Some Thoughts on Alan Hall

• Posted by Steve Spencer

Article posted on Feb 20

Yesterday afternoon I attended the Mountain West Capital Networks’ luncheon to honor Alan Hall as the Entrepreneur of the year.

I am sure there are probably several news articles, or blog posts that will be covering Alan and all of his business successes at the moment.  But that is not what I will be touching on here.  That is not what I found so striking about Alan.

Unfortunately, although Alan somewhat, and have had a small number of discussions with him, I can’t claim to know him very well personally, so much of what I say here is from the perspective of an impressed observer, rather than a long-time friend.  But I have been none the less touched by Alan (rather he knows it or not.)

My first exposure to Alan was at a Funding Universe Speed Pitching event in Kaysville.  I sat at a table with Alan, and a student from Weber State that is part of the program he has helped star there to foster Entrepreneurs.  I was so struck by the talent of the young student.  But I was more struck by Alan’s interaction with the Entrepreneurs presenting to us.  Not just by the insight of his questions… I have sat with a lot of folks with great business insight.  But by his kindness.  Alan was gentle, and supportive to everyone.  Even if there were areas that most of us might have berated them for their lack of preparedness, Alan gently and, dare I say, lovingly nudged them in the right direction.

Since then I have heard wonderful stories of Alan helping businesses, programs, and the like.  I don’t wish to diminish this at all, but I am guessing that many of you have heard or read about it lately anyway… so I want to move on to something else.

I have had the true pleasure of hearing Alan speak many times.  the most striking thing about hearing Alan speak is not the fire in my belly that I walk away wit, or the great business ideas, or the efficiencies I now understand.  When I hear Alan speak I walk away, really and truly knowing that I need to be a better person.  Alan has a wonderful way of giving you relevent business advice while using words that have unfortunately become so foreign int he setting.  Words like Love, Kindness, Charity, and God.  This is not to imply that everyone needs to share Alan’s religious views to walk out of the room really touched.  He is just a good man.

At the end of the luncheon people were lining up to shake Alan’s hand.  I was one of them.  When Alan turned to me he looked me in the eye, grasped my hand, and asked me how I was doing.  That may sound like nothing, but it was.  The way he held the handshake, the eye contact, his tone.  I knew that Alan was not just saying, “hi.”  He had given me his full attention.  It was just he and I for that moment… he made me feel important enough to be fully focused on.  I knew that when he asked how I was, that he really and truly wanted to know.

As I watched, Alan treats everyone that way.  He cares, and loves, and makes sure that you can feel that he knows that you, and everyone are important enough to really gets his attention.

Alan, thank you.  Thank you for always showing me, and all of us what we can and should be.

Congratulations.  You deserve it.

• 4 Comments
• Posted in Events