Jordan.Montag.co

“Names are the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”
― Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People

About 500 people milled through our corporate office each day. As the business, supply chain, and R&D headquarters for a global oil and gas service company, HQ employed people from nearly every continent, and many walks of life.

Mike was a BD Executive that had probably been working for my first company for 30 years by the time I joined in 2010. His boisterous, bubbly personality was energizing – and a little bit intimidating – but boy, was he effective at working a room and connecting people to who and what they needed to know.

His two-handed handshake and warm smile broke straight through any insecurity a small-town East Texas biochemist brought with him to work in global marketing – a job he was sure to struggle with. “What’s your name?” Mike asked eagerly. I can’t recall if we were in a meeting, or just in the hallway, but I answered his question, told him what I was doing, asked about him and went about my day.

Each day, for the next week, Mike would stick his head in my office, tell me good morning – by name – and continue down the hallway. He did this with everyone. To this day, although we work for direct competitors, I believe I would still have a tough time telling Mike “no” if he ever asked for my help, and everyone I know that knows Mike says the same thing.

Mike’s ability to influence through making others feel important has left an indelible mark on my career and is something I hope I shall never forget.