Tom worked for a major clothing company making great strides up the corporate ladder. Lyse was grateful to be a stay-at-home Mom. When their children Kathryn and Myles started school, she began substitute teaching and volunteering in the community. Tom’s management position was becoming more stressful and less rewarding. So as he approached his 28th year with the company, he decided to take an attractive package…

Over the years, they had ventured into a few home-based businesses and found the cost of operation more often outweighed the benefits. Living in the country, north of Toronto, they operated a trout farm, supplied local department stores with hanging baskets of flowers from their own greenhouse and even tried their hand at raising cattle!

Lyse always kids that she ended up doing most of the work while Tom traveled on business!

As they contemplated their future, supporting a daughter at University and a College-bound son, reality began to set in. Their dream of a “luxurious” retirement was fading fast…. They needed to find a secure source of income that would afford them the lifestyle and plans they had for their family.

Out of the blue, came a call from a successful business acquaintance, saying: “I’ve found a diamond in the rough, come and take a look!”

“She was so excited on the phone! We agreed to attend a Super Regional in Toronto that Saturday.

What we discovered, was a revolutionary concept; a company with vision, integrity and purpose; a business we could sink our teeth into; a cause to take on together with our family, our friends and anyone wanting to make a difference!

So we went to work, became students of the industry, volunteered with the local leadership and eventually became Area Coordinators. We followed the system. We attended every event and diligently searched for like-minded, positive thinking entrepreneurs.

Then, we got stuck at the Director level. We were reading the books, listening to the tapes, but for months, Executive Director status seemed out of reach…



While eating lunch at a Melia Event in the Pocono Mountains, a now, good friend and mentor, looked us in the eye and said: “What you need to do, is DECIDE to go E.D. and show your team it can be done!”

We made the decision then and there. We declared it to the entire Melia Team. We went to work. Our team believed in us and we believed in them. The following month, we were their Executive Directors. Since that day in the Poconos, we’ve “paid it forward”, and the joy of helping others achieve their goals, is truly a blessing. Support and mentoring can be found at every level of Pre-Paid Legal. All one has to do is ask.

Shake Mr. and Mrs. Stonecipher’s hands, look into their eyes, you can sense true Servant Leadership. Thanks to their unwavering Faith and Vision, we wake up each morning to another great day of sharing the dream of better tomorrows.”

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