CFC Blog #115: 20 Years Ago: My Mom

I have always considered Pip to be one of the most supportive and positive people that I have ever known... now I'm sure those great qualities are very simply innate, BUT... after reading this post, something tells me Pip's encouraging personality was nurtured and inspired in large part by his mother.

Pip, although I never got to meet her, I have a feeling her wonderful & reassuring words and admirable actions live on through you each day. Thank you for sharing this piece.

- Amanda 

20 Years Ago: My Mom 

In 1999, I took a job at UBS in a high profile position Global Tech Strategist.

It was a sensational sensational job and I was very lucky to have that opportunity. Without that job, I wouldn't know about 95% of the people reading this very note.

 I think I was excited about the job because I knew it would force me to grow. As just one example: I would be on TV routinely.

The story below came to mind last week after Janet Chung at Restore's Chinese New Years dinner (photo attached) asked me if I ever get nervous. The quick answer is “YES! Not often, but YES!”

 I shared that I was not this comfortable with people back 20 years ago. I was far more self-conscious then! When I had to make my first TV appearance, I was terrified. I stayed up restlessly through the night memorizing numbers and fearing that the interviewer would try to make me look bad. I had seen too many 60 Minutes episodes and was convinced that it would be an ambush. 

It took about three TV appearances to realize that it was just the opposite: even though they had no idea who I was, they tried to make me look like a genius so their viewers would think they were watching the right show!

But I didn’t get that yet.

 I survived the interview, and remember even thinking that I did pretty darn well. I recalled all the numbers I memorized so I could at least appear “smart."  I didn’t get picked off. And I didn’t freeze. And I didn’t babble. I was crisp and to the point. I was alert. I didn’t get blown up or blow myself out!

 Wooooooo Whooooooooo

 Fifteen minutes after the interview, I was on the Park Avenue sidewalk strolling in the crisp spring air and I called Kelly:

 “How was I?”

 After a five second pause, she offered:

 “How do you think you were?”

 Oh boy!

 I hung up quickly.

 What to do? What to do?

I think I called the wrong person.  And maybe Kelly and I do tooooo much reflection  Hah!

Hmmmm…..

So, I called my mom.

 Before I could ask “How did I do?” she interjected, “You were fantastic!!! I didn’t like that tie they put on you but YOU were fantastic.” 

(Pip aside: they didn't pick out my tie, but choosing an unfashionable tie was the least of my concerns) 

All was well.

 A week later, I received the videotape from Bloomberg that clearly showed I had survived and had sounded smart. Kelly was wrong! Mom was right!

With each appearance and subsequent review of that first VHS tape, I think more and more that, nah, I was not fantastic… at all… 

But 20 years later, I still remember this unconditional and blind love from my mom.