Dear Kid,
“Whatever career you may choose for yourself – doctor, lawyer, teacher – let me propose an avocation to be pursued along with it. Become a dedicated fighter for civil rights. Make it a central part of your life. It will make you a better doctor, a better lawyer, a better teacher. It will enrich your spirit as nothing else possibly can. It will give you that rare sense of nobility that can only spring from love and selflessly helping your fellow man. Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for human rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country and a finer world to live in.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I love the notion of making a career of humanity. Some of us began our careers when the notion of things like kindness and humanity weren’t exactly laughed at but they sure weren’t at the top of our career to-do list. It was fine to be giving and good on the weekend (if you could get away from work), but the concept of humanity in business was pretty much drained out of us in the late 80s.
It took a long time for many of us to realize that kindness, thinking about people around us, general caring was more important than closing the next deal, doubling our bonuses, getting the next three promotions.
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The world has changed a lot since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous I Have a Dream Speech. It has changed a lot since the 1980s and 90s. It has changed a lot since yesterday.
Change is good; change is important. And in this age of massive technological innovation, we can expect changes in the next few years that we can’t even contemplate today.
My hope is that while the world continues to spin and innovation continues change our day-to-day routines, we can continue to be better people every day. It’s not easy, but it’s so important.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
It’s a good day to think about what we can do for others.
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