Lessons From a Legend: Honoring the Legacy of Richard Meister
March 30, 2020 By the time I joined Meister Media back in 1998, CropLife® magazine’s parent company, its namesake Editorial Director Richard Meister was well-distanced from the day-to-day decision-making in the content trenches. It probably took a couple weeks before I had a chance to have a meaningful conversation with him, as I was being rapidly immersed in a market completely new to me.
But soon enough, the folks around the building began sharing some of the legendary stories of the heavy lifting he did over the years in service to the market. He wasn’t just reporting on the market, he placed himself on the inside, gaining insight and empathy with those he wrote about. It’s one of the things that appealed to me instantly about this place I work — a culture that values the contributions of content people like me, and that was established long ago by Richard Meister.
An example of the praise and encouragement Dick Meister often bestowed on editors over the years.
During my first few years, he read pretty much every word of what we did and would provide feedback. When he sent an email, more often than not it came without a subject line, so there was plenty of anxiety when it would pop up in the inbox!
His biggest thing was encouraging us to be fearless. When critiques came directly to me from him, it was more often a push for me to take things to the next level. Don’t just take a stand, lead the charge. Getting that permission directly from Mr. Meister meant the world to me, and it’s the way I’ve tried to lead our editorial group over the years — and hopefully honor his legacy.
When we started our “Retail Week” video program, Dick was a big supporter despite our early struggles to find a footing, and wondering if the work was worth the time. The last work-related email I received from him was a “thank you” for a birthday greeting we recorded in honor of his 100th birthday last year, and continued encouragement.
Thanks for everything, Dick. We’ll keep the editorial fire burning bright!
Subscribe Today For
