My heart sunk.

It was news I knew was coming. Yet, when I read it, it still hit me like a gut punch. My dear friend Annie had left this earth and stepped into eternity.

When I first met her in 2004, I was struggling in all the ways. At the beginning of the year my unexpected divorce completely upended my world. One moment I thought I was happily married, and the next, the future had never seemed more bleak or uncertain.

As a result of the divorce I changed industries. Going from two incomes to one meant that I couldn't afford living in Southern California. So I found a job in multifamily housing so that I could get a discount on an apartment, and hopefully keep my head above water.

To say that I wasn't my best self, or even myself, in that season would be an understatement. This was especially true at work. Just getting through each day without breaking down took everything I had. And that still wasn't enough. I struggled.

If I wasn't being talked to about my individual sales performance, we were being talked to about the overall performance of the property. In our defense, I know few people that would've been able to exceed expectations with the headwinds (too many to list here!) this community faced in that season.

As a result of all of this, Annie (who was the VP of training) spent a day with us. She trained and taught us-and also talked and listened to us. I learned a lot from her, we got some traction, and some of the ideas we recommended to her were implemented as well.

Then our paths didn't cross for over a year.

After a year in the company it was clear to me that I wasn't going to advance. I felt stuck and discouraged. I began to look for jobs outside of the company, to see what was out there.

Then, I noticed an internal company job posting for a customer care manager. I knew that I'd be a great fit for this. But, I also knew that I was a long shot. But, my wife convinced me to give it a try, so I requested permission from my regional manager to apply for this position.

She denied my request.

I was heartbroken. I knew my time at this company was over.

Then, a funny thing happened. A few weeks later I got a call from corporate, asking when I'd be free to interview for the customer care manager position. I was confused, after all, my regional denied my request. But, I had corporate on the line, asking me to schedule an interview, and I wasn't going to talk them out of it. 

And my life was never the same.

You see, my interview was with Annie (the same Annie who worked with me and the team the year before!) The interview went well, she offered me the position and overnight my career did a 180.

I went from being stuck and struggling, to being in my sweet spot. Over time I started to make a difference, developed a good reputation within the company, and also (unbeknownst to me at the time) built the skill set, maturity and desire that I would need to launch my speaking and consulting business.

Annie was an amazing boss. Amazing. Now she worked hard. She expected us to work hard, and with excellence, and we did. She also kicked us of the office and told us to go home! She so loved us and we all felt it.

For me personally, she was the perfect leader at the perfect time in my story.

She walked with me, encouraged, empowered, taught, coached, corrected and always supported me. She taught me how to navigate the culture, how to communicate with the "higher ups" and how to present myself in a way that would enable others to see me in the best light, while always encouraging me to be ME.

Most importantly she believed in me.

A few months after I got the job, I asked her why she hired me. I knew others thought she was nuts for offering me the job. (Remember, my regional denied my request to apply!)

She looked me and said, "Because Rommel, when I met you (last year) I knew you were brilliant. After your interview I was convinced."

I just about cried in her office.

I learned that she had heard that I wanted to apply and was denied by my regional manager, so (as a VP) she overrode the RM's denial, interviewed and then hired me. After feeling forgotten and stuck for so long, her belief in me was a rescue for my heart.

That job was the job that changed my career. I wouldn't be doing what I do today (speaking, consulting and coaching) if not for that job and if not for her. You are reading this today because of the seeds she planted and cultivated in my life 21 years ago.

I've spoken to over 100,000 people since beginning my speaking career in 2011. So anyone I've been able to help through my work, has also been indirectly helped by Annie, even if they've never met. Because I am one of her living legacies.

And I'm not the only one.

She helped, loved, and inspired countless people in her life. The names may be different, but their stories are very like mine. Stories of people whom she loved, led, and made feel seen, heard and valued. People whom she inspired to now want to do the same for others.

What a beautiful legacy...that will continue to live on.

Thank you, Annie!!