08/20/2026
One of the most important lessons I ever received came from a priest who mentored me:
“Don’t judge anyone. You don’t know what happened to them last night.”
That advice has stayed with me through many years of ministry, community involvement and work with clients. After college, I spent 10 years in youth ministry. For the past several years, I have also helped with retreats and confirmation candidates at my church. Over that time, I have seen people experience some of life’s best and worst moments.
-Illness.
-Tragic deaths.
-Unexpected loss.
-Personal struggles that may never be visible to the people around them.
Those experiences taught me that we don’t always need to have the perfect words or an immediate answer. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is be there. That lesson has influenced how I serve clients, too. When a family has lost a loved one, their attention should be focused on grieving and healing, NOT worrying about their finances. I cannot remove the pain of a loss. But thoughtful preparation can help reduce some of the financial uncertainty surrounding it. It can give a family more space to focus on the people who need them most.
My community work has also reminded me that meaningful relationships rarely develop through one conversation. For approximately 16 years, I have been involved with IRN, a local networking group. I currently serve as president of one chapter and help another chapter as an area director. As someone who is naturally introverted, traditional prospecting never felt natural to me. Cold calling and knocking on doors was very difficult. IRN gave me the opportunity to see the same people each week, listen to their stories and build trust over time. Those relationships have not only helped me grow professionally, but I am equally proud when I see other members form connections, support one another and grow their own businesses.
Community is not built by being the loudest person in the room.
It is built by continuing to show up.
👀This Saturday, the next post in our series features Staff Manager, James Schleicher, sharing why the Cleveland North team is approaching this campaign differently and revealing the next part of what we are planning for the fall.
Follow the Cleveland North crew to see how each story connects.
Proud to be part of the Cleveland North team at Western & Southern Life.
Follow the Cleveland North crew:
Gary Caluducan
Michael Cheslock, FSCP, RICP
Patrick Dulzer
James Schleicher
Dominic Piunno Jr.
Leo Cronin
Garrett Sparks
Cody Bevis
&SouthernLife
