When I met Bob Berk in June 2007, I was a bright-eyed college graduate, very nervous about entering the “real world”. I had received a job offer to work in Morgan Stanley’s Private Wealth group, and was in the midst of trying to decipher whether this was the right career-path for me. I had spoken at length with my family about this decision, but felt I was still not ready to accept the offer, so a family-friend suggested I speak with Bob. I set up a meeting, and we met one afternoon on a park bench near Oak Street beach. I knew Bob was very accomplished in the business world, so I expected him to say what all of my other confidants had said: “Morgan Stanley! How can you pass that up? Take the job!”. Instead of pushing me in one direction or the other, Bob took the time to really get to know me – who I was as a person, what I liked and disliked, my core personality traits, and what might be holding me back from making such an important decision. Bob pushed me to think in ways I hadn’t before, and, at the end of the meeting, left me even more confused than I was when I first sat down with him. But I believe this was by design – Bob wanted me to examine the decision for me, not on behalf of my family, friends, or anyone else. As the eldest child of three, this was something new for me. I was used to being the “pleaser” and doing everything “by the book”. This was, perhaps, the source of my inability to follow my own heart – I wanted to follow other’s plans for me before thinking the plans I had for myself. That meeting, on a June day in 2007, was the first of many meetings I have had with Bob, and I feel so fortunate to have him as a friend. He has provided constant advice and support through the 4-plus years I have known him, and has always pushed me to be the best person I can be. He is always non-judgmental, and he has helped me understand myself. He has given me the courage to break away from others’ expectations, particularly my family’s, to which I have often been very tightly tethered. Bob has opened my eyes to new experiences, such as the Possibilities Seminar which was an entire weekend devoted to personal growth. His devotion to his family and passion for his work are inspiring to me. More than anything, he has given me the gift of seeing how incredible I am, and how wonderful it is for me to be me. For that, and for his friendship, I am eternally grateful. Laura Navarre, Graduated from Notre Dame, coached. ChicagoTribune. Advertising.
