Melvin and Janey Lack

Melvin and Janey Lack

We all have our mentors—those who inspire us in business and, in some extraordinary cases, to simply be better people in and out of the board room. For me, even as a business professional pushing the mid-century mark, that inspiration most recently came in the form of a remarkable Harvard-educated business woman named Janey Lack.

Until 2011, alongside her equally well-mannered husband Melvin, Janey presided over the Texas-based retail chain, Lacks Home Furnishings. A recent retiree, Janey’s considerable business skills were developed during another time—dare I say, a simpler time.

A time when a handshake was the equivalent of a contract.

A time when someone’s “word” meant more than a contract.

A time when people talked to each other.

Janey did much more for me than send my company, MindZoo, a check. I assure you Janey Lack never sent an email, participated in a conference call, took part in business negotiations, or attended a meeting without a keen understanding that those around her a) had the potential to help her build her business and b) represented current or prospective consumers of the Lack’s brand.

I even speculate that Janey never once visited the grocery store without a heightened awareness that her every word and deed was a possible reflection on her company’s reputation.

Though she has certainly earned her time off, what the business world now seriously lacks is Janey Lack…and others like her. I have often said, for all she has done for me, if Janey Lack needed a kidney, she could have one of mine. And I mean it.

The last I checked, both of Janey’s kidneys were in excellent working order so I appear to be in the clear for now.

Hopefully, we have all been blessed with our own “Janie Lackses” throughout our professional lives. Please visit our Hall of Fame and share your stories and celebrate your mentors. They deserve it.

Until next time, watch your language.
 

Humorist, Editorial Writer, Speaker, and Entrepreneur Randall Kenneth Jones is the creator of professional-courtesy initiative, RediscoverCourtesy.org, and the “confessional development” chronicle, AttackBunnies.com. His creative communications agency, MindZoo, is dedicated to the development of highly targeted and innovative written and visual communications for use across today’s wide spectrum of online and offline media.

If you enjoyed this editorial, your shares, likes, tweets and comments are greatly appreciated.