Lesson's From a Legend- Greg Lemanski Tribute

If you grew up in the insurance business in the greater Lansing area, you were smacked with some tough news last week — the passing of a legend, Greg Lemanski, one of the greatest men many of us have ever been privileged to know.

We literally called him The Legend, as many of us grew up in this business idolizing him — initially for his incredible sales results, and later for his kindness, humility, and the love he shared with the world. We truly don’t know if we will ever see a better man.

I believe deaths are a time for reflection — for thinking about what we learned from the individual. My learnings from Greg felt worthy of writing down.

Have you ever had the chance to work with someone so special that you remember in vivid detail moments that would normally seem small or insignificant? I remember so many interactions with Greg, simply because I knew I was being blessed with nobility and wisdom far beyond most humans. Sound crazy? Just wait. I bet I’m not the only one who reflects on Greg’s life at this level.

I was privileged to work with The Legend indirectly for about ten years, starting from the very beginning of my career as a 20-year-old college intern. He was the kind of guy you heard about before you ever met him — and you were nervous to meet him. But then, you experienced the real Greg, and you realized how special he truly was.

So here they are — my lessons from The Legend. Please reflect on your own memories of Greg too — the world deserves to hear them.

Always Take the Cookie I walked into Greg’s office as a young buck to meet with him about systems, and his team member offered me a cookie. I said, “No thanks.” When we stepped into Greg’s office, he said to me, “Mason, always take the cookie, buddy. You can throw it away when you leave, but make them feel good by accepting the offer.” He said it, as always, in the kindest, most genuine soft tone imaginable. But he was a leader — and he knew it was part of his role to pass on wisdom to the next generation. It’s our job now to do the same.

Always Show Up — Show to Serve and Learn Greg always showed up to every meeting with his notepad, taking vigorous notes and asking questions of anyone who spoke. His sales results were always better than anyone’s — not because he cared about the sale, but because he cared about people. He was inquisitive and always looking to solve your problem.

He always looked sharp and was ready to serve anyone he came into contact with. When he spoke to you, he made you feel like the most interesting person in the room. He didn’t overload you with advice, but he was never shy about helping you and sharing his wisdom. He struck the perfect balance between sharing insights and asking great questions — because he was built to serve.

You Can Do Both So many times in my career, I’ve heard people say, “I’m focused on being a great mom/dad right now — I’m not committed to my career.” Great — but is being a great parent showing your kids how to suck at your job, your fitness, and your health? That’s always how I’ve felt.

Greg put it much more eloquently. I once asked him how he managed to be a peak performer in everything. He was always fit, the best agent imaginable, and most importantly, the greatest family man I’ve ever witnessed. You could see how his beautiful family looked at him — like he was the hero he truly was.

He looked at me and simply said: “We make time for what is important to us.” That line has stuck with me for ten years. I don’t say “I’m busy” to people anymore — none of us are, if it’s truly important. Greg made time for family, his clients, his health — and I assume he said “no” to a lot of things that didn’t matter.

You Can Learn from Anyone About six months into starting my agency, Greg called me and asked if we could grab lunch — to pick my brain. To pick my brain??? You’re the Legend here, pal — but sure.

We had a memorable lunch where Greg asked me all kinds of questions. I asked him a few too, and he shared some great advice and perspective. Greg was always humble enough to keep learning — from anyone he could.

If you can’t tell by now, Greg was incredibly special to so many of us. He was a true legend, and everyone who knew him should step up and try to put a little bit of Greg back into the world — because I’m afraid there may never be another like him.

Please share your thoughts and memories of Greg in the comments so we can continue to celebrate and remember this incredible man and pass on some love to Brenda, Garrett, Quinton and Grant Lemanski