Saying goodbye to Tom Miller – or – what do you do when Superman retires?
Making work look like fun
Tom Miller has announced that he will retire from Sage North America on March 29, 2013.
This is not new news – it’s been out there for a while now. It took me a while to figure out what I would like to say.
I would like to use this space and honor his legacy.
Personally I’ve always been the type of guy that likes to sharpen the saw by reading smart ideas by smart people presented in new and interesting ways. Yet, while reading these sources of information and inspiration, I’m always reminded of the classics – Zig Ziglar, Dale Carnegie, Peter Drucker, Napoleon Hill – which, to me, are the fundamental sources upon which most other business philosophies are built upon.
I am not going out too far on a limb to say: Tom Miller is the embodiment of these fundamental sources of business inspiration.
He’s a living, breathing example of those classics.
I would challenge anyone to name a time where they interacted with Tom and didn’t come away richer for the experience. Whether it’s direct advice or, more likely than not, you walking away thinking you came up with a great idea even though he skillfully planted it, fed and watered it and helped it grow.
Tom has mastered the unbelievably difficult skill of helping others reach their potential. He’s not in the fish-handing-out business, he’s in the teaching-people-to-fish business.
He embodies the positive thinking, get ‘er done, 1 + 1 can equal 3 mentality that I aspire to maintain. Tom doesn’t see obstacles and problems, he sees opportunities and exciting challenges. Tom believes in the power of free enterprise and the ability of sharp business owners to find ways to create value for their customers, their partners and themselves.
And, as a software reseller, you can rest easy knowing that Tom has walked a mile (or two) in your shoes. He understands what it means to hump for sales and to motivate teams and to struggle to find talent and to keep customers happy.
He’s been there and done that. He knows your pain and, when he commiserates with you, you believe it and you feel it.
As such a staunch channel advocate, he has overseen a very difficult transition as Sage has made controversial (some would say necessary) moves to a more aggressive and more self-deterministic future that has changed the Sage channel dynamic. During this period, he has continued to advocate for Sage and the future of Sage while also continuing to provide a rich and deep set of partner services to help Sage channel partners transition to become Firms of the Future and learn self-sustaining skills in the Sales, Marketing and Consulting Academies.
Partners that have taken advantage of these – and other – programs provided by Tom’s team have come away stronger for the experience. I know that my company has.
Tom is also sharp as a tack. He understands the big picture and can dive down into the details when necessary. Present him with a problem that has been plaguing you for a while and he can distill it to its essence in a single conversation.
And he’ll have you walking away thinking you solved it on your own and the two of you just had a nice long chat.
I have only known Tom for a few brief years and – mostly due to his personal charisma and style – I consider him a teacher, a mentor and a friend. I feel fortunate to have met him, to know him and to see such a class act firsthand.
Tom epitomizes the ability of one man to create a cascading positive influence in the world.
Thank you, Tom.
Robert Wood
Wayne Schulz
Peter Wolf
Thanks for putting it into words, Peter — I couldn’t agree more!
Peter, you have taken the words right out of my mouth and said them so eloquently. I remember so well the first time I met Tom. It was at the old Sage on Technology and we had scheduled a LinkedIn Meeting using the cafeteria. Tom stood at the entrance with his business cards in his left hand shaking & introducing himself to everyone who entered and he was smiling. We had given him a few minutes to address the group and he told a bit about who he was, some of his goals short & long term and he was smiling.
I left that meeting feeling like I had known Tom for many years. If my memory serves me correct he even joined a few of us who got together at one of the restaurants located in the Spectrum and he was smiling.
Since that first meeting Tom & I have had more than a few conversations about many topics, everything from the current state of Sage NA to which vice president was going to prevail in the 2012 elections.
I’m a better person for having known Tom & I will be among those who will miss him and his smile. I will miss our conversations. Our last phone call was about getting him down to Torrey Pines to watch from a private box a round of the Farmers Insurance Open. He wanted to but his schedule wouldn’t allow it. I asked him what Sage was gonna do, fire him if he took a day off?, and of course he was smiling.
To Tom I say, go enjoy your wife, children & grandchildren. There will be a huge void with you retiring & it probably will be next to impossible to find another person like you.
Now you’ll have the time to get out & play a round at Camp Pendleton so let me know when to set up that tee time and please don’t stop smiling.
Your Friend,
Bill Kizer
Great thoughts Bill! Thank you very much for sharing.
Peter, as I think you know, Tom was my first boss in the technology space when I went to work for Great Plains in 1989. His patience, persistence and gentle nudging, along with his full bodied laughter went a long way to keeping in this industry and helping me grow my skills. You have said, very eloquently, what I believe many think. I know I feel both richer and more well rounded for working with Tom and he will be missed. Dan Kraus
I am looking forward to hearing what Tom will be doing next. Whatever it is he will be a breath of fresh air for the people he is involved. I have never walked away from a conversation with Tom without feeling more energized and more optimistic than when I went in. That is such a rare quality. Superman Tom, may no one ever find your Kryptonite. May the Force be with you!
Tom, you are one of The Greats. All the way back to my Taylor Group days in the 90′s, you taught us and have been a friend and mentor. I wish you all my best as you embark on your next adventure.