Peter Drucker, one of the most influential people in the innovative management age passed away on November 11, 2005, at the age of 95. The world will never be the same because of him.

While I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Drucker, I think it's safe to say that his style had a huge impact on my life and the way I manage and lead. He stressed the importance of treating non-management as highly valued individuals, something that to most of us now is a no-brainer, but years ago, this was an amazingly innovative idea.

It's amazing to think about how much times have changed because of this one fantastic individual. Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electic, credits a conversation with Mr. Drucker as the reason for his strategy to get out of any business that GE couldn't be number 1 or number 2 in, one of the reasons for GE's resurgence in the 90s and for it's continued success in this millenium.

He also wrote a slew of amazing books that have helped me become the leader I am, including the recently published Daily Drucker, which is great to get bite sized portions of insight. It's a book I highly recommend for all leader and managers. It's easy to read, and is quite impactful for leaders of all skill levels and experience.

In closing, I feel fortunate to have experienced much of Mr. Drucker's richness by reading many of his outstanding articles and books. My wish is for the spirit of Peter Drucker live on in all of us as we manage and lead our teams, our lives, and ourselves. Thanks for the memories!

Phil Gerbyshak leads a team of IT help desk professionals in Milwaukee, WI, and finds that sharing his knowledge is a crucial component in his success as a leader and as a person. Phil's personal philosophy is paraphrased from Tim Sanders' fantastic book Love is the Killer App: "Share your knowledge, your network, and your love. The rest will follow." Read more of Phil's ideas at http://makeitgreat.org