Last week I met for coffee with one of my former MBA students to discuss an issue he was working on. As we reminisced over the class he took from me, I was reminded of some of the truly remarkable people that were in his class. One of the most remarkable members of his class, or any MBA class I have ever taught, was a man named Chuck.
Chuck sat in the first row, directly in front of me. He usually arrived wearing a leather jacket and carrying a motorcycle helmet, as he rode his Harley from Incline Village to Reno to attend class.
Chuck was around 45 when I met him, and one of the most accomplished students I’ve had in my 16 years of teaching. His career as an executive with a major entertainment company afforded him offices overlooking Central Park and exposure to business leaders and celebrities that few of us experience.
Yet there he was, starting an MBA program at The University of Nevada, Reno. The way he interacted with me and his fellow students gave us no clue that he probably understood more about business than all of us combined. Chuck was extremely intelligent, but also very warm and friendly to me and all of his peers. When Chuck contributed to the discussion in class, he always did it with the motivation to learn something new, never to lecture us from his experience. Even though he was clearly brilliant, Chuck was truly humble. He was a gentleman, and I admired him very much.
A few years ago, Chuck shot himself.
I don’t have a moral to this story. I think about Chuck often, including last week, so I’m honored to tell you a little about him. I wish I knew more people like Chuck, I wish I had gotten to know him better, and I wish he was still riding around the area on his Harley.
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Thanks Bret. I think about Chuck from time to time and have come across some of the projects we worked on together. I have good memories of times at the Lil’ Wal or preparing for presentations. Though his experience and knowledge were tremendous, he was, as you put it, truly humble. I too wish he was still riding around on his Harley and enjoying some laughs with us.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 15th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Thanks for sharing that, Paul. As you know, there were some great people in that group. We were all lucky to have known him. Bret
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Bret, It sounds like Chuck was a great man. It is always very sad to hear about someone with such great influence that doesn’t even realize their impact on those around them. The moral I take from this story is that no matter how strong and influential a person appears to be, they still need true friends and people who love them. This story challenges me to be a better friend to those I love and appreciate by letting them know I care.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 15th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Thanks for sharing, Brandon. I purposefully did not offer a moral to the story because as you did, I think it offers us a lot to reflect on. Thanks! Bret
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Dr. Simmons: Thank you for sharing. As a student, I remember Chuck in your class as well. I had the pleasure of taking a financial accounting course and a financial management course with Chuck in addition to your class. My experience with Chuck was nothing but positive. In our group for the financial accounting course, he brought out the best in all of us. I remember the presentation we gave: it was the best and most exciting presentation in my college experience in large part because of Chuck’s ability to bring out the best in us and make us feel great about the work we were doing. The man was truly generous. On more than one occasion he purchased dinner for me and another MBA student. The friends I made in Dr. Simmons’ class developed a very positive peer pressure to achieve and learn and Chuck was part of this. Like everyone else who knew Chuck, I was shocked and deeply saddened when I learned of his passing. I just could not believe it; I didn’t know how bad he was hurting on the inside. I remember the day I learned of his death. I was at UNR when another one of Chuck’s friends told me. The first thought that ran through my mind was that he got hit on his motorcycle. When I learned it was suicide, the next thought was, what if one of us had called him the day before just to talk? Could this have been prevented? Of course none of us realized how much this man was hurting on the inside.
I came across a passage from C.S. Lewis one day and it immediately made me think of Chuck. We go through the MBA classes learning multiple disciplines from textbooks but my experience also taught me some real life lessons. For me, the moral comes from what C.S. Lewis eludes to in his writing. If there is one good thing from this unfortunate tragedy, it is that this experience taught me something that I cannot put into words. The best I can express it is as follows: I now make a real and conscious effort to put myself in someone else’s shoes and realize their struggles the best I know how. And when Chuck’s memory surfaces in my mind, when his charisma, humbleness, his generosity, and his ability of making one feel great come to thought, I am again reminded to make this effort while going through this journey here on earth. Thanks again for sharing.
“What can you ever really know of other people’s souls – of their temptations, their opportunities, their struggles? One soul in the whole creation you do know: and it is the only one whose fate is placed in your hands.” -C.S. Lewis
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 15th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Thanks for sharing this about Chuck, Dan. He did have that unique combination of charisma and humility, and the gift to make those around him feel good. Without him, it still would have been one of my best classes ever, but with him, it was truly unique. Thanks, Bret
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Wow I wish that I had been in Chuck’s class! I bet I would have learned a lot from him.
I would put the moral of your story as you never really know how much impact you have on the people that you meet. I’ll bet Chuck didn’t know the impact he had on you. Make sure you take the time to really get to know people while you are fortunate enough to know them.
Thanks for sharing this story!
Sharon
http://www.sharonmarkovsky.com
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 15th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
I’m sure he knew I liked him, but not sure he knew I admired him. That would never have been his goal. Thanks! Bret
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Bret, this was a moving post. I’m developing just a small feeling for Chuck’s “footprint” based on the thoughtful comments from your students. I’m often reminded of Plato’s quote in these situations:”Be careful, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.”
I re-read this quote every morning as an important reminder of our “human condition” and a reminder to me to slow down and engage the human, not the issue.
Thanks for sharing, Bret.
-Art
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
So true, Art – *everyone* is fighting some kind of battle. Chuck was an amazing person, and we are all very glad to have known him. Thanks! Bret
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I’m not sure if I ever met Chuck or not, but this story reminded me of a mentor I had at my company’s New York City office who committed suicide by jumping out of his 17th story office building window in 2009. I think about this person often, what a great leader he was, how he inspired so many, and wonder: why suicide? I remember reading a report some time ago that top business leaders are several times more likely to committ suicide than regular people. (Probably stress?!) I had a high school principal who also committed suicide. I think this would be an interesting field of research from the perspective of business.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 4:53 pm
I remember you sharing this story with me, Tiffany. It had a big impact on you. Thanks for sharing it here. Bret
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Tiffany Brown Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 6:08 pm
I completely forgot about this! I think I had class on the day the incident happened.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 6:13 pm
It was something like that. Tough time but you handled it well. Bret
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Thanks for sharing Bret. Chuck sounded like a wonderful person. It really makes you realize that even when things seem hopeless, you mean more to people than you may think.
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Bret L. Simmons Reply:
May 19th, 2011 at 12:28 am
Chuck was a very special person. When he died, another guy from the class, Dan Hunter, helped organize a tribute to him. This semester, Dan also died very suddenly. To lose two such amazing men was tough. Thanks, Amber! Bret
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