I heard that line dozens of times over the last dozen years, uttered in a low rumble with soft edges by a man that had a greater impact on my professional life than anyone else. Every time something came up — personal struggles, professional frustrations, life — we’d jump on the phone, chop it up, and invariably, just before he muttered a quick “g’bye” in the way he always did, he’d tell me, “Listen Kyte — just do the work.”

I’ve heard it playing in my head a million times over the last couple days as I’ve tried to process that Thomas Gerbasi — my friend, my mentor, my biggest supporter — has passed.