Understanding Impact

In my workshops we talk a lot about impact. Your impact might be intentional or unintentional, either way, impact is impact.  The magic thing about impact is that you will never really know the amount or type of impact you have on others. 

I was reminded of this yesterday when I learned a legend in Denver, (where I grew up) had passed away.  His name was Jerry Krantz.  He was the owner of Denver’s historic jazz club El Chapultepec, where he worked behind the bar for five decades. 

I had not thought of Jerry and “the Pec” (as regulars call it) in years.  I’m pretty sure Jerry had no idea the impact he made on me and my many friends who frequented the place.  I won’t bore you with how Jerry and the place impacted me, what I will say is even in my late teens when I first started going to there (sorry about the fake ID Jerry) I knew there was something different about Jerry and what he was creating. 

Now I can see he was living his values.  Anyone who entered the bar could feel his passion for life and jazz. Through sharing his values he created a special place where everyone was equal, if even just for a night.  I thank Jerry for his unintentional impact on me and the community of Denver and the plethora of jazz lovers who experienced the original Pec.

I found a YouTube video that captures the essence of the Pec – no frills, red leather booths, mirrors on the walls and straight up old school jazz.  Thanks Jerry for the impact you made on me, the community of Denver and the plethora of jazz lovers who experienced original the Pec. 

Remember you never know the impact you are having on someone right now.