Heartfelt Moves: Love, Kindness and Introspection
By Keith Sherman, Business Development at Swartz and Associates
2024 was a year of heartfelt moves for me.
In early December of 2023, my beloved Dad passed away at the age of 98. A life well lived indeed.
I was delighted and honored to be asked by my older sister and brother to eulogize this incredible man, my mentor, my hero, my Dad. So, as you might imagine, I spent that month interviewing family, friends and researching what my Dad stood for, accomplished and legacy he left with us. We had a celebration of life in early January 2024 at Temple B’Nai Israel in Little Rock, Arkansas, where I grew up.
During this same period, I was still in the afterglow of our first son getting married, the wedding officiated by one of my best friends since 1980, David Swartz. On top of that, I was considering stepping away from almost four decades in the marketing and advertising business. Talk about a full range of emotions!
There are no strangers.
Dr. Jerome Kalman Sherman (Jerry as most folks knew him) lived life to the fullest. He never met a stranger, he loved meeting people and building relationships, he was always curious and finding ways to make a difference in their lives. Reflecting on his life reminded me to do the same in both my personal and professional life.
I took these lessons to heart when my dear friend David Swartz called me to see if I would be interested in joining him and his brother, Don Swartz, at Swartz + Associates, and I accepted the opportunity. Working with folks I’ve known for decades, and incorporating the things I enjoy most – building relationships, making a difference, being true to myself, learning and continuing to lead a life of service – was a perfect fit.
Love, Kindness and Introspection
Today, I have been with Swartz + Associates for over a year, thriving by reconnecting in a big way to my hometown, Dallas-Fort Worth, and other markets where I’ve lived, worked and made a difference. It’s fun, fills my soul and I am good at it. Oh, did I mention that the newlyweds just bought a home in Kansas City, where Swartz + Associates has its home office?
Not only has it been a year of significant change, but it has shown me what a difference love, kindness and introspection can create.