How?

In times of tragedy, it's an understandable question...

Why?

Why him?

Why her?

Why this?

Why now?

It's a question that comes straight from the heart, but one that can send you in somersaults tumbling down a deep, deep rabbit hole.

A hole so deep and dark that you may never find the light you're seeking.

Changing the Question

Over the years, I find myself asking a different question.

Instead of why?, I ask myself how?

How can I help him, her or them?

How can I ease the pain of those left behind?

How can we all gather together and start the long process of distilling our pain into wisdom?

Unfortunately, I now find myself once again asking, How?

Yesterday

Yesterday was the first Monday in over a year-and-a-half that I didn't publish this newsletter.

I preferred people hear the news first from somewhere other than here:

Over the weekend, Greg Knipp died in his sleep.

He had been experiencing severe migraines.

Perhaps he was the victim of an aneurysm.

But that doesn't matter.

Greg Knipp is dead.

Who was Greg Knipp?

He started as my boss and became my friend.

Only sixty years old, Greg seemed to have it all: physically & mentally, emotionally & spiritually.

Greg was the devoted husband of the fabulous Frances.

Proud father of their two boys.

He was also the CEO of Dieste.

A groundbreaking ad agency.

One long known for connecting with multicultural audiences with respect, intelligence and wit.

How?

Neither tall, bombastic nor flashy, at first glance, one might find themselves asking, How?

How did he do it?

How did he find himself in such a position?

How did he deliver the goods?

This is how:

He Grew Business by Growing People

Greg had the respect of his clients.

More importantly, he had the love of his team.

Because he cared.

Many successful careers have taken root in the rich culture Greg & Tony Dieste continually cultivated and tilled.

I certainly benefitted from my time there under their stewardship.

This growth was also reflected in their results.

Some of the best in all the Collective, a thriving division of Omnicom.

A Quiet Star that Shone Bright

In an industry that feels increasingly rudderless, Greg offered a vision.

Listening intently to the team and their ideas.

And providing them the tools and environment to fulfill it.

While they didn't have Don Draper, his Dieste team knew they had something far better:

A real leader.

That rare Level 5 sort of servant leader that too many of us have only encountered in case studies and business books.

In an industry that seems to go out of its way today to step on its own two feet, Greg was the most damn competent leader I've ever encountered.

How He Got it Done

He knew his stuff. And he got the job done.

Calmly. Quietly. Humbly.

His accomplishments didn't require such humility, yet, he often let others take the spotlight.

But when the chips were down, he was our beacon. The light that shone the direction forward toward success. Giving the team confidence that while there may be turbulence ahead that "we" would all come through it ok.

And while Greg would be the first one to say that he didn't particularly enjoy public speaking, when there was trouble, he tossed his preferences aside to gather the troops and give them the straight story. Because, again, he cared. And that made us care about him.

Now How?

Without his leadership, what's the way forward?

Fortunately, Greg built a team full of leaders.

And he had a wonderful partnership with Tony Dieste and Stacie Davis, the long-time agency CFO.

Upon receiving the news, they were there to comfort Frances.

And they'll continue to supply her with all the support she'll need.

Knowing that this won't be easy, but that over time it will get easier.

In addition, Tony & Stacie made all the calls that they possibly could to the team, including alums like myself. Asking if we could reach out to others they knew Greg would want to know. Our text chains have filled up quickly with stories of affection and appreciation.

And in the end, everyone will answer the call to both preserve Greg's legacy and pay it forward.

Because that's how Greg would want it.

And that's how we're going to do it.

No question why.

It's now only a question of How?

And thanks to Greg's example, we're already answering the call.

Wegs