DINNER OF CHAMPIONS LOS ANGELES LEADER OF THE YEAR. Speech by MICHAEL MATKINS

Transcription

1 DINNER OF CHAMPIONS LOS ANGELES LEADER OF THE YEAR Speech by MICHAEL MATKINS

2 LOS ANGELES LEADER OF THE YEAR BY MIKE MATKINS You know, last year, I remember coming to this event after being besieged by Rick and Lew to do so fighting traffic, arriving late, grumpy Walking in, I wished I had not come. I was sitting content at my Allen Matkins' table. I had a glass of chardonnay in front of me. I look up and there Is Lew Horne talking away.

3 He is not talking about his career, he is talking about his life. he is talking About what matters to him. And what matters to him is helping his daughter Christina, his beautiful, wonderful daughter. And then I knew that was why he did everything he could do to fill that room that night with his friends and colleagues. That night changed me. Made me take a good, hard look in the mirror and examine how I live, and how I want to live, my life. For those of you who know me, you know that I run hard. I work really hard and I play pretty hard. I learned early from my high school football coach, "If you want it, you must earn it." I made up for my lack of talent and intellectual acumen with plain hard work. First in sports. Then in school. Then in business.

4 Lew asked me to tell you about my life. The truth is I wish I were a better everything. A better husband. A better father. A better friend. A better colleague. But I will tell you what I am really proud of. I am proud of my wife. My family. and my friends. I do not know where I would possibly be without serendipity, fate or whatever you want to call it. Wonderful people have entered my life at key moments along the way who, for God only knows why, believed in me. Truly believed in me. I received the gift of confidence of others in me. I guess it is the gift of Mentorship.

5 It started with my high school football coach in the city of Pico Rivera, Ernie Johnson he passed away some years ago. Probably the most influential mentor in my life. I can promise you I would not be standing before you if it were not for him. Here is to you, coach. But it had nothing to do with football. He taught me about respect, discipline and hard work and five magic phrases that my children and grandchildren know to this day: "Yes, sir," "No sir," "May I," "Thank you" and "Please." I have also had career mentors. Icons in our industry who I was lucky enough to know and revere. Max Green. Claire peck. Joe O'Connor. John Anderson. George Graziadio. Bill Tooley. All had integrity All had a will to find success with honor.

6 And then there is Brian Leck, my best friend in life. We attended Stanford university together and we were founders of our law firm. Brian has taught me about honesty and loyalty. About living up to your word. About what a real friendship means. He has been a compass and an anchor in my life. He is such a better person than I have ever dreamed to be. Brian, you have touched my life every single day for the past 50 years. I thank you.

7 If a mentor is someone who shapes "who you are", then no person has been more of a mentor to me than my wife, Terry. My life partner for a half century. From everything she does, I have learned what love is. What family is. She shows me with her actions, every day, what devotion is, kindness is, forgiveness is. And, believe me, when "I say I need a big dose of forgiveness." Her overwhelming love of animals and nature tells everything about her. She is also the most non-judgmental person in the world I love you, Terry.

8 When my boys were little squirts, I never thought I would be saying this, but today they are my teachers. Mark is a better husband and father than I ever thought to be. Scott, no one and I mean no one cares more about other people than you. Thank you. I love you both very, very much. As I look around this room so many of you have been inspirational to me. Teachers of mine. My other cofounders of Allen Matkins; Fred Allen, Rick Mallory and John Gamble. You taught me about loyalty, self-sacrifice and the reward of putting others before yourself.

9 I could go on and on. In fact, I have a list here of the mentors I was going to name tonight. but I don't need to read your names, you know who you are. Michael Dermody, Chuck Lande, John Hagestad, Chris Gibbs, Rick Selby, Steven Fowlkes, Scott Sheridan, Richard Rider, John Moller, Buz Knyal, George Pappas, Marin Slusser, Kevin Staley, Louis Graziado, Bill McKinley and so many others We all know that we are no more and no less than the combined total of our experiences. They form the blueprint for our self our being. Well, all of you form the blueprint for my life, my being.

10 And tonight, I thank the MS society for giving me the chance to publicly celebrate and thank you. Each and every one of you. Thank you for your compassion to make a real difference in your work, in your communities, in your families, for MS and in my life. I cannot express how blessed and honored you have all made me feel. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart.