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Excerpts
from Stephen Folan’s speech as President of TriCountyIIAA
Stephen Folan
President |
Many people
have asked for me to print the speech
that I gave at my installation in May.
Here it is with thanks to anyone from
whom I stole a line or two…
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I started on the Nassau IIAA Board with
some people whose tenure seems so long
ago, including Stu Sydlow, Steve Dooley
and Joe Muscarella. In the 8 years that
I’ve been associated with the board,
I found that the executive committee and
the directors always do a fantastic job
for our members. I’m not worried
about having a successful term because
I have a phenomenal group of individuals
to help me, and most importantly, I have
Pat Calvert.
There are two items that I want to accomplish
while president of our association. One
is to get more young people involved in
our admirable industry. As Steve Spiro
says, we’ve become too male, pale
and stale. We need fresh blood to keep
our businesses and our organization thriving.
Secondly, during our lobbying trips to
Albany and Washington, I realize that
we are one of numerous groups that stop
by our legislators’ offices to grab
ten minutes of face time in order to plead
our case on issues affecting our membership.
This year we have a plan to also meet
with them locally to discuss our concerns
with them again.
Two stories about how I got to the podium
tonight. Both involve Anne, my outstanding
wife. Oddly enough, my insurance career
started while I was collecting no-fault
benefits after a serious car accident
when Anne and I were 18. She was nearly
scalped, and was in St. Francis Hospital
for a week. I broke my pinkie. I don’t
know which upset me more - almost killing
my girlfriend or totaling my 4-speed Mustang.
I couldn’t work as a laborer with
a broken finger, so my father said, “Why
don’t you work up at the office?”
It was February, and working indoors sounded
appealing. Thirty years later, I’m
still there.
continued
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Now let me tell you how
I came to be a director of what was then Nassau
IIAA. At a membership meeting in 2000, Steve Dooley
asked me if I would like to join the board. I told
Doodles that I had to decline because my wife was
suffering through chemotherapy treatments for breast
cancer. The next year she was back to her old self,
and I told Steve I was ready to help out. It will
be ten years this November that Annie has fought
and is winning this nasty battle. Ironically, Steve
contracted cancer shortly thereafter, and sadly,
he wasn’t as lucky. However, his life of service
to others is still an inspiration to me. At his
wake, I told his mother that Steve was responsible
for getting me involved with TriCounty. With that
sly smile on her face, she responded, “Didn’t
he like you?”
I recently found out that another special friend
of mine has been diagnosed with melanoma, and is
beginning her fight to beat this hideous disease.
I know that speeches at these events are usually
about insurance, but thinking about Annie &
Steve made me realize that maybe there is a more
important message to deliver.
Last week at his installation as chair of IIABNY,
Lane Rubin mentioned some important attributes of
leadership. He cited attitude, change and character.
Well, three words I live by to make me happy are
lie, cheat and steal.
Lie…you
have to take the time to lie next to the ones you
love. Be close to your family and friends. Lie in
the grass once in a while and watch the clouds float
by.
Steal….sometimes you
have to steal some time for yourself. While dreaming
of tomorrow, don’t sacrifice today. No one
on his deathbed ever said he wished he had spent
more time at his desk. Don’t miss the important
things in your life.
And cheat….don’t
cheat yourself. Stand up for what you believe in,
and don’t ever compromise your values.
In the race to be better and best, we sometimes
lose sight of just being. We put so much effort
in the struggle to climb the ladder of success.
Just be careful that when you get to the top, that
your ladder isn’t leaning against the wrong
wall.
Many people continually strive to be happy. They
think if they just get that bigger house, they’ll
be happy. If they get that more expensive car, land
that big account, they’ll be happy. They don’t
realize that happy just walked past them wearing
their loafers and singing Itsy-Bitsy Spider.
I’ll leave you with the words of that famous
philosopher, Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty
fast. If you don’t stop and look around once
in a while, you could miss it.” |
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