Entrepreneur in Residence (Archived)

All great leaders inspire.  When they leave, their legacy is profound, precious, and indelible.

Last night I attended a celebration of life for my good friend, Mark Sachvie.  Mark was a great leader in our squash community.  He died suddenly from a heart attack last Saturday while attending the memorial service of young squash player, Adrian Dudzicki.  Endless streams of friends and family poured into the White Oaks ballroom in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  We lost count at 1,000.

Mark and his wife, Cindy, developed, grew, and led the White Oaks Squash Club for 32 years.  How fitting to hear the announcement of the naming of the facility last night to be "The Mark Sachvie Squash Centre".  Mark was all that a leader could and should be… and more – caring, dedicated, relentless especially with our junior players.  His vision was crystal clear as he gave all that he had to leave his legacy in the hearts and minds of our junior players.

My squash pro and I had a rare and special moment when we stopped at the entrance of the squash court where a small shrine was made for Mark.  A young girl was sitting alone with her memories of Mark.  When she got up to leave, she was so polite and apologetic to us, even in the midst of her grief.  As she walked by, I hugged and held her, his legacy, for a few minutes as we remembered him.

As mentors and as entrepreneurs in our small businesses, we also have the ability, or dare I say, the responsibility to lead and leave a legacy by doing our share to inspire, care, and nurture our youth entrepreneurs so we can have a lasting, vibrant, and caring community as my friend, Mark, has left us.