A thousand thanks for AFLAC!

I was asked to give an award to my dear friend El Tee on Saturday night at the annual AFLAC State Awards party. I took advantage of this situation and used my time on stage, all 3 minutes and 10 seconds of it to thank everyone. The people that I work with are truly amazing and every day that they extend themselves for me to keep my business up and running is a choice that they make. I wanted them to know that my family appreciates their efforts. It is always a great party and it felt great to be back. So many people have asked me about my little speech that I am just going to post it.

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Welcome everyone! Don’t you all look beautiful this evening? I’m sorry all you DIVAS look beautiful and the DRAKES you look very dapper. It is great to see all of you. It is great to be back.

I want to take this time to thank all of you. Since my diagnosis with breast cancer in July each and every one of you has enhanced my life and the lives of my family in some way. You have collectively had my back.

Was it a hug or an email, a funny card or a card with rounded corners and an embossed foil seal (Paul Mueller you know I am speaking to you!) Did you take on a recruit? Did you send flowers, art work, goodies, text messages, phone messages, email, picture mail or a good old fashioned letter? Did you bring food, visit me on ‘house arrest’, and give me new pajamas (after seeing my prison garb on house arrest?) Did you play poker, bake pizza or ‘check your boobies?’ (Or in Rhyno’s case do all three at the same time!) Did you help a claimant of mine? Did you graciously leave one of my accounts, assuring them that they would be taken care of? Did you honor me and get yourself in for an exam or a mammogram, encourage the women in your life to do so? Yes, you all did.

At my lowest point were you present ready to accept my testimony, available to witness my transformation, and assist me finally handing my life over? You were. (Is Hutch in the house? Here’s where I think I am supposed to say, “Can I get an AMEN?!)

Most importantly you prayed. You prayed for my girls that they would not become victims. You prayed that my husband would have peace and you prayed for me, that I would be healed……healed in so many ways beyond this silly and very annoying cancer.

You all did this and I thank you.

Now I need to talk just a little bit about this company. AFLAC. What is it? A corporation? A stock that is traded on the NYSE? An outfit in Columbus on the Chattahoochee? Our collective paychecks? Yep, it is that and so much more.

At the beginning of this odyssey when in one day everything came to a halt: work, driving, and life it all stopped and I began what is sure to be “a long strange trip” down the cancer path.

What is it that I hear from corporate from the CEO of this company Paul Amos II? I hear this (should I do it with the accent?) “Tell her whatever she needs she only need ask. We have so many connections in the cancer world. Where ever she needs to go. Any physician she needs to see. We will make it happen.”

What do I hear from the Territory, from Les and his team the same, “Whatever you need, you need only ask.” (no accent needed here unless it’s the accent of a North Dakota Fighting Sioux and I can do that one too (Yeah sure, ya betcha, I got a scoop shovel and a back-end loader.)

From Paul and Sarah Robedeau I heard, “You are so courageous. If there is anything we can do for you at the state office or personally do not hesitate to ask.”

From my RSC, well there is really not enough I can say about Kim Moger, but she is a saint on earth. She has never wavered, she has never faltered. She has my back. Within a week of my diagnosis letters went out to all my accounts. All questions and concerns were re-routed to the Regional office. It was a seamless transition for my clients and she orchestrated it all. I did not lose one account while I was out. My accounts were informed. They were given a servicing agent who started communicating with them right away. Simply put it was “Leadership below the water line” and Kim Moger has an incredibly deep keel.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the other Divas who have stepped up, circled their very fancy and bedazzled wagons and took care of me and my business. Nancy Waldner: Who took my announcement rather hard because on July 11th at our leadership team meeting she thought I was going to announce that I was pregnant! Kate Hanson, Teresa Higgins, Paula Wax, Hilary Cahill and Adrienne Herom (the Dowager Diva!) and my team.

My District carried on and realized personal bests and great successes in my absence. Mieke Brouwer Triple Crowned; Jean Christensen was ‘Rookie of the Year” and accepted a promotion to DSC. Jeffrey Smith hit every mark in the Fireball series and my vets Sindy Staggers and Mitch Pumpian who through rain, sleet and snow just kept on keeping on.

All of you, every single one of you had made my life and my family’s life better in so many ways. I am proud to be a part of this company and member of this team.

There is one person who stands with distinction. When asked to help her only response was, “consider it done.” She took my refugees in as her own. Not one goal was missed, not one recruit was lost. She ran two districts that amounted to a $1,169,090 district with grace, selflessness and compassion. She met them where they were and lead them to personal bests.

She FAMEd 4 times, she went on the state convention, she wrote $250K in personal production and she trained successful agents that have realized goals far loftier than they expected. She prepped one for promotion, and along with Kim, was constantly available to me for any reason. She did this while raising her two fabulous boys and occasionally finding humor in the situation.

My district, in my absence, hit quota both 3rd and 4th quarters. At year end my district was lucky #13. Last on the list of Washington West to hit quota at 101.94%.

This special award, designed especially for her will not be found in the Honor Club Booklet. There is no bonus associated with it. There is no trip that she will win (unless you consider a whirlwind tour of Woodinville a trip!)

She has seen me through my darkest days, taken care of my girls when the pain was too much, taken my husband out when he needed an out, gone to chemo with me and brought me fuzzy socks because “they make you feel good and we just like things that make us feel good.”

She has been my sounding board, my shoulder to cry on, my champion and my friend. Her enthusiasm is contagious, her smile is unforgettable and she has an indominable spirit.

Please help me recognize a true Diva as we honor Lisa Thompson with this award.