happened. My mother, like most parents, had always told me to never pick up anything in a store if I had no intention of buying it. She also told me that if I was ever caught with someone who was stealing, whether I knew about their plans or not, I would be treated as though I had been stealing myself. Why? She would say, “...You are judged by the company you keep…so if the company is no good…why are you with them? I raised you better!” “...You should feed ‘em with a long handle spoon…” Throughout my life, I have fed many people with long-handle spoons for a variety of reasons with the understanding that none of them meant me no-good! Cole: How do you ensure that others benefit from the life-changing knowledge you gained from your mentors? Neal: I ensure others benefit by sharing many pearls of wisdom, life experiences and my time with mentees, as well as organizations that I happen to serve as board members, -- The Rose Andom Center, Sickle Cell Initiative through the American Red Cross, Warren Village, honorary member (after serving 3 terms), and countless other organizations. I believe mentoring is another form of giving back. Cole: What advice do you wish someone had given you earlier in your career? Neal: Just about everyone answers this question by saying, “...don’t sweat the small stuff.” I wish someone would have asked, “Do you know the difference between the small stuff and the big stuff?...” Knowing the difference could have saved me a lot of time! When you are younger, everything seems to be “big” stuff. Upon reflection there are only a few things that really rise to being at the “big-stuff” level. I live and I continue to learn.
Photo: McBoat Photography
Cole: What inspired you to pursue a career in consulting, and how did you get started? Neal: I did not directly aspire to become a Strategic Communications Consultant. Instead, I started out as a journalist who was inspired to have a career that afforded me flexibility, access, respect, freedom, financial independence and influence. Journalism (writing, public speaking, using my voice in a myriad of ways), was just the means by which the Universe helped me become accustomed to being an entrepreneur.
25 The Acumen
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