Aug
15

Educo Mourns Stephen Vernon

Posted in Running A Business

Stephen VernonAs someone who owns and runs their own business I can vouch for the fact that we can get so wrapped up in our work that we forget what matters. Well, recently my brother suddenly passed away, and that has given me some new perspective. It was a typical lazy Sunday and I was with my Creative Director when I got a series of frantic calls and texts from my family and my brothers fiancee. Once I got a hold of them I heard the devastating news. “Steve is dead”. August 15th, 2010 at about 4:00pm.

Without question this has been the most tragic experience I have ever gone through, but some good has come from it. My brother who was a high-profile attorney for a very big law firm in Chicago and worked non-stop. So much so that he almost never had time for himself or family get-togethers  – or at least not enough looking back. He was always busy with work and trying to get ahead, and it’s funny because everything that motivated him to get ahead involved spending time with his friends and family and taking adventure trips.

Knowing this about my brother gave my partner and I the idea to slow things down a bit and evaluate the way we run our business vs. the way we want to run our business. It felt very reminiscent of the movie Jerry McGuire. Fewer clients, better attention. We decided that we want to take extra special care of every client that loves working with us and that we enjoy taking care of and start to let go some of the clients that we are just not right for. Previously, we have been willing to take on projects where the time-line and budget were both tight. No more. Life is too short and uncertain to spend it killing yourself for those who just don’t appreciate you.

As I write and look at this graphic portrait of Steve, (That my Amazing Creative Director drew) I can’t help but think of all the unfulfilled possibilities and dreams that lay before him and his fiancee.

Thank you, Steve, for always believing in us and all the support over the years. We are devastated to lose our brother and our legal ninja. We will be finished re-designing his Website soon… Until then here is a simple holder page we put up in honor of him www.StephenVernon.com.

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  • Peggy Michael

    Just wanted to say that your blog is beautiful. I also wanted to wish your family all the peace and love in this world. Today is December 28, 2011, and I still think of Steve and visit the web page every now and again. I want to always remember him. I am still doing his FDCPA work and run across his name on documents. It always makes me stop and think about him. I know from my experience that he was a great attorney. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years and he was the one I trusted to go to for my own legal questions. He always helped me. What a champion he was.

  • Kerry LaCoste

    What a stirring and heartfelt testament to a life cut short. So sorry to hear about your brother Marty after your own health challenges recently. I can’t imagine what it has been like to loose a brother. Your post reminds all of us what truly is important, and that most of us forget about on our quest for what we think is important. Money can never replace family, friendship and love. Beautiful portrait as well!

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