Since we're focusing on gratitude this month, I'd like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to someone who had a great impact on my life, changing my perspective in under an hour almost 20 years ago.

It was 1993 and I was attending my first professional design conference in Miami, FL. The conference was an eye-opener in many ways – creatively, socially, professionally – and although it threw me right out of my comfort zone, I was excited to be there.

I had an opportunity to meet some of the greatest talents in the design industry and hear them speak about their ideas and perspectives. As interesting as these sessions were, they were completely overshadowined by one speaker – Scott Mednick.

At the time, Scott ran a thriving design agency in Los Angeles, doing work for the likes of Reebok and Universal Pictures. He spoke about "Creating Your Own Destiny." I know the title because I still have the cassette-tape recording of his talk on my bookshelf, even though I don't own a cassette player anymore. I listened to it so many times that I even made a back-up copy, for fear that my tape player might accidentally eat it! (Of course, this fear will be lost on anyone younger than 35…)

Prior to hearing Scott talk, it hadn’t occurred to me that I could “design” my life. I was more in the “life happens, deal with what comes your way” frame of mind at the time. Scott spoke about how he had steered his career in a direction that aligned with the things that mattered most to him, using his values and principles to guide him in his life decisions. "Wait…you mean I don't just have to do what others expect of me?" It was a revelation! It opened my eyes to so many possibilities.

Scott told stories of how he had turned down opportunities when they didn't gel with his beliefs, or even the beliefs of his staff. He relayed an example of Hugh Hefner calling him about designing something for Playboy – he was a friend and Scott thought nothing of accepting the project. When he brought it up at the next production meeting, a female staff member said she wasn't comfortable doing work for Playboy. Scott made the decision right then and there that they wouldn't accept the work. He called Hef back and said they wouldn't do it. Besides the somewhat amusing thought of being able to call Hugh Hefner up and tell him to go elsewhere, I was amazed that someone would stand up for their employees like that. Amazed and impressed.

As he continued, Scott cited a number of other examples of how his beliefs led him to certain decisions. It didn't hurt that he was a very funny and entertaining storyteller too…weaving his business advice in with his obvious passion for creativity and design. He spoke of starting new business ventures based on his observations, allowing flex hours to accommodate employees who were night owls (virtually unheard of back then) and sharing knowledge and resources freely when the cause was important. They were engaging stories to say the least. It wasn't until afterwards that I realized I had learned some important lessons too.

He ended the talk with a picture of his kids, saying that "he does what he does, how he does it, because he can't leave them a shitty world." What better reason could you ask for?

Scott Mednick has since gone on to bigger and better things – leading non-profit initiatives, producing movies like 300, Superman Returns and Where the Wild Things Are, started several more companies and generally blowing the doors off most business men. There is no doubt that his accomplishments are great, but in my book, his "why" is greater. He is a man who is led by his passions, governed by his values and inspired by his children – what a great role model for us all!

One day, I hope to be able to thank Scott in person. In the meantime, I hope that through my work with MindClings I have the chance to positively impact people's lives as much as he impacted mine. I'm sure that conference back in 1993 was just another speaking engagement for him, but it was a game changer for me. It has helped me make better decisions in business and in life, and for that, I am very thankful.

What speaker had the greatest impact on your life? Take a minute to tell us in the Comments below (then reach out to them personally and say thank you too!)