Alan C Walter. Reflections on a truly influential life.

It is strange. When I heard the news I was not really shocked. Resisting the urge to immediately “spout forth” my feelings, I started to reflect on what my life would be without the influence of a man I had the true privilege to have met and been mentored by. Not only did I have the good fortune to be in the right place at the right time to be one of his students, I continued to take the hard decisions to put myself in a position to witness some of his greatest moments as a teacher and coach. Now I realize that this was a joint outcome of my own tenacity and the great teaching of one of the most influential men who ever lived. Without this, my life would be very different.

At 9:55am on the 27^th November 2009, Alan C Walter passed from this realm onto another. As was his life, his passing was an event he experienced with lucidness and good humor. He has not gone, just turned the page onto another chapter of his continued existence.

I recall meeting him in person for the first time back in September 2002. The course room was full of excited individuals, some who were on a continuing journey to be all they can be, others who had just started on their road to know more about themselves. Although I had heard from my fellow students that Alan’s live lectures were a not to be missed, one of a kind experience, I had heard him on tape. No big deal. Was I in for a surprise! It was a very memorable experience. From the first line he delivered, it seemed he had chosen the most relevant subject for me and was delivering it just to me. That was Alan. He was there to serve. He was there to educate. He was there to enlighten. It was one of those rare moments when you know you are in the right place at the right time. It was electrifying.

As I continued my studies of the material Alan put together on how to be all you can be, I continue to be blown away, not just by the quality of the material, but the sheer combination of its quality and vastness. Alan dedicated 18 hours a day for almost 50 years to build the greatest body of knowledge available anywhere on how to truly be in control of your own destiny. It covers almost every aspect on every plane. And what is more, it empowers the student to learn by action, to power forward and further expand their knowledge above and beyond that. Much of his later material is the product of collaborative research; the student working with the master to create the optimum learning outcome.

Of all the things Alan has passed onto me, it is deep sense of joy in how people can grow to work together to accomplish anything. All the greatest moments in human existence are not down to the efforts of one, but of the many, all working towards a single, powerful goal. There are many examples of this, such as putting a man on the moon and the eradication of smallpox.

In closing, I want to express my deep thanks and gratitude to you Alan. You have helped me in ways I could never have imagined to be a better person. Your life’s work will continue. It is our privilege as your students to serve as you did and ensure we apply and grow the knowledge you selflessly passed to us.

With loving gratitude,

Malcolm Bugler