name several members of our awesome team who have amazed, challenged and humbled me throughout the year.

But if I’ve got to choose a single person who had the greatest impact on 2016, it’s my assistant Sheena McKinney.

WHAT DID THIS PERSON HELP YOU ACCOMPLISHMENT OR ACHIEVE IN 2016?

Sheena helps me stay focused on growing the business – hiring great people, finding amazing new clients, doing all the tactical & strategic things I love. Sheena simultaneously supports, encourages and motivates every member of the Heinz Marketing team. She embodies our culture and values daily.

WHY WAS THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?

I set a new record for business travel in 2016, so not only spent more time than ever out of the office but more than ever had to rely on Sheena to keep me organized, get me where I needed to go, plus keep things operational and running smoothly in the office.

Simply put, I couldn’t – we couldn’t – have had the successful 2016 we had without her support.

WHAT DID SHEENA DO TO HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL?

What didn’t she do?! Sheena embodies the ideal of servant leadership. She’s creative but detail-oriented, humble yet proactive in addressing (and suggesting) things to make me, and us, better.

Most importantly, she helps me focus on and amplify the impact I can have on the business.   She manages me more than I manage her. It’s perfect.

HOW DID THIS PERSON’S SUPPORT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

The hardest part about having an amazing assistant is how much I take for granted. Travel plans, office supply reorders, keeping the fridge and snack bins stocked, taking care of the mail, liaising with our accounting team, the list goes on and on. These are things I don’t have to worry about, freeing me to focus on our team, our business, our culture, our customers, our growth. That is invaluable.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY TO THIS PERSON, THAT YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY TOLD THEM?

Sheena, we have an amazing team, a great culture, a growing business for many reasons. You are so central to that. Hiring you was literally one of the most important things I’ve done for the business in the past three years. Thank you so much.

FILL IN THE BLANK: I WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE “BLANK” SHARE WHO HAD THE MOST IMPACT IN HIS OR HER LIFE IN 2016.

Jay Baer. Or Ann Handley. Wait, no, Yanni. Nah, definitely Jay Baer.