On September 19, 2019, we lost a really great person. Edward A. Jacobson, Ph.D., was a psychologist, author, instructor, and coach. I met him through my role at Kinder Institute of Life Planning where he was one of our lead trainers. He was brilliant and brought his wit and wisdom into every situation. His book Appreciative Moments: Stories and Practices for Living and Working Appreciatively captures his teachings and his way of being. Ed had an enormous impact on the lives of many individuals, including me, and I had the privilege of hearing 20 or so of those stories during a virtual celebration of life gathering held for members of the financial life planning community on October 8, 2019. Here’s what I shared:
Ed Jacobson was my mentor. It’s heartening to hear so many people share the same sentiment. He had a knack for making a deep connection with each person he trained at the Kinder Institute. And while I only knew him for the past year and a half, I had many opportunities to work with him, including two 5-Day programs, three mentorships, Virtual Life Planning Masteries, and countless email correspondences. In every instance he entered with appreciation whether it was on a Zoom call or in an email or in the training room. It all began with appreciation and he trained us to go into every client meeting thinking about what it is that we like most about the other person. To envision a successful meeting. To be completely present. I’ve incorporated this practice into my life and it’s one of those gifts that keeps on giving. Ed’s bestowed many gifts on me and none of them were material. He was the perfect kind of mentor someone who took me under his wing, encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone, and to step into the bigger shoes that he already could see me wearing. He helped me see my own value as a coach and Life Planner, helped me brainstorm a business model that incorporated EVOKE and my coaching tools, introduced me to mind-mapping, encouraged me to build a support network of small business owners, and encouraged my development as both a Life Planner and a Kinder Institute Trainer. I really felt like I was one of his family when he introduced me to [his wife] Jody for a coaching session on marketing strategy. Ed Jacobson wanted me to succeed. To be successful. In many ways Ed was my Life Planner, he understood my desires and the life I wanted to craft for myself and he gave me the confidence to get there. More than being a mentor Ed demonstrated that he was a friend. I remember the last mentorship call he and I were on together. [It was September 3.] He wished me a Happy [Wedding] Anniversary. He was one of a handful of people to do so. That meant everything to me. Thank you, Ed.
Reflecting on the role that Ed played in my life over the last year and a half, I am struck by its depth. Ed knew me better than most. I suspect that many people that knew Ed felt this way. What a privilege to create such strong bonds with so many people in one’s life. When I told my mom of the tribute we held for Ed, she said “some people are special to many.” That was Ed—special to many.
If you’d like a glimpse into Ed’s world, please take a look at what his wife Jody shared on their blog, including a chapter from his book on “envisioning your life fully lived.” https://jacobsoncoachingandconsulting.com/in-memoriam-how-do-you-want-to-be-remembered/