Not exactly the birthday treat I hoped to open as a young girl, but a gift I remembered always.
Esther Hatch helped us at a young age to learn about becoming a leader and the value of a mentor. Al, her husband, was a builder — he actually built our family home, which is how we met them. They never had children of their own, and I think my brother, sister, and I became their family.
Many of my days were spent with Esther. Somehow I always found myself walking toward their home and her constant source of wisdom. She was an educator by career, a brilliant woman, direct by nature, and one of the most interesting people I would ever know.
For my 10th birthday she gave me a beautifully wrapped Golden Ruler and then explained how you "live by the Golden Rule" all lifelong. She taught me that gold-plated ruler represented the values one lived by.
Not exactly the birthday treat I hoped to open as a young girl, but a gift I remembered always and tried to live my own life by.
Esther was the first person I had ever met to make homemade yogurt and she always prepared to introduce a new craft to entertain my brother, sister, and me. Esther had a full set of encyclopedias in her library at home — the first I had ever been exposed to. I loved the smell of those new books, loved to turn each page to the next bit of information and looked forward to the surprise I would find in them.
We would pick a topic together, and then I would find the right encyclopedia among the set of books that stood side by side in her library. I'd look up the information, do the research, and present my findings to Esther, delivering my results with her as an interested recipient of my newfound wisdom.
She taught me to challenge, question, and find the right answers to my assignment. She started what would be my thirst for lifelong learning, constant curiosity, and the courage to present in front of people.
Esther had intuitively known my thirst for knowledge and acted upon it. One of the other side benefits was her keen observation that I wanted to teach people the knowledge I had learned. Still today and throughout my life, I have cherished teaching people what I know about how to be successful in business and life.
Through our time together she helped me want to become the best and to be confident.
The Lesson
The right mentor at the right time plants seeds that grow for a lifetime. Esther didn't write a leadership book or give a TED talk. She gave a ten-year-old girl a golden ruler and her undivided attention. That's mentorship at its purest — seeing someone's potential before they see it themselves, and investing in it with patience, wisdom, and love.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the golden ruler story in Doing Business with a Pink Pen?
For Connie's tenth birthday, a woman named Esther gave her a golden ruler with a message that shaped the rest of her life. It wasn't about measuring inches — it was about measuring yourself by a higher standard. That ruler became a symbol of the values Connie carried into every business decision.
Who was Esther in Connie Worrell-Druliner's life?
Esther was a mentor figure who saw something special in young Connie. The golden ruler she gave wasn't expensive, but it was intentional — a gift that said 'you are meant for something.' Connie kept that lesson for decades and passed it forward to every woman she mentored.
How do childhood gifts shape women leaders?
The right gift at the right time can plant a seed that grows for a lifetime. Connie's golden ruler wasn't just an object — it was a belief system. It taught her that standards matter, that someone believed in her potential, and that small acts of investment in another person can echo for generations.
What leadership lessons come from mentorship stories?
Esther didn't write a leadership book or give a TED talk. She gave a ten-year-old girl a golden ruler and told her she mattered. That's mentorship at its purest — seeing someone's potential before they see it themselves, and giving them something to remember it by.
