Stories

What they say

Private Company Services is a practice made up of 2,000 individuals dedicated to turning life lessons into value for private companies and their owners.Below are lessons that have impacted our people.

The marble

Their shoes

Family business

The marble: "Everything my grandfather stood for I carry in my pocket.""

My grandfather was a huge influence. He taught me a lot about building relationships and how to treat people. He genuinely cared for people, all people. He was kind and generous to everyone and always put others first. He carried a marble in his pocket that had the "golden rule" inscribed around the outside. He always had that with him. I never saw him without it. He lived by the golden rule. When he passed away, my mom asked what I might want from my grandparents. I told her the only thing I really wanted was that marble."

Their shoes: "My parents taught me that I wasn't better than anybody nor was I less than anybody.""

My mother emigrated from Cuba and my father from Europe where he was a concentration camp survivor. One of the things I learned from my parent’s is that everyone’s perspective is accurate to their world. To respect that and understand that is critical to be effective with people. Listening to clients, asking questions, not presuming anything. I need to know what issues they are wrestling with when they sit in their offices day after day. I need to know as much about their perspective as possible. That communication ultimately will help me bring valuable solutions."

Family business: "My childhood helps me help private companies run better every day."

"I grew up in a family business. My father worked Sundays certain times of the year. He knew his customers needed his help and service, and he did it with a smile on his face. He taught me if you were loyal, honest and worked hard, your customers would reciprocate. With most private companies that I have dealt with, there is a little bit of emotion that goes into the decisions that are made. I understand the personal side, such as succession planning, that my clients are facing because I lived and breathed it. I use that perspective to help clients understand the ramifications of their decisions."