On April 7 I lost a former client as well as a friend and mentor.
The world lost one of its truly great men, Brian Klemmer.
A few days after Brian’s death, Brad Berens asked me about him. After going on about Brian and his impact for some time, I apologized to Brad for over sharing. His response was something to the effect of “A life well lived deserves to be memorialized.”
With that in mind, here is a small contribution to the memorial of a great man.
Last night I had the privilege of gathering with hundreds of his family, friends, and associates to celebrate his live and continue the process of memorializing him at a service in San Mateo.
Like many such events, they serve to reconnect us with people we haven’t seen or spoken to in years. Beyond Brian’s family and his staff, whom I expected to see and reconnect with, I ran into people throughout the event with whom I worked at Mattel, friends I served with at a non-profit in the 90’s, even current colleagues. And in each case, it was, “Wow, didn’t expect to see you here! How did you know Brian?” from one or the other of us.
A better question might have been “How did Brian impact your life?” for he indeed did impact many lives. Even more remarkable is the fact that he planned to continue impacting lives well after his death.
You see, Brian Klemmer wasn’t normal. He didn’t think the way most people think, he didn’t make decisions like most people make decisions, and he certainly didn’t plan like most people plan. Brian Klemmer had a mission that he knew would require more than his lifetime to achieve:
“Creating bold ethical leaders who will create a world that works for everyone with no one left out.”
And in his mind that required a 500-year plan. Think about that. That goes far beyond any business school succession planning. When I first heard Brian mention his 500-year plan, I assumed it was metaphorical. However, the more I got to know Brian, the more obvious it became to me that it wasn’t.
There are a lot of words that could be used to describe Brian that would be true. From brilliant, committed, focused, responsible to bull-headed, challenging, and blunt. But one word that didn’t fit Brian was false. One of the most amazing things about the man is that he endeavored to apply and live out the values and characteristics that he espoused. When Brian said he had a 500-year plan, he had exactly that.
My insight is that who he was impacted me far more than what he did. Or perhaps another way to say it is that who he was is what actually impacted me through what he did.
One of Brian’s many axioms was “Live with Purpose, Die with Honor.”
And he did. Rarely have I engage with another person who was so consistently playing the Game of Life full-out. He was almost always “in the moment.” My experience of Brian is that when he was with you, he was with YOU. For a moment saying hello in a hallway, on the phone, or in a half day strategy session – Brian was present, engaged; here, now. And yet he never lost the ability to project, dream, and live on the edge of the impossible.
Another impossible to miss characteristic of Brian was his abiding faith. Brian professed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and unlike many I’ve met that profess the same, Brian’s faith wasn’t exclusive, nor simple. Even with strong beliefs, Brian was willing to embrace and live in the tension of the mystery of life. He was a man on a journey of discovery.
Brian was one of those rare & unique individuals who loved people enough to spend his life working to help them start their own journey of discovery without demanding to determine where it led.
Brian left us with a stellar team to carry on his vision, his work, and his purpose at K&A. I’ve had the privilege and honor of working with, training with, and learning from many of them.
Roma, Sona, Janet, Centa, Scott, Kim-michelle, Kimberly, John, Brian M., Steve, & Patrick – I have been honored to know and work with each of you and I have no doubt that you will not only carry forth Brian’s Legacy, but continue to raise the bar.
Brian was responsible for the life he lived. He expects no less from us.
Brian Klemmer
Compassionate Samurai
March 30, 1950 – April 7, 2011