Paul Cotter
Appearances
Hidden Brain
Relationships 2.0: Become a Better Negotiator
He was no longer able to make decisions, and he couldn't handle the slightest amount of pressure. Since there was no medical explanation given for what he was going through, everyone assumed he was having a crisis of confidence, and he was told that he needed to pull himself together. My father, as you can imagine, felt totally humiliated.
Hidden Brain
Relationships 2.0: Become a Better Negotiator
After he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, he was horrified by the news, but I imagine he also felt some sense of relief. Finally, there was an explanation for his decline. And in spite of it all, he still wanted to keep working. And this is where my unsung hero stepped in. It wasn't a single person, but a whole company.
Hidden Brain
Relationships 2.0: Become a Better Negotiator
A small firm located in our hometown in Buffalo offered my father a job, knowing full well that he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. They hired my father to handle small tasks like making copies. They gave him a paycheck, which made him feel needed and valued. But more than just a job, they gave him respect, dignity, and a sense of purpose at a time when his life was falling apart.
Hidden Brain
Relationships 2.0: Become a Better Negotiator
Unfortunately, my father's disease ultimately progressed to the point where he was having problems keeping his balance. One day at work, he fell off a small stepladder. He wasn't hurt, but it was clear to everyone that it was no longer safe for him to continue working. The company told my father and my mother in a very compassionate way that it was with deep regret that they'd have to let him go.
Hidden Brain
Relationships 2.0: Become a Better Negotiator
On my father's final day on the job, they threw him a party to thank him for his service. What a beautiful, remarkable gesture that was. I wish my brothers, my sister, and I could remember the name of this company. Forty years later, we don't know if they're still in business or what happened to them. If I could see them today, I would tell them thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Hidden Brain
Relationships 2.0: Become a Better Negotiator
Your kindness during my father's final chapter will never be forgotten.